Tech Education Nonprofit UGC Campaign Plan: “Student Voices Rising”

Campaign Overview

Campaign Name: Student Voices Rising
Tagline: Your success story inspires the next generation
Duration: 6 weeks (42 days)
Goal: 100+ student success video testimonials
Platforms: LinkedIn (primary), Facebook (secondary)
Budget: $250 (recognition-focused)
Tone: Inspiring, inclusive, community-celebrating

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Campaign Mechanics

Hashtag Strategy

• Primary: #StudentVoicesRising
• Secondary: #TechEducationSuccess #MyTechJourney #FutureInnovators

Submission Rules

1. Current students or program alumni
2. Upload video testimonial to LinkedIn or Facebook
3. Include primary hashtag + tag organization’s handle
4. Video must share personal tech education journey/success
5. 30-90 seconds in length
6. Unlimited entries encouraged (different aspects of journey)
7. Must give consent for educational use of content

Content Guidelines

Video Specs:

• Format: Vertical (9:16) or square (1:1) preferred for mobile
• Quality: Minimum 720p, shot on smartphone acceptable
• Length: 30-90 seconds (sweet spot: 45-60 seconds)
• Audio: Clear speech, minimal background noise

Story Prompts:

• “Before this program, I was… Now I am…”
• A specific moment when tech education changed your perspective
• Skills you gained and how you’re applying them
• How the program supported you through challenges
• Your advice to future students considering tech education
• The community you found through the program

Dos:

• Be authentic and speak from the heart
• Show your personality and passion
• Include specific details about your journey
• Mention barriers you overcame (if comfortable)
• Film in good lighting with steady camera
• Share actionable inspiration for others

Don’ts:

• Read from a script (speak naturally)
• Over-produce (authenticity > perfection)
• Use copyrighted music
• Share confidential information
• Negative comparisons to other programs

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Incentive Structure (Mission-Focused, $250 Budget)

Featured Student Champions (3 winners) - $50 value each:

• $30 donation to tech education nonprofit in their name
• Featured profile on website “Success Stories” page with full bio
• Digital certificate of recognition
• LinkedIn recommendation from program director
• Professional headshot session (if local) OR profile optimization consultation

Weekly Spotlight Winners (6 winners, one per week) - $10 value each:

• $10 donation in their name
• Feature across social media and email newsletter
• “Tech Trailblazer” digital badge for LinkedIn
• Entry into grand prize drawing

Community Impact Award (1 winner) - $40 value:

• $25 donation in their name
• Featured in annual impact report
• Invitation to speak at future student orientation (virtual)
• Determined by most engagement (views + reactions + shares) during final week

All Participants:

• Featured in campaign highlight reel/montage
• “Student Voices Rising Participant” digital badge
• Public thank you in campaign wrap-up
• Content used in program marketing materials (with attribution)
• Entry into monthly alumni opportunity newsletter

Budget Breakdown:

• Student Champion donations: 3 × $30 = $90
• Weekly Spotlight donations: 6 × $10 = $60
• Community Impact donation: $25
• Digital badges/certificates design: $40
• Promotional materials/graphics: $35
• Total: $250

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Promotional Timeline (6 Weeks)

Pre-Launch (Week 0, Days -3 to 0)

Day -3:

• Internal announcement to staff/instructors
• Request instructor support to encourage students
• Email preview to alumni list with early heads-up
• Create campaign graphics and hashtag assets

Day -2:

• Teaser post: “Something inspiring is coming…”
• Share example video (staff or pilot participant)
• Stories countdown: “48 hours until launch”

Day -1:

• Final teaser with prize details revealed
• Email to current students and recent grads
• Post detailed “How to Create Your Video” tutorial

Week 1 (Days 1-7) - LAUNCH WEEK

Day 1 (Monday) - Official Launch:

• Morning: Campaign announcement post on LinkedIn and Facebook
• Afternoon: Instagram/TikTok Stories tutorial on recording tips
• Evening: Pin announcement to top of LinkedIn page
• Email blast to full student/alumni database

Days 2-4:

• Reshare first 10-15 submissions enthusiastically to Stories
• Comment personally on every single submission
• Feature 2-3 standout entries in feed posts
• Theme post: “Why Student Voices Matter” (mission connection)

Days 5-7:

• Mid-week milestone post: “25 voices shared!”
• User spotlight: Interview first standout story in carousel format
• Share submission tips: “3 Ways to Make Your Video Stand Out”
• Announce Week 1 Spotlight Winner (Friday)

Week 2 (Days 8-14)

Day 8:

• Week 1 winner announcement with celebration post
• Reminder: “Still 5 weeks to share your story!”
• Reshare winner’s video with extended commentary

Days 9-11:

• Continue engaging with all submissions
• Educational content: “The Power of Storytelling in Tech”
• Feature compilation: “Inspiring Moments from Week 2”
• LinkedIn article: Long-form story featuring 3-4 participants

Days 12-14:

• Mid-campaign check-in: Stats and celebration
• Theme focus: “Overcoming Barriers” spotlight
• Week 2 Spotlight Winner announcement
• Referral push: “Tag a fellow student who should share their story”

Week 3 (Days 15-21)

Day 15:

• Halfway point celebration: “50+ stories and counting!”
• Campaign stats graphic (submissions, reach, engagement)
• Announce Community Impact Award voting preview

Days 16-18:

• Theme days:
  • Motivation Monday: Career change stories
  • Wisdom Wednesday: Lessons learned spotlight
  • Feature Friday: Student diversity highlight
• Continue daily engagement

Days 19-21:

• Week 3 Spotlight Winner
• “Most Inspiring Themes” compilation post
• Behind-the-scenes: Impact of UGC on prospective students
• Email reminder to those who haven’t submitted yet

Week 4 (Days 22-28)

Day 22:

• Week 4 Spotlight Winner
• “3 Weeks Left” reminder post
• Fresh angle: “Your Story Could Change Someone’s Life”

Days 23-25:

• Student takeover: Have a winner host Stories for a day
• Q&A session: “Ask Our Student Champions Anything”
• Highlight underrepresented voices

Days 26-28:

• Share campaign impact: “How Student Stories Help Future Students”
• Week 4 Spotlight Winner
• Email push: “Final 2 weeks to join this movement”

Week 5 (Days 29-35)

Day 29:

• “Final 2 Weeks” announcement
• Compilation: Best moments so far
• Week 5 Spotlight Winner

Days 30-32:

• Community Choice voting begins (top 10 finalists)
• Share voting instructions and finalist videos
• Theme: “Skills That Changed Everything” spotlight

Days 33-35:

• Daily voting reminders
• “Still time to add your voice!” new participant CTA
• Week 5 Spotlight Winner
• Engagement campaign: Comment with emoji on favorite story

Week 6 (Days 36-42) - FINAL WEEK

Day 36:

• “FINAL WEEK” announcement
• Community Choice voting continues
• Last call for submissions

Days 37-39:

• Daily countdown posts
• “72 Hours Left” urgency messaging
• Share why participation matters (student quotes)
• Feature final week submissions immediately

Days 40-41:

• “48 Hours” countdown
• “24 Hours” final push
• Stories countdown stickers and polls
• Celebrate milestone: “90+ voices!”

Day 42:

• Final hours countdown (12 hrs, 6 hrs, 1 hr)
• Submissions close at 11:59 PM
• Thank you teaser: “Stories closed. Winners coming soon!”

Post-Campaign (Days 43-49)

Day 43:

• Thank you post with final statistics
• Celebrate community: “100+ students shared their voices!”
• Tease winner announcements

Day 45:

• Community Impact Award winner announcement
• Feature their video with extended story
• Voting results and thank you to all participants

Day 46:

• Student Champion winners announcement (all 3 featured)
• Individual spotlight posts for each
• Highlight what made their stories stand out

Day 47:

• Final Week 6 Spotlight Winner
• Recap of all weekly winners

Day 48:

• Highlight reel/montage video (2-3 minutes)
• Compilation of most powerful moments
• “Thank You to Our Community” message

Day 49:

• Impact report: How UGC will be used
• Final celebration and reflection
• Set up ongoing engagement: Monthly alumni spotlight series

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Social Media Copy

Campaign Announcement (LinkedIn)

Caption:
🎓 STUDENT VOICES RISING 🎓

Your tech education journey matters. Your success story could inspire the next generation of innovators.

Over the next 6 weeks, we’re inviting students and alumni to share your authentic stories through video testimonials.

How to Participate:

1. Record a 30-90 second video sharing your tech education journey
2. Post to LinkedIn or Facebook
3. Use #StudentVoicesRising and tag [Organization Handle]
4. Tell us: What changed for you? What skills did you gain? What’s your advice to future students?

Recognition & Prizes:
🌟 3 Student Champions: $50 donation in your name + featured website profile + LinkedIn recommendation
🌟 6 Weekly Spotlights: $10 donation + social feature + digital badge
🌟 1 Community Impact Award (voted by community)
🌟 Everyone: Featured in campaign montage + participation badge

This isn’t about perfect production—it’s about real voices, real journeys, real impact.

Your story might be the one that helps someone take the first step toward their tech career.

Campaign ends [DATE]
See full guidelines: [LINK]

#TechEducationSuccess #MyTechJourney #FutureInnovators

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Mid-Campaign Milestone (Day 15, Week 3)

Caption:
HALFWAY THERE & BLOWN AWAY 💙

50+ students have shared their voices. 50+ unique journeys. 50+ reasons why tech education changes lives.

By the numbers:
✅ 52 video testimonials submitted
✅ 15,000+ video views
✅ Students from 12 states/provinces
✅ 100% authentic, unscripted inspiration

Swipe through to see some of our favorite moments from Week 1-3 ➡️

What’s standing out:

• The barriers you’ve overcome
• The confidence you’ve gained
• The community you’ve found
• The futures you’re building

To everyone who’s shared: THANK YOU. Your vulnerability and authenticity are inspiring the next generation right now.

To those still considering: We want to hear from YOU. Every voice matters. Every journey is unique. Every story has power.

3 weeks left. Student Champions, Weekly Spotlights, and Community Impact Award still up for grabs.

#StudentVoicesRising | Submissions close [DATE]

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Final Week Countdown (Day 40)

Caption:
48 HOURS TO SHARE YOUR VOICE ⏰

The #StudentVoicesRising campaign closes in 2 days.

If you’ve been meaning to record your story—THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.

Still being awarded:
🏆 3 Student Champion recognitions ($50 donation + website feature)
🏆 Community Impact Award (community voted)
🏆 Feature in campaign highlight reel
🏆 Participation badge + ongoing alumni opportunities

Your 60 seconds could:

• Inspire a first-generation student to enroll
• Show someone like you that they belong in tech
• Celebrate the journey you’ve worked so hard for
• Become part of something bigger than yourself

No fancy equipment needed. Just you, your story, your phone.

Deadline: [DATE] at 11:59 PM

Record. Upload. Tag us. Use #StudentVoicesRising.

Your voice matters.

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Community Impact Award Announcement (Day 45)

Caption:
🏆 COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD WINNER 🏆

The community has spoken. And the winner is…

[STUDENT NAME] - [Video Thumbnail]

[Quote from their video]

Why this story resonated:

• 2,400+ video views
• 180+ reactions
• 45+ shares
• Countless comments about inspiration and relatability

[Student Name]’s journey from [brief background] to [current success] exemplifies the transformative power of accessible tech education. Their honesty about [challenge] and celebration of [achievement] moved our entire community.

Their Recognition:

• $25 donation to [Organization] in their name
• Featured in our annual impact report
• Invitation to speak at future student orientation

To [Student Name]: Thank you for your courage, your authenticity, and your willingness to inspire others. You represent the best of our community.

Watch their full story: [Link to video]

#StudentVoicesRising #TechEducationSuccess

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Campaign Thank You & Montage (Day 48)

Caption:
THANK YOU TO 100+ VOICES 🙌

Six weeks. 106 video testimonials. One incredible community.

Final Campaign Stats:
📹 106 student videos submitted
👀 42,000+ total video views
💬 850+ comments of encouragement
🔄 320+ shares
🌍 Students from 15 states/provinces
⭐ 100% authentic, unscripted stories

Every single video mattered. Every story inspired someone. Every voice contributed to something bigger.

Watch the highlight montage (link in bio) - 3 minutes of the most powerful moments from your submissions.

What started as a campaign became a movement. A celebration of:

• Barriers broken
• Skills gained
• Confidence built
• Futures created
• Community strengthened

To every participant: Your story is now part of helping future students see themselves in tech education. That impact will ripple forward for years.

Winners Recap:
🏆 Community Impact: [Name]
🏆 Student Champions: [Name], [Name], [Name]
🏆 Weekly Spotlights: [Names]

What’s Next:
Your videos will be featured on our website, in prospective student communications, and in our impact reports (with your permission). You’re now alumni ambassadors helping us build a more inclusive, accessible tech education community.

Monthly alumni spotlight series launching next month—stay tuned!

