Sigma Kappa Handbook for the Webmaster 2020 Sigma Kappa Sorority . Webmaster Handbook . page 2 FOREWORD "The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities." Article II, Section 1 Sigma Kappa Sorority Bylaws This purpose builds on the values of our organization: friendship, loyalty, service and personal growth, all bound by a promise. National council affirms that Sigma Kappa collectively can only grow through the prosperity of each individual chapter. Such prosperity must begin with sound and lasting leadership. Each chapter officer is provided a handbook designed to give her the information needed to perform the duties of her office and assist the chapter in achieving the Sigma Kappa Standards of Excellence. Serving as a collegiate chapter officer exemplifies Sigma Kappa's purpose and values. C 2020 Sigma Kappa Sorority TABLE OF CONTENTS The Webmaster 4 Resources 4 Advisor to the Webmaster 5 Working with Other Officers 5 The Webmaster's Role in Public Relations 6 The Fundamentals of Public Relations 6 Creating a Positive Image Online 6 Creating and Maintaining a Chapter's Website with OmegaOne 8 Where to Begin 8 OmegaOne Login and Access 8 Website Setup Guide 9 Utilizing Social Media 12 Standards of Excellence 15 Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 4 THE WEBMASTER The webmaster is responsible for developing and maintaining a chapter website based on the guidelines set forth by the Sorority in the Internet and Related Technology Policy, Panhellenic policies, university policies and any applicable federal, state, and local laws, especially those governing computer and telecommunication use, privacy and publicity rights and defamation. The webmaster may be elected or appointed by the chapter. The webmaster reports to the vice president of communication and operations (VPCO). In light of these responsibilities, the webmaster must do the following: Read, comprehend and follow the Brand Style Guide. Read, comprehend and follow the Handbook for the Webmaster. Set goals for the chapter website. Access and watch all training modules associated with the webmaster role located in SKILLab: Sigma Kappa's Interactive Learning Lab. Create or update a chapter website based upon the goals and the specific documents mentioned above. Develop a maintenance plan to routinely update the chapter website with current chapter events and information. Work closely with the chapter's public relations (PR) chairman to leverage the website in the chapter's public relations activities. (i.e. include the URL on flyers, press releases, advertisements, etc.) Help chapter members understand that their personal online activity also reflects upon the Sorority and educate members about these policies when creating personal websites or blogs, using social media and using email Assist the chapter in meeting the Standards of Excellence (SOE) criteria by focusing on specific criteria that pertain to her responsibilities, as well as supporting other officers and chairmen. Resources The webmaster must have certain resources and materials to properly do the job. They are as follows: 1. Brand Style Guide, located on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. 2. Handbook for the Webmaster Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 5 3. Sigma Kappa Internet and Related Technology Policy, part of the National Policy Handbook 4. A copy of any campus or Panhellenic internet and related technology policies 5. A copy of applicable federal, state and local laws, especially those governing computer and telecommunication use, privacy and publicity rights and defamation 6. A list of goals for the office 7. Recommendations from the previous webmaster 8. Officer budget 9. Chapter calendar 10. College/university and fraternity/sorority community calendar of events 11. Suggested updates for the webmaster found in the marketing tool kit on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. 12. Names and contact information for: a. Advisor to the webmaster or advisory board supervisor (ABS) b. Collegiate public relations coordinator C. University officials and pertinent faculty and staff members d. Assigned Sigma Kappa paired alumnae chapter Advisor to the Webmaster The advisor to the webmaster provides continuity to the chapter's website development and maintenance routine. She should be familiar with the website program. She is a member of the advisory board. Review the module in SKILLab: Sigma Kappa's Interactive Learning Lab to learn more about developing a relationship with your advisor. What If You Do Not Have an Advisor? If you do not have an advisor, there are several other resources to look to for assistance: Advisory board supervisor (ABS) Collegiate public relations coordinator Collegiate coordinator Contact information for these volunteers is located on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. Working with Other Officers The PR chairman, webmaster and the Sigma Kappa Triangle correspondent work directly with the VPCO by serving as members of her team. It is the responsibility of the VPCO to support, advise and coordinate the activities of these chairmen. Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 6 The following may guide the webmaster in working closely with the other members of the communication team: Meet regularly to discuss projects, programs and activities of all four offices to ensure the proper coordination and balance of the programs and activities. Work closely together and support each other's programs and activities. Look for ways to collaborate on programs and activities. Educate each other on respective responsibilities of each office. Collaborate on completing reports at the end of each term/semester. THE WEBMASTER'S ROLE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS As the webmaster, you have a significant role in managing the public's perception of Sigma Kappa. The website conveys the image of your chapter, communicates information about recruitment, philanthropic projects and other upcoming events, provides information to parents, potential new members and other stakeholders to learn more about Sigma Kappa and serves as a communication tool for collegiate members and alumnae. When unfamiliar with a company, store, product or organization, where is one of the first places to look for information? The Internet. The chapter website is a public relations vehicle and can help positively communicate with all of your publics. A website can become one of the chapter's most effective public relations tools, if done properly and maintained on a regular basis. Remember that any member of any one of your publics might visit the website at any time. Therefore, it is very important that the website contains positive and relevant information about the chapter at all times. The Fundamentals of Public Relations Public relations maintains an organization's relationship with society in a way that most effectively achieves the organization's goals. Sigma Kappa's publics are the people, organizations and entities which are associated with the sorority in some way. Communicating with our publics is a major component of a website. Our publics include: Alumnae Advisors/corporation board Collegians members New members National officers Potential new members Campus faculty/staff Parents/family members Campus administration The fraternity/sorority advisor Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 7 All fraternity/sorority chapters and The community at large councils on campus or in the Media community Local businesses Other student organizations Area high schools Unaffiliated students Social and philanthropic Neighbors organizations Creating a Positive Image Online It is important that the chapter website portray a positive image of Sigma Kappa and its members. Image is the sum total of all the things that are said by and about an organization combined with all the impressions it creates by its own actions. Visually, the Sigma Kappa image must be consistent from chapter to chapter. This handbook and the Sigma Kappa Brand Style Guide give clear direction on the reproduction of the Sigma Kappa logo, tagline, fonts, colors, and coat-of-arms as a website is created and maintained. A Sigma Kappa chapter might create a positive website image by: Complying with the guidelines set forth in the Sigma Kappa Internet and Related Technology Policy. Complying with the Sigma Kappa Brand Style Guide. Posting only high quality, appropriate pictures of the chapter members, while reflecting your entire chapter membership. Posting pictures and information about the chapter's community, philanthropic, sisterhood and recruitment activities, including the impact created by such events and the organizations or individuals who benefited. These may include: Ultra Violet Campaign Walk to End Alzheimer's Service projects, including gerontology work and your Inherit the Earth project Non-alcoholic social events with other sororities or fraternities Chapter sisterhood events Events and activities that support other organizations or the community Formals and other positive social events Founders' Day Convention and Regional Leadership Conferences (RLC) Events and initiatives to honor faculty and staff Other events or activities that portray Sigma Kappa's values Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 8 Posting pictures and information about chapter and member achievements, including: Academic and professional honors National Sorority recognition (Standards of Excellence, other awards) University/Panhellenic honors Members who are officers in other campus/local organizations Athletic achievements Significant community recognition Posting copies of press releases and/or stories the chapter has sent out. Posting copies of articles that mention the chapter, including articles from the Sigma Kappa Triangle, with express written consent from the editor of these publications. CREATING AND MAINTAINING A WEBSITE WITH OMEGAONE OmegaOne provides each Sigma Kappa chapter with the opportunity to build and maintain a chapter website. Nationally approved templates are available for chapters to customize. Maintaining an updated website using the approved templates is a requirement of Standards of Excellence. No other chapter websites should be used, as OmegaOne websites are linked to the Sigma Kappa website. Where to Begin? Follow the Sigma Kappa website guidelines. National council has implemented an Internet and Related Technology Policy to protect the Sorority, our chapters and our members. This document details the specific guidelines that each chapter website must meet at all times. While we want the website to express the chapter's individuality and personality, it should also positively reflect the national organization's standards and ideals. Therefore, all webmasters must learn the guidelines set forth in the Internet and Related Technology Policy and strictly adhere to them when creating and maintaining the chapter's website. Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 9 OmegaOne Login and Access To edit your website, you first must be an administrator of your chapter's OmegaOne account. To gain administrator access, email your chapter president, vice president of new member education (VPNME) or VPCO and request access. These three officers are given administrator access and can grant it to you as well. Once you have administrator access, you will have the ability to update other chapter members' access levels as well. OmegaOne has three levels of member access: Administrators: No more than five chapter officers should be given administrator access. The chapter president, VPNME and VPCO are given access automatically with their positions. The webmaster and PR chairman should also be granted administrator access. Officers: This level of access will allow members of your chapter to send out emails and text messages, upload files, post events to the chapter calendar, manage the point system and more. Grant officer access to those members of your chapter who will need to perform these duties. Member: All other members of the chapter will have the ability to view content via the OmegaOne. Member login information is the same as their login for the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. If they do not have login information, members should click the "claim account" button on the member login page of the Sigma Kappa website. After securing administrator permissions, log into the OmegaOne through your chapter website using your Sigma Kappa username and password. On the left side you will see a section marked ADMINISTRATORS Click on this to select the "Manage External Website" feature. This will bring you to the back end of your external website. Website Setup Guide Upon first entrance to the back end of your website, you will see the steps to setting up your website. You can come back to this page at any time by selecting the Website Training link in the top right hand corner. Below, these steps to setting up and maintaining your website are expanded upon and will help you populate your website. Contact the OmegaFi staff if you have questions. 1. Select Website Design You can change your design at any time, as often as you would like. All available designs have been branded and approved by Sigma Kappa. Upon switching designs, all of your content, photos and officer information will transfer automatically. You may notice that when you switch between the different designs you might need to crop some of your Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 10 slideshow images to fit that specific template. 2. Edit Welcome Message Sigma Kappa has provided you with a default welcome message so that your website is never empty. We encourage you to update this message to be specific to your chapter as it is most likely the first item a visitor to your website will read. 3. Add Photos We encourage you to add photos to the homepage slideshow, interior page slideshow and the homepage photo (if the design you are working with has one). The photo editor allows you to crop, add filters, frames and stickers (for recruitment purposes) when uploading your photos. Until your chapter's pictures are added, the photos shown are default pictures provided by Sigma Kappa. It is recommended that your chapter photos are updated regularly to represent current membership and reflect your sisterhood. 4. Create Chapter Scrapbook Albums You have an unlimited number of scrapbook albums you can add. We encourage you to add albums of events such as service projects, recruitment, Founders' Day, alumnae/collegiate events, etc. The scrapbook albums are a great place for parents, alumnae and potential new members to see the great things your chapter is doing. Keep these up to date to ensure visitors are seeing current photos of your chapter. 5. Add Social Media Links The chapter website is designed to show the most frequently used social media icons on the front end of your website. If your chapter does not use one of the social media outlets offered through OmegaOne, simply leave that option blank and the icon will not appear on the front end of your website. You are encouraged to create additional social media accounts for your chapter if you are not already using the options available. Only link social media accounts that are updated on a regular basis. 6. Select to Display Chapter News or Twitter Selecting Twitter will show your group's Twitter feed on the left side of the website homepage. By selecting Chapter News, you will be prompted to fill out your local news manually, including a subject and description of the exciting news. If using this option, remember to update regularly to share news with visitors. 7. Update Footer Information Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 11 Update the mailing address and chapter email address in the footer information section to allow potential new members and other publics to quickly view where they can contact the chapter with questions and comments. 8. Add Officers to the Officers Page Bio pages are easy to update with an officer name, position, bio, photos and customizable fields. There is no limit to the amount of custom fields you may add for each officer. The Officers Page is a great space to display any headshots or composite pictures of your chapter officers. You can also choose between the three different bio page layouts. This should be updated within a timely manner after elections to ensure that visitors are seeing current officer information. 9. Update the Contact Page Updating your contact information is important for outside members or potential members so they have the most up to date information for your chapter. 10. Add Recruitment Content Adding recruitment content is important for your collegiate chapter, as many potential new members and parents visit chapter websites before signing up for or attending recruitment events. It is important to display current recruitment dates, locations, recommended attire, and descriptions of the events to reduce concerns potential new members or their parents may have. 11. Add Music, Forms and Fundraising links You have the capability to upload music to your chapter website as well as embed forms for philanthropy events, for potential new members to fill out to indicate their interest in the chapter or for other purposes. If you are fundraising for an upcoming event, you can easily embed the link onto your chapter website. 12. Add Pages The navigation that has been provided to you is the minimum requirement from Sigma Kappa. You can add as many additional pages and subheadings as you wish. If you are hosting a specific event or want to add another officers page for your chapter, feel free! You are encouraged to make these sites as specific to your chapter as possible. You will notice that some pages are partially-locked and some are fully locked. A partially- locked page means the top portion of the page cannot be edited because the information has been provided Sigma Kappa national headquarters staff. A locked page means that the information cannot be edited, nor can you add additional information. This information has also been provided by Sigma Kappa national headquarters staff and cannot be altered. Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 12 The CPRCs will conduct regular website audits and share feedback regarding necessary edits or suggestions with the webmaster, VPCO, PR chairman and their advisors. UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA Standards of Excellence challenges each chapter to utilize social media in addition to the chapter website. Social media plays an important role in sharing information! Work with the PR chairman and the VPCO on managing the chapter's social media accounts. When posting to social media, think about your entire audience and identify who you are targeting on each platform with each post. Many of your followers are probably Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook . page 13 chapter members or members of Sigma Kappa, but other fraternities and sororities, potential members, alumnae and campus officials may also be following your chapter. Chapters must follow the Internet and Related Technology Policy outlined in the National Policy Handbook as well as any technology policies outlined in the chapter Code of Conduct. Here is a brief overview of some frequently used social media tools: Facebook Facebook is widely used among alumnae members and loved ones. It provides the opportunity to share information through pages and to create events to promote upcoming chapter functions. Facebook does not restrict the number of words or characters used, SO if you have a longer message to share, this can be a great outlet. Using content from Sigma Kappa national headquarters or other similar sources is a great way to share and continue to keep your Facebook page fresh. Remember who you are targeting and use captions to encourage conversations and build a following on your page. It is easy to paste YouTub video links and have a picture preview, making it clear as to what you are linking to. Instagram Instagram is one of the most visible platforms to any non-members or potential new members to gain insight on your chapter and the Sigma Kappa member experience. Instagram is a quick and fun way to share your chapter with friends, family, potential members, inter-fraternal friends and campus partners through pictures and videos. Instagram is a great tool to aide in building your chapter brand and identity. When posting photos, ensure that they are high quality, adhere to the Sigma Kappa brand standards, and speak to your chapter image. Use your captions to share additional information that matches the photos. Ensure that each posts reflects back to the chapter brand image described in the PR Program Report. Twitter Twitter is an online social networking service that enables users to send and read short 280-character messages called tweets. This type of platform is particularly useful for quick updates, announcements and shout outs. Including short links with tweets will get your followers quickly to where they need to go. Twitter also gives you the opportunity to quickly and easily interact with your publics by retweeting them or responding to their tweets. Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 14 To keep your twitter channel effective, it is recommended that you send at least two to three tweets a day. YouTube YouTube is a video sharing website. Using video is a great marketing tool. It may be helpful to include links to your other outlets in the description boxes of your videos, or even within the video itself, so people who want to follow you and keep up-to-date of your new video releases can do SO. YouTube is also an easy place to "store" all of your videos and share to other platforms. Not Recommended These platforms are not very productive social media channels and have a low return on investment and time. It is not recommended for your chapter to utilize these platforms as they were created for more individual use. Snapchat - we have seen chapters utilize Snapchat positively by using filters to publicize chapter events. Tumblr VSCO - we