No More FOMO: Creating a DIY, Impactful, Live Campus Tour from the Palm of Your Hand

During the spring of 2018, College of the Holy Cross hosted its first live-streamed, student-led tour of campus on Facebook, and then did it again in the fall for students unable to attend admitted student open house. Feedback from prospective and admitted students was overwhelmingly positive as it afforded them a unique look at the College, and for many, their only tour of campus. With an average of 1,800 live viewers during each of the 40-minute tours, we well surpassed the few dozen individuals present during our in-person tours.

But how did we do it?

Leveraging Facebook’s complex mobile live video platform, streaming professional audio and stable video, ensuring a constant WiFi signal, and managing student tour guides, all while engaging with our viewers’ questions is no easy feat — especially while walking outside (uphill, no less!).

Executed properly, a live campus tour can have a beneficial impact on recruitment efforts. A campus tour is typically one of the most important factors for a student to decide whether or not to apply and/or matriculate. For some students, visiting a campus is simply not a reality whether it be due to distance, financial constraints or other reasons. While on-demand video and other website multimedia assets can be a good substitute, the interactions and conversations during a live tour cannot be replicated with these mediums.

In this session, we’ll explore the platforms, technologies, hardware and software used, as well as share our own tips, tricks, and other best practices so you, too, can execute the perfect live campus tour. No A/V certifications needed! We’ll also have a hands-on demonstration with the equipment we used.

Lessons and skills learned from this presentation can be applied to any live-streaming event. Specific learning outcomes include hosting a live campus tour using social media.

Slides