Students' Facebook fan page campaign effort promotes Convocation Center 11/28/2009 12:38 AM
By RACHEL JOHNSON Staff writer
The goal: 2,010 fans by 2010.
One group of local high school students called the Convocation Information Agency (CIAs) rose to the challenge and generated more than 2,010 fans for the USC Aiken Convocation Center's Facebook site in less than six months.
The CIAs are the High School Intern Program for the Convocation Center. There are eight CIAs representing Aiken High School, South Aiken High School, North Augusta High School and one student from USC Aiken.
"We spend time spreading the word about upcoming events at the Convocation Center through grass-roots efforts," said CIA Director Haley Pope, a senior at Aiken High School. "We broke the 2,010 mark last month. That was huge for us. We spent time every day working on it and held a contest between ourselves. We added over 600 fans last month alone."
The purpose of the USC Aiken Convocation Center Facebook fan page is to offer an easy way for the community to keep up with events and the latest news.
"The Facebook page is the easiest way to find out about contests and free ticket events," Pope said. "It is also interactive, and we encourage people to post comments on the wall as well as to post photos and videos taken at the events. It also helps us find out what our fans want to see next."
The CIAs program was started as a way to offer young people the chance to gain valuable skills before college.
"It is a marketing program for young people who are getting an opportunity they might never otherwise receive," said Mike Thomas, founder of the program and director of Sponsorship at the Convocation Center. "We would like to see the program expand to other schools. We wouldn't be where we are without the CIAs because we can't do it without the high schoolers' knowledge and use of common technology. It gives them a great chance. They can take what they learn and go onto careers in the future."
In addition to boosting the fan base on Facebook, the CIAs have been responsible for planning and implementing ticket give away contests in their schools.
To find out more about the Facebook fan page and to support the students' hard work, become a fan of the USCA Convocation Center on www.facebook.com.
Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: a proud American On: Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:25 PM
Comment Title: Colen Lindell
You should not make fubn of Colen Lindell. the only groups and pages he has on facebook are to make America a better country. So thank you Colen for helping making America and Aiken a better place to live. I hope you run for senator or governor of South Carolina one day. we need your leadership.
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Posted by: On: Saturday, November 28, 2009 9:42 PM
Comment Title:
bring some decent shows to the place and the fans will come without all this being necessary. nobody is going to be a real fan because some no-name high school students are drumming up support at a local mcdonalds.
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Posted by: On: Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:50 AM
Comment Title: Re: 14 members
LOL! There are 2080 members as of right now. Look it up again friend :P
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Posted by: On: Saturday, November 28, 2009 10:13 AM
Comment Title: ??
I only found 14 members on the USCA Convocation Center Facebook page... and only one event posting. We need more info to be able to support them.
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Posted by: Mississippi Girls On: Saturday, November 28, 2009 8:05 AM
Comment Title: No Colen Lindell???
What? A facebook group that Colen Lindell didn't create? Too bad Colen, you really missed the boat on this one!
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