have seen chapters utilize VSCO for help filter photos. It is recommended that you use the provided Lightroom presets to ensure strong brand standards. Posting Do's and Don'ts Through these and other various social media platforms, chapter members have the opportunity to represent themselves, the chapter and the national organization in a positive, uplifting light - or in a negative one. It is important to remember that you are what you post, so be sure to post only positive things and nothing that includes underage drinking, drinking to excess, drug use, explicit language or references to sex. Additionally, be sure to never post any degrading commentary about any individual, organization or group, including Sigma Kappa. As webmaster, take the opportunity to help educate your chapter on what is and is not appropriate to post on social media, in collaboration with the PR chairman and the VPCO. Some things are easily overlooked, and it is important that chapter members understand how to best portray themselves. If your chapter members are having trouble understanding what they should and should not post on their individual accounts, present the "Should I Post This on Social Media?" flowchart to your chapter. This can be found in the webmaster annual supplies on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website. Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 15 Remember that, in addition to upholding the values and image of the sorority and your sisters, you are also doing yourself a favor by monitoring what you post on social media. In 2017, CareerBuilder.com listed that 70% of employers screen a candidate's social media accounts before hiring them. So remember, think before you post! Guidelines for Communication During Risk Management Situations Members are not permitted to talk to the media regarding a crisis situation or risk management violation related to Sigma Kappa, as the national organization needs to manage the message coming from the organization to ensure alignment with local and national laws, wishes of family and coordination with law enforcement and/or university leadership. Posting on social media or the chapter's website is considered a public statement that can be used by the media. Therefore, members are instructed not to post on personal or chapter social media pages about the situation, regardless of whether the page is set to public or private settings. Members are instructed to wait until the national organization makes a statement, then they can share that statement from the national organization's social media accounts, citing that it's coming from the national organization. This helps prevent the spread of information from unconfirmed sources. The national organization has a strict process in place that allows time for staff to gather factual information, assess the situation, and determine the best response. Chapter officers and members are not authorized or permitted to sign, act, or speak on behalf of the national organization. Members should reach out to an advisor, a member of the collegiate services team, or someone from the communication team with questions or concerns. The national organization advises against a chapter as a whole from sharing GoFundMe information, since it is not possible to conduct the due diligence necessary to ensure a fraudulent site is not being supported. STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 16 It is the goal of Sigma Kappa Sorority that each chapter provides a quality membership experience for its members; it should be an experience that will extend far beyond one's academic career. This goal can only be reached if each chapter's level of performance in all areas of chapter life is exemplary. Because national council is committed to the pursuit of excellence for each collegiate chapter, the Standards of Excellence (SOE) program was developed to measure the health of collegiate chapters and to reward those chapters that excel on the campuses and within Sigma Kappa. 13. 14. The criteria that make up the SOE program are aligned with the following objectives: Essential: 12 essential criteria that all chapters must achieve Fundamental: 13 areas of fundamental growth that all chapters should achieve Chapters of Excellence: Where most chapters should fall Exceeds Excellence: Three Star chapters and Founders' Award finalists Standards of Excellence Judging The established SOE criteria gives national council a better assessment of each chapter and helps to identify the chapters who need additional assistance. National council is confident that each and every chapter can attain the essential and fundamental levels of achievement and are committed to providing the resources, as well as the support, to ensure a chapter's success. It is the goal of national council to notify those chapters that have not met the essential standards as early as possible in the spring term following the rating year. By doing so, the chapter has ample opportunity to develop a plan of action to ensure that all minimum standards are met for the current calendar year. Please refer to the following resources available on the members only side of the Sigma Kappa website for the most up to date SOE information: SOE Brochure SOE Helpful Hints SOE Judging Worksheet SOE Frequently Asked Questions Sigma Kappa Sorority Webmaster Handbook page 17 SIGMA KAPPA Live with Heart 695 Pro-Med Lane, Ste 300 Carmel, IN 46032-5323 317-872-3275 f: 317-872-0716 e: info@sigmakappa.org www.sigmakappa.org Sigma Kappa Sorority . Webmaster Handbook . page 18