In today’s world, it is near impossible to ignore the influence of social media. Because of the popularity of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, social media is an extremely valuable tool for non-profit social media marketing