Social media has transformed the college recruiting landscape forever. The only person at loss if you’re not using Twitter is yourself.
Not too long ago when I was going through the college recruiting process it consisted of emails, DVD’s, and going to camps.
Today, you can get connected with any college coach from a free app on your phone. Take advantage of this!
This article will help you understand the importance of Twitter for college recruiting and assist in optimizing your account for success.
How to Set Up your Twitter for Athletic Recruiting
First things first, if you already have a Twitter account you’re going to want to go through and delete some old tweets. Remove anything that is inappropriate.
You’ll also want to optimize the set-up of your bio. Coaches need to know who you are, where you’re from, and how to learn more.
Twitter will essentially become your recruiting profile.
Some pointers:
- use your real name
- include high school and state
- position you play
- link to highlights
- contact info
For a detailed step-by-step process check out the Twitter section of the College Recruiting Guidebook.
How to Use Twitter for College Recruiting
To maximize twitter for college recruiting you’ll need to know how to use it efficiently.
There are thousands of recruits just like yourself looking to catch the eyes of college coaches. How are you going to stand out?
I recommend doing things such as:
- posting highlights
- workout vids
- game clips
- motivational quotes
- congratulating teammates
- retweeting pro athletes
- progress pics
- posting academic achievements
There’s a ton of creative ways to be noticed by college coaches you just have to take the initiative.
Nearly Every College Coach is on Twitter
There are very few coaches that do not have a Twitter account. Nearly all of them are active on it as well.
Keep in mind, some of the high level coaches have their accounts run by personal assistants.
The only other platform with more engaged coaches is Athletes in Recruitment (AIR). Both platforms play a major role in the recruiting process.
Coaches go where the players go. Twitter and AIR are the primetime spots right now.
How to DM College Coaches on Twitter
The best feature on Twitter is the ability to send messages to coaches. The downside of this is that coaches receive hundreds of DM’s a week.
Your message, profile, and DM will have to stand out.
Remember, not every coach will have their DM’s open (there is a way around this). On top of this, coaches can’t technically respond to your DM until September 1 of your junior year.
In the Twitter section of the ultimate recruiting package I show you exactly how to:
- DM colleges coaches (w/ sample message templates included)
- Find any coach on Twitter
- Set up your DM’s so coaches can message you first
- Stand out from the other DM’s
- Message coaches who don’t have their DM’s open
Social Media Optimization
I hope this article has been helpful and you now have a better idea of how to use Twitter in your recruiting process.
For an in-depth breakdown of Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites make sure to check out The College Recruiting Guidebook.
It is your personal manual to earning a college athletic scholarship.
Click the image to learn more.
Inside the package you’ll have access to:
- Step-by-Step instructions for Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
- Sample DM’s you can use
- Access to thousands of college coaches twitter accounts
7 Twitter Tips for Recruiting
- Put Yourself Out There
Don’t be afraid to reach out to coaches and post videos.
2. Watch Your Likes and Retweets
Coaches will be looking at what posts you “like” and retweet.
3. Ask Friends/Family to Share
Have friends and family share your posts, the more eyes that see your posts the better.
4. Support Your Teammates
Show you’re a good teammate/friend by congratulating teammates on their accomplishments.
5. Follow and Engage With Coaches
Make sure you are engaging with coaches beyond just sending them DM’s.
6. Create Twitter Lists
Add college coaches to lists to follow them closely.
7. Show your love for the game
Coaches want players that love the game and are constantly looking to improve.
Best College Recruiting Twitter Accounts to Follow
*Listed in no particular order
1. Keith Scott
Coach Scott is an experienced Division 1 coach that is guaranteed to help you with recruiting.
2. College Athlete Insight – Andrew Petcash
Since 2018, I’ve been posting daily recruiting tips and advice for student-athletes and parents.
3. JR Sandlin
College football coach that has tons of great content on recruiting and daily inspiration.
Tweets to help you stay on top of NCAA news and your eligibility throughout the recruiting process.
Coach Watts serves as a student-athlete advocate and mentor. His tweets will help you with more than just recruiting.
Coach Anderson is a college softball coach who’s tweet are aimed to motivate you and help with recruiting.
7. Kurt Hines
Coach Hines is a successful HS football coach that keeps it real and will motivate/help you everyday with his tweets.
8. Austin Byler
Tons of great tweets with a baseball focus. He’s the founder of Major League University.
Coach Hixon is a high school and AAU basketball coach that tweets out a bunch of great opportunities for hoopers.
10. Robert Cross
A college football linebacker coach that will not only inspire you, but also give you helpful recruiting tips.
11. Matt Lisle
Nice mix of baseball/softball content with a sprinkle of inspiration. Matt founded the Hitting Vault.
12. William Payne
Coach Payne is a college basketball coach who provides a great perspective on the recruiting process for student-athletes & parents.
13. Charles Watkins
Great tweets everyday aimed at helping you get recruited along with being a better athlete, student, and human being.
14. Jamie Bechler
Coach Bechler helps you improve as an athlete and a leader. He wrote several books and founded the Leadership Playbook.
Conclusion: Twitter for College Recruiting
Twitter is a great tool to utilize during your college recruiting process.
Check out the College Recruiting Guidebook to learn more about how to optimize your Twitter account.
