Using Social Media for Promotion

Suchandrika Chakrabarti

Community Newswire Manager

Media Trust

@SuchandrikaC

Positive change through the power of media

• Open courses- Regular training sessions on marketing, digital and PR & media relations led by industry professionals

• Bespoke training and consultancy – Expert-led tailor made training and consultancy packages to meet the individual needs and requirements of your organisation

• Productions – Award winning films for charities

• Community newswire – Our free-to-use Community Newswire service helps charities, communities and citizen journalists get their stories into the national and regional media

What is Community Newswire?

• A free news distribution service

• Created in 2004 as a partnership between Media Trust and Press Association – 2014 is our 10th anniversary

• PA is the national news agency for the UK and Ireland

• Founded in 1868, PA delivers text, pictures and videos to all major UK news organisations

How does it work?

1) Press release received by Media Trust

2) Chosen press release written up as news by PA journalist

3) News story distributed to media organisations

Using Community Newswire

Engaging with other members of the London Youth Games

On Facebook On Twitter

facebook.com/haveringlyg

twitter.com/WandSchoolGames

Social media vs. offline media

Overview of useful platforms

• Using your page as a blog

• Showcase for multimedia

• Lets supporters know about updates

• Passive, closed

• Openness allows for new connections

• Conversations with current and new supporters

• RTs can make new allies + underpin tone

• Can get lost in the ever-updating feed

Facebook Twitter

Do Something Brilliant on Facebook

facebook.com/dsbrilliant

Promoting your content on Facebook

1) Choose the image first

Promoting your content on Facebook

2) Keep the headline snappy

Promoting your content on Facebook

3) Be friendly!

10 top tips for Facebook

1. Have fun, be fun

2. Be topical, timely and relevant

3. Be visual (see below)

4. Be concise – think of mobile users

5. Be open to discussion

6. Ask questions

7. If you’re having a slow day, post an inspirational / shareable pic or quote

8. Don’t beg for likes

9. Post full links within FB – they get 3x more clicks

10. Develop an authentic tone

Do Something Brilliant on Twitter

@dsbrilliant

Promoting your content on Twitter

1) Keep your tweets well under 140 characters

- Easier to digest

- More scope for retweets

- Allows for comment

Promoting your content on Twitter

2) Get a link in

Promoting your content on Twitter

3) Create / jump on to an appropriate #hashtag

10 top tips for Twitter

1. Follow other projects, see how they’re doing it

2. Respond quickly with with .@ so everyone can see your replies

1. Answer each and every query – others can see when you don’t

2. Always shorten your links

1. Aim for <125 characters

2. Ask questions, solicit opinions

7. Share great articles linked to your cause

8. Twitter displays pics in the timeline, so try to get as many in as possible

9. Use lists to sort other users into helpful groups, plus add a community feel

10. Consider Twitter takeovers from happy beneficiaries to occasionally vary the tone

Best times to post – harness that afternoon slump!

Facebook Twitter

Peak times for audience interest

Facebook Twitter

Worst times to post – they’ve been set free from the screen!

Facebook Twitter

Are those timings true of teens? Research your audience!

Teenagers have more unstructured time on their hands, particularly in the school holidays. However, they might have strict teachers...

If not, I hope you feel like this…