Penn Museum Blog | #MyPennMuseum: Using Facebook to Engage Penn Students

My name is Leo Page-Blau, and I am a work-study student in the Academic Engagement Department at the Penn Museum. I am a sophomore studying Communication and the Modern Middle East at Penn. As part of the Academic Engagement Department, I work to engage Penn students in the Museum’s collections and resources. Social media has given us tools to communicate the Museum’s message faster and more effectively than ever before.

Our Department tries to reach a very specific audience — the Penn student body! We are able to use social media to effectively reach our narrow audience, and provide them with relevant information and opportunities. We run a Facebook page, Penn Museum – Penn Students to promote events, and introduce students to the Museum’s resources in a colloquial, non-intrusive approach. In addition to promoting specific events, we often publicize CAAM classes (Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials), summer internships, the Clio Society, field funds, exhibition internships – and more. Just like everyone has a different identity and personality, we develop our online personality to be outgoing, curious, and excited about the Museum’s opportunities. To keep our page appealing (and to build a brand personality), we also post relevant images and articles.

‪#‎MyPennMuseum‬‬ "My favorite resource at the Penn Museum is the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials. I'm taking a course there this semester and almost every class makes use of the Museum's vast collection of artifacts. For example, I was able to examine ceramic samples dating back several thousand years ago from Mesopotamia. I've learned that by exploring the museum, you'll find opportunities you never knew existed." — Alex King Editor-in-Chief of Synapse: Penn's Undergraduate Medical Connection — ‪#‎MyPennMuseum‬‬ “My favorite resource at the Penn Museum is the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials [CAAM]. I’m taking a course there this semester and almost every class makes use of the Museum’s vast collection of artifacts. For example, I was able to examine ceramic samples dating back several thousand years ago from Mesopotamia. I’ve learned that by exploring the Museum, you’ll find opportunities you never knew existed.”
— Alex King, Editor-in-Chief of *Synapse: Penn’s Undergraduate Medical Connection*

In our effort to best reach Penn Students about the Museum’s opportunities, we launched a new Facebook campaign this semester called #MyPennMuseum. Every week we post about a Penn student leader, professor, curator, or administrator, and what their favorite part of the Penn Museum is. These posts are more meaningful than direct advertisements because they personally connect people to the Penn Museum in a way that straight advertising never could. We trust friends and people we know more than we trust advertisements – and rightfully so! By tapping into this, and promoting the Penn Museum’s opportunities through members of the community, people are more likely to pursue the Museum’s resources.

What can you do to help promote the Penn Museum? First, be sure to like our Facebook page, Penn Museum – Penn Students. Whenever you see one of our posts, be sure to engage! When you like, comment, or share anything we publish, even more people will get the information. Lastly, be sure to tell your friends about your favorite opportunities at the Penn Museum. As you see from the #MyPennMuseum campaign, straight advertisement can only do so much.

You can help us effectively reach Penn Students about the Museum’s opportunities. Be sure to say hello!