Clemson Athletics Revolutionizing Instagram Strategy

Jason Schultz
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read

Clemson University’s athletics program has consistently set the benchmark for the best social media practices in the sports industry. Now, it is again revolutionizing the digital content game with a curated approach to Instagram.

Instagram’s popularity has soared in recent years. In June, the platform hit one billion monthly users. This milestone was reached by a 200 million increase in monthly users in ten months according to Instagram

Now with a growing number of popular features including Instagram Stories, Direct Messaging and IGTV, the platform is offering more ways for users to create and enjoy than ever before.

Most Instagram accounts have followed a specific style of posting since its launch in 2010 as images or videos are posted to the timeline and the timeline serves as a photo book of sorts. It allows users to reflect back on past memories and add new ones daily.

Most professional and collegiate sports teams adopted a similar style as fans can scroll back and reminisce on favorite moments from past seasons.

However, that style is now evolving and @ClemsonFB is leading the way. Ahead of the new college football season, Clemson Football erased its entire Instagram history. One day, tiger fans woke up to see a blank slate on Instagram.

This fresh start signified the start of a new season and new opportunities to showcase highlights and memories.

As detailed in the account bio, the Clemson Football feed will include weekly updates and Clemson 101 posts that feature past game highlights, tours of Clemson facilities, former players now playing in the NFL, amongst other areas of the program.

Its Instagram Story and Highlights will now cover daily happenings for the team including videos and photos of practices, games and more.

The recently developed IGTV, making its debut this college football season, will showcase the team’s popular vlog series that previously lived on all other social platforms except Instagram.

This more active approach to Instagram keeps content fresh and allows for more exploration by arguably the leading digital content team in all of collegiate athletics.

The Atlanta Falcons have since followed the trend ahead of the team’s kickoff game against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The organization now has just 16 posts on its account with a strategy of only highlighting this individual season.

The jury remains out on how the new strategy will pan out but Clemson taking a risk by wiping clean its entire timeline history is bold yet innovative and could launch a new trend across sports.

Touchdown Social

A college student and aspiring digital media creative's perspective on the best social media practices across the sports industry.

Jason Schultz

Written by

Touchdown Social

A college student and aspiring digital media creative's perspective on the best social media practices across the sports industry.

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