Step 5: Select Distribution Channels

In Step 4 of Merit's achievement workflow, you enhanced your story with photos and videos.

In Step 5, you will select the audiences that your achievements will be sent to. 

At this point, your achievements will only go to students and their parents. However, when publishing your story, you can also send them to local media, government representatives, high schools, and social media.

You will see checkboxes for each of these audiences here:

You can activate or deactivate each of these audiences by checking or unchecking the box next to each. Here's a brief description of each:

Local Government Representatives

Merit will deliver government representatives across the country stories about the students from their district at the end of each week. These weekly digest emails will let them view students' stories and send congratulatory notes to students. This box is checked by default but can be deactivated by unchecking the box:

High Schools

Much like government representatives, Merit will deliver high school principals and guidance counselors news about their alumni at the end of each week. These weekly digest emails will let them view students' stories and send congratulatory notes to students. This box is checked by default but can be deactivated by unchecking the box:

Social Media

When your story goes live, a link to the achievement's landing page can be automatically shared on any of the social sites that you have synched to your Merit account. Check the box next to any of your social sites to auto-post the story there:

Click the Customize Social Posts link to alter the default text that will accompany your posts on Facebook and Twitter:

Note: Merit does not support the addition of emojis to social media posts.

Hometown Newspapers

Achievements will not be sent to local media automatically. Check the Send to Hometown Newspapers box to open up Merit's press release workflow and begin preparing personalized press releases:  

This guide will provide a walkthrough for two different scenarios. Follow the link below that best describes your needs:

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You can activate or deactivate each of these audiences by checking or unchecking the box next to each. Here's a brief description of what will happen if each box is checked:

• Local Government Representatives - At the end of each week, Merit will deliver government representatives across the country stories about the students from their district. These weekly digest emails will let them view students' stories and send congratulatory notes to students. This box is checked by default.
• High Schools - At the end of each week (much like government representatives), Merit will deliver high school principals and guidance counselors news about their alumni. These weekly digest emails will let them view students' stories and send congratulatory notes to students. This box is checked by default.
• Social Media - Immediately after your achievement is approved by a Merit editor, it will appear online. When the story goes live, a link to the achievement's landing page can be automatically posted on any of the social sites that you have synched to your Merit account. Any online viewer will be able to visit the page and search for individual students.
• Hometown Newspapers - Shortly after your achievement is approved by a Merit editor, the editors and reporters at local newspapers will receive a customized press release about only the students from their coverage area. 

Achievements will not be sent to local media automatically. Checking the Send to Hometown Newspapers box will open up Merit's press release workflow: