The Jewish calendar is great for pacing our lives, for embracing the seasons, and appreciating things in their own time. Summer, however, sometimes feels like it can derail the communications momentum we've worked so hard to build over the year. Especially in educational organizations where classes don't meet over the summer (and where staff may be only working part time, or not at all), it's important to pay special attention to your summer social media plans. Thus from our staff, and the wisdom of the crowd!
CONSISTENCY Maintaining consistency is important both to keep up your ranking so your content will appear in newsfeeds, but it's also important to keep people in the habit of being engaged. You've worked to get people engaging with your posts — keep it up. It's also a great way to introduce and integrate new families into your community. Make a point of posting at least once or twice a week. Use the scheduling function in Facebook or a third party tool like HootSuite to schedule posts if you need plan ahead.
CONTENT If you've used the POST planning process to identify the "sweet spot" of content that's both mission centric and of practical value to your audiences, you know how important it is to find the right content. What do your audiences need over the summer? Tips for events and opportunities in your local community? How about ideas of fun summertime care packages to send to camp? Or links to back to school preparedness? Tova Otis suggested in the JDS Social Media Academy Facebook Group that she posts links to school supply sales in their community. Even links to fun activities like this list of creative things to do for under $10 or how to make quick kosher dill pickles with your cucumber harvest, other fun things you can find on Pinterest. (Got links to share? Add them in the comments)
CONTRIBUTIONS How can you get people participating in your Page even if they are not walking through your door? How about a photo contest to have people submit a picture of their adventures over the summer, or wearing their school t-shirt in exciting places? Invite your audience to send a postcard — a real one which you can scan and post online, or a virtual one by posting on your Page. Do a virtual scavenger hunt. Promote these invitations both on your page, and through email and other vehicles with links to help them take immediate action.
CONVERSATION Keep the conversation going. What questions can you ask that inspire people to speak up ("Where are kids going to camp this summer? What's your favorite ice cream flavor?) or chime in? Ellen Dietrick asked her community to vote on the color t-shirt for the coming year and got dozens of responses – some serious, some silly! Remember to be LISTENING as much as TALKING. If you're not in the office make sure you're getting notifications (by email, or on your phone or tablet) so you can monitor and facilitate conversation as people chime in!
How will you keep momentum during the summer? What kinds of content will you post? How do you structure your time over the summer to keep momentum? Share in the comments. Happy summer!