From April 6th-10th we did a virtual event on Facebook to help everyone better understand the ins and outs of social media, specifically Facebook. Since many of our businesses are not open, this is the perfect opportunity to learn and adapt and grow as an individual and a business. Below you will find the images and links associated with each post to be able to go back and reference at your convenience. We hope you enjoy and feel free to reach out with any questions!
Post Often
“One article suggests posting no more than twice a day on Facebook. The next one says you should post to LinkedIn on weekdays only, preferably between 4 pm and 6 pm.
But, in reality, there is no magic formula for deciding how often to post on social media. That’s because what works for one business or brand, may not work for another. Sure you can read case studies of what has worked for others, but don’t make their solution your solution.
So, instead of seeking magic formulas, let’s focus on these proven posting strategies:
- Posting consistency is more important than posting frequency.
- Content quality is more important than content quantity (and social media networks are letting us know with all the changes).
Without having an objective for social media, you won’t know if your posts are successful or not.” – Sendible
Use Images
Everyone, including your Uncle Bill and neighbor Suzie, competes for our attention. Using the correct image and video can make all the difference in your posts.
Also keep in mind that images, even such the ones we are using for this event, may not succeed well as a boosted post or Facebook Ad because of the amount of text on the image. You can learn more on the appropriate amount of text for posting and ads from Facebook directly here; after all, they are the ones writing the algorithms 😜
Format Your Images
Yes, the size of your images does matter. If you want the image to appear correctly on your event, post, cover photo you have to take the size of it into consideration. If you do not, the image may not appear correctly across devices.
Sprout Social has the most up to date size-guide for any platform.
You don’t need photoshop or expensive programs to do this. There is a great, and FREE, online program out there called Canva that has updated sizes and templates to make formatting images super easy! Try it out at Canva.com.
Use Hashtags
Although the Chamber is just getting more active on Facebook, and we do not have any other social media platform, our partner the CVB is a great example of the power of hashtags. The New River Gorge CVB uses #newrivergorge, the brand or slogan that you want people to embrace and connect with, #gogorge, and a simple one for the community, #newrivergorgeclimbing. These are use across platforms to build a community and image base that can be used in promoting the area.
What has your experience been with hashtags? Are you using them?
- What are they?
- Why should I use them?
- What should I focus on?
Hootsuite has more information out there for you.
Use Videos and Stories
Video has a way of captivating audiences in a much greater way than photos and stand-alone text posts. Videos can help to make more conversions and give the audience an opportunity to really put themselves in the experience or product you are promoting. Take a look at what Wishpond recommends for ideal photos and video.
Many people are now taking advantage of Facebook and Instagram stories to have more interaction with their audience.
Do you have any experience with Stories? What do you like about it? Dislike? Are you using this tool for personal use or professional?
Lean more here about Facebook Stories.
