Making Friends with Facebook & other PR tips Or “how to avoid putting a lot of effort into something that has no impact on your goals.”

WHY A FACEBOOK PAGE? o Marching orders. o All the other clubs had one. o We have a Facebook page? o We don’t have a Facebook page, are we in trouble with the District?

PR BASICS What do you want to accomplish? o Increase membership. o Engage current membership. o Increase awareness of Rotary and why people join. o Recognize event sponsors, donors, members.

WHO IS POSTING TO YOUR FACEBOOK? Get more than one person. o Set up an outline of your policies. o Share the password with selected posters who have been oriented. o Share the info from this presentation. o Make it easy and fun.

PR BASICS Straightforward Policies o No insider jokes. o Avoid the usual – sex, politics, religion. o No embarrassing photos or comments. o Thank businesses for donations & sponsorships, but don’t cross the line into promoting them.

THINK VACATION PHOTOS

Our Rotary Host families on our last day in Bauru, Brazil. This Rotary Friendship Exchange has been amazing! We can’t wait to welcome the Brazilian Rotarians who will be visiting Spokane in June.

PROVIDE CONTEXT Always caption your photos. o Who – names, tags. o What. o Why. o Think of people outside your club reading the post. Is their context?

EXAMPLES

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY Make every photo tell a story. o One well selected and captioned photo is better than a series of photos that do not offer a compelling message. o Post one or twice a week unless you have events or reasons to post more often. o Vary your types of posts.

YOU LIKE ME! “If a tree falls in the forest…” o Promote “Likes” in your club. o Promote family member and colleague “Likes.” o Ask organizations receiving your funds or services to “Like” your page. o Encourage participants in events like bike rides to Like your page. o Consider a “Like” campaign.

SHARING IS EVERYTHING It’s not enough just to “Like” the Facebook page. o Members need to “Share,” but not every post. o If you “tag” someone in a photo, it will show up on their wall. o Make sure you let a business know if you have posted about them on your wall. o Post thanks to donor/sponsor walls.

STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS Use Facebook to promote & keep in touch with students. o Ask student award recipients to “Like” your page. Family members too. o Post a photo of them and tag them. If under 18, must have parent release. o Message them to find out how they are doing and get updates.

DONOR RECOGNITION It’s a great way to thank those inside & outside the club. o Include a photo when possible. o Post one at a time, not as a list. o If a Paul Harris Fellow, explain what that is and how the money is used (briefly). o Use names, tags, link to websites, etc.

EXAMPLES

HIGHLIGHT SERVICE PROJECTS Show, tell, reasons/invite to join. o Include a photo when possible. o Use names, tags, links to websites and highlight the recipient organization. o Highlight past service projects on anniversary dates of those projects or on “Throwback Thursday.” o Give a quote from a member.

EXAMPLES

PROMOTE MEMBERSHIP “Why I joined.” “What keeps me in Rotary.” “Why Rotary is important.” o Include a photo of a member. o Use name, business/profession, how long a member, quote. o Make sure to tag the photo.”

EXAMPLES

PUBLICITY Promote Events / News Coverage o Link to website for Rotary event or news coverage. o If event, put some info in Facebook post, don’t just put the link. o Make sure there is a way to take action – register, , phone.”

EXAMPLES

IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS Make people want to participate. o Photos should have variety of ages and genders, if not in one photo, over time. o Avoid “line-ups” and “handshakes”, at least most of the time. o If you preach or ”push” an agenda, no one will read. o Change it up, don’t just post speakers.

IT’S NOT THAT HARD… …at least if you have a smart phone. o Post from your event. o Capture fun or touching moments. o Does your page reflect the fellowship, service and character of your club? o Tell the story, not just the facts.

GO COUGS! Debbie Rauen, Spokane Rotary Club 21,