When you want to generate initial awareness, social media is a great way to connect with large swathes of people who wouldn’t otherwise hear about you.
On the other hand, if you want to invest in maintaining these relationships over the long term, it’s one of the easiest ways to put out regular content where you know your followers will see it.
Over the years, I’ve talked repeatedly about the various videos that can help you achieve these goals. I’ve made the case for the different types of films you should invest in and why, but I haven’t yet explained how to implement them in practice.
So, if you’re ready to start acting on some of that advice, this is the post for you.
There are many different platforms, and while you can post to all of them in theory, I suggest being a little more strategic with where you direct your energy.
Consider who uses the sites where the video will appear. If you’re running an awareness campaign for a younger demographic, you might try to become a hit on Instagram. If you want to reach out to adults, on the other hand, you’ll probably find them on Facebook.
Do some research on best practices for each platform. How do their algorithms treat video? This might be something to take into account when you decide when and what to post. Is there a maximum length? Will your video start playing automatically when someone scrolls past?
In that case, you’ll want to make sure the first few seconds are striking enough to attract attention before site users have moved onto the next post.
When someone finishes watching one of your videos, you’ll ideally have made them feel something positive or profound. What action do you want them to take while they’re on this high?
If this is their first interaction with you, it’s probably something small, like just getting them to click through to your website. If they’ve been part of the family for a while, in contrast, you might be just be checking in to make sure they’re still thinking about you, or you might be asking them to get involved in an upcoming event.
Either way, make sure to frame your video with copy that will reinforce the idea you want to leave them with and make it as easy as possible to take the next step.
After all, as we go about our daily lives, we’re constantly tuning out conversations and images that we don’t perceive as being any of our business. It takes time for the unfamiliar and seemingly irrelevant to penetrate this protective disregard.
While you can just continue to repost and share, I’d highly recommend using paid ads to ensure that you gain abundant exposure as quickly as possible. If you’re able to garner a lot of attention in a short amount of time, this energy has the capacity to snowball and gather momentum of its own.
Similarly, if you’re trying to keep the excitement up for existing donors, don’t be afraid to post frequently. I’m not saying you need to send out videos every day, not by a long shot; but aside from including video when you can, it’s still important to make yourself a regular, enjoyable part of your supporters’ social media diet.
This is a lot to keep straight, but once you get a system in place, the rewards are worth it.
Are you ready to take advantage of the advantages of social media? Still have some questions?
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Enroll in my free email course and I’ll walk you through the exact process I use for my own clients!
Enroll in my free email course and I’ll walk you through the exact process I use for my own clients!