With immense gratitude,
[Organization Name] Team

#StudentVoicesRising

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Submission Guidelines (Participant-Facing)

How to Participate

Step 1: Plan Your Story (5 minutes)

Think about your journey. What do you want future students to know? Choose one of these prompts or create your own:

• “Before this program, I was… Now I am…”
• A specific moment when tech education clicked for you
• The biggest challenge you faced and how you overcame it
• Skills you gained and how you’re using them now
• Why you chose tech education and what surprised you
• Your advice to someone considering this path

Step 2: Record Your Video (30-90 seconds)

• Use your smartphone (no professional equipment needed!)
• Find good lighting (face a window or use a lamp)
• Film in a quiet space with minimal background noise
• Hold your phone vertically (portrait mode) or square
• Look at the camera lens, not the screen
• Speak naturally—don’t memorize a script
• Be yourself! Authenticity > perfection

Step 3: Post to LinkedIn or Facebook

• Upload your video
• Write a brief caption introducing your story
• Use hashtag: #StudentVoicesRising
• Tag [Organization Handle]
• Post publicly so we can find and share it

Step 4: Engage with Others

• Watch other student videos
• Comment encouragement and support
• Share stories that inspire you
• Build community together

Technical Specifications

Video Requirements:

• Format: MP4 or MOV
• Length: 30-90 seconds (ideal: 45-60 seconds)
• Orientation: Vertical (9:16) or square (1:1) preferred
• Quality: Minimum 720p HD
• Audio: Clear speech, smartphone mic acceptable
• File size: Under 500MB

Recording Tips:

• Clean your camera lens
• Use your phone’s back camera (better quality)
• Do a test recording to check audio
• Record multiple takes and choose your favorite
• Trim using your phone’s video editor if needed

What Makes a Great Submission

We’re looking for:

1. Authenticity (40%): Real, unscripted, from the heart
2. Inspiring Impact (30%): How tech education changed your trajectory
3. Specificity (20%): Concrete details, not generic statements
4. Community Value (10%): Advice or encouragement for future students

Great submissions include:

• Specific skills or moments, not generalities
• Honest challenges alongside successes
• Personality and emotion
• Clear audio and decent lighting
• Actionable inspiration for others

Examples of specific vs. generic:

• ❌ Generic: “This program was great and I learned a lot.”
• ✅ Specific: “I learned Python in 8 weeks, built my first web scraper, and used it to land a data analyst internship.”

Judging Criteria

Student Champions (selected by review panel):

1. Authenticity & Vulnerability (40%): Genuine sharing of personal journey
2. Inspirational Impact (30%): Likely to motivate prospective students
3. Story Clarity (20%): Well-articulated with specific details
4. Production Quality (10%): Clear audio, good lighting, steady camera

Weekly Spotlights (selected by staff):

• One winner per week across 6 weeks
• Diversity of stories, backgrounds, and experiences prioritized
• Different aspects highlighted (technical skills, community, barriers overcome, career change, etc.)

Community Impact Award (community voted):

• Top 10 finalists selected by staff (Week 4)
• Community votes via reactions/shares during Week 5-6
• Formula: (Views × 1) + (Reactions × 3) + (Shares × 5) + (Comments × 2)
• Winner announced Day 45

FAQ

Can I submit multiple videos?
Yes! We encourage you to share different aspects of your journey. There’s no limit.

What if I’m camera-shy?
We understand! Remember: authenticity matters more than polish. You can also record in multiple takes and choose your favorite. Many people find it easier after the first attempt.

Can I film with a friend or classmate?
Absolutely! Dual testimonials are welcome as long as each person shares their individual journey.

What if I’m still a current student, not a graduate?
Perfect! We want to hear from current students too. Share where you are now and what you’re learning.

What if my account is private?
For LinkedIn, consider making your post public. For Facebook, ensure your video privacy is set to “Public” or we won’t be able to see it.

What rights do you have to my video?
By submitting, you grant [Organization Name] the right to repost, feature, and use your video in educational marketing materials (website, social media, prospective student communications, impact reports) with attribution. You retain ownership of your content. We will always credit you and link to your original post when possible.

Can I enter if I only took one course vs. completing a full program?
Yes! All students and alumni are welcome regardless of program completion status.

What if I’m not in the US/Canada?
All students are eligible regardless of location. International submissions are welcomed and celebrated.

Do I have to be successful in the traditional sense?
No! We value all authentic journeys. Success means different things to different people—career change, skills gained, confidence built, community found. Your definition of success is valid.

When will winners be announced?

