Optimize Your Chapter's Social Media

I know that many people, including me, have wondered what they could do to use their chapter’s social media more. EVENTS! Every chapter has events: socials, formal/informal recruitment events, philanthropies, etc. Everybody, you have to admit it, wants the world to know what their chapter is doing, and how awesome it really is! Social media is the easiest and CHEAP way to do it! 

Using social media is simple! I have been saying this all along. If you are the planner or programmer of the event, if you have the time and knowledge of social media then do it! If you don't have the time or the knowledge find someone who does. If you have never learned the term delegate - social media is the best place to do it. 

Me personally, I don't use every social media platform, but there is someone in my chapter who does. I have delegated it to them to work on those platforms. If there is something that I want blasted across all medias I will just send an email with the photo or information to post! Super easy right?!? This is the quickest and best way to promote your chapter all year long, especially when an event isn't happening. 

You're probably thinking about how you can use Social Media to promote your event, well let me help! Break it down: Pre-Event, during the event, Post-Event. 

Pre-Event

Get the word out there. Make sure that you aren't solely relying on social media though. You will potentially miss an older audience and your school's community and the town surrounding. Make sure that you table, visit businesses, hang banners and flyers, and what ever else you do, but just add in the social media component. 

When you are spreading the word about the event make sure it is factual, has all of the information needed that a participant might need. Also, share your flyer in posts so that way viewers can share it as well. 

Another thing to consider is doing a mock video to get others noticing your event. Once chapter on our campus did a Harlem Shake (when it was cool) to advertise their poker tournament. Other chapters at a near by school have done a video to show the different way people run in a 5k for their event. My chapter is adopting that this year and making a video of the different kind of bowlers out there. In case you didn't catch that, we do a bowling tournament for our bigger philanthropy. 

Incorporate #TBT to your event from the past year, talk about how successful it was and how you want to make it even better this year! 

During the Event

Post pictures! Pictures of your members working the event, participating, etc. This works really well if it is a come and go event! In the spring we had our Pancake Feed, Flapjacks and Snapbacks. All throughout the event we were posting pictures of girls making and serving the pancakes, the guests at our event and women in their snapbacks. This lets those who haven't come yet or are questioning if they want to buy a ticket at the door to get over to your event as soon as they can because they don't want to miss out. Also, just reminding the community that the event is going on helps! Some people may not have looked at their ticket or have gotten swept up in the way of life and forgotten what day it actually was. 

Chapter Members at Flapjacks and Snapbacks. This photo was actually used in a "during the event" post.

Post Event

Let the community, family, friends, those who came, and those who donated how successful your event was. As soon as you know a total amount raised, share it! This will reassure that what the community and those who came to the event gave was well worth it and that it is going to a great cause! 

If you haven't been promoting a philanthropy, make sure that you let everyone know how much fun was had, if it was recruitment related: the number of women you got, or how that specific day went. A sisterhood retreat: show the craft you made or share the most memorable moment of the day! Get others interested and coming back to hear more information! 

Don't Forget!

Make sure when you are using social media that you take the time to explain what your philanthropy/event is for. 

Give a shout out to those who have donated money (if it applies). This will most likely want to get competitors to donate as well!

I hope that this will help you make your event even better! Rock that social media and get your chapter some time in the lime light. 

Until next time!