• Weekly Spotlights: Announced each Friday during campaign
• Community Impact Award: Announced Day 45 (3 days post-campaign)
• Student Champions: Announced Day 46

How will I know if I won?
Winners will be:

1. Announced publicly on our social channels (we’ll tag you)
2. Contacted via DM/email
3. Featured with your video and story

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Success Metrics & KPIs

Primary Goals

Participation:

• Total submissions: 100+ video testimonials (TARGET MET at 106)
• Unique participants: 90+ (allow for multiple entries)
• Submission consistency: Average 15-20 per week

Reach & Engagement:

• Total video views: 30,000+ (exceeded at 42,000+)
• Engagement rate on campaign posts: 6%+ (LinkedIn benchmark: 2-4%)
• Hashtag reach: 50,000+ impressions
• New page followers: 200+

Content Quality:

• Usable UGC for marketing: 60+ high-quality videos
• Story diversity: Representation across demographics, program types, career stages
• Professional-quality testimonials: 20+ suitable for website/prospective student materials

Community Building:

• Comments per video: Average 5+ (peer encouragement)
• Shares of participant videos: 200+ total
• Cross-engagement: Participants engaging with each other’s stories

Secondary Metrics

Brand Impact:

• Earned media mentions or shares by influencers/partners
• Prospective student inquiries mentioning campaign
• Alumni re-engagement (submissions from past graduates)

Platform Performance:

• LinkedIn vs. Facebook submission split
• Video completion rate (how much of videos watched)
• Click-through rate to submission guidelines page

Long-term Value:

• Video assets for ongoing marketing use
• Student ambassador recruitment from participants
• Testimonial diversity for different audience segments

Tracking Tools

• Native platform analytics (LinkedIn, Facebook Insights)
• Hashtag monitoring tool (free: Hashtagify, Brand24 trial)
• Spreadsheet tracking: Submission log with participant names, dates, platforms, engagement metrics
• Google Form for participant feedback post-campaign

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Post-Campaign Follow-Up

Week 7-8 Activities

1. Content Curation:

   • Edit 3-minute highlight montage
   • Create “Student Champions” webpage with featured profiles
   • Develop testimonial asset library organized by theme (career change, technical skills, community, etc.)

2. Participant Thank You:

   • Email all participants with:
     • Thank you message
     • Campaign statistics
     • Link to highlight montage
     • Digital participation badge download
     • Invitation to ongoing alumni network

3. Impact Analysis:

   • Compile metrics report
   • Identify most effective promotional tactics
   • Document lessons learned for future campaigns
   • Share results with staff and stakeholders

4. Ongoing Use:

   • Feature 2-3 videos per month on social media
   • Add testimonials to website “Success Stories” page
   • Include in prospective student email sequences
   • Use in annual impact report and fundraising materials

Sustaining Momentum

Monthly Alumni Spotlight Series:

• Continue featuring student videos on first Monday of each month
• Keep #StudentVoicesRising active year-round
• Build ongoing alumni engagement

Student Ambassador Program:

• Recruit top participants as ongoing ambassadors
• Invite to speak at orientations, webinars, info sessions
• Create exclusive alumni community

Annual Campaign:

• Run #StudentVoicesRising annually
• Build on learnings and expand reach each year
• Create tradition and anticipation in student community

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Budget Allocation Summary

Category	Amount	Description
Student Champion Donations	$90	3 winners × $30 donation each
Weekly Spotlight Donations	$60	6 winners × $10 donation each
Community Impact Donation	$25	1 winner, voted by community
Digital Assets	$40	Badge design, certificates, graphics
Promotional Materials	$35	Social graphics, tutorial video production
TOTAL	$250	Complete campaign budget

Cost-per-submission: $2.50 (assuming 100 submissions)
Cost-per-video-view: $0.006 (assuming 42,000 views)

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Legal & Compliance Notes

Rights & Permissions:
All participants grant [Organization Name] non-exclusive rights to use submitted videos for educational and marketing purposes including but not limited to: social media, website, prospective student communications, annual reports, and fundraising materials. Original copyright remains with participant. Organization will provide attribution when feasible.

Age Requirements:
Participants must be 16+ years old. Participants under 18 require parental/guardian consent (collected via submission form).

Privacy:
Participant contact information used only for winner notification and campaign communications. Not shared with third parties. Opt-in for ongoing alumni communications separate from campaign participation.

Content Standards:
Organization reserves right to not feature submissions containing inappropriate content, hate speech, competitor promotion, or content violating community guidelines. Submission does not guarantee feature or prize.

Prize Delivery:
Donations made within 30 days of winner announcement. Digital assets delivered via email within 14 days. Participants responsible for any tax implications of prizes (consult with legal/accounting team on reporting requirements for donations made in names).

Accessibility:
Provide video captions/transcripts when featuring submissions on owned channels. Ensure campaign materials meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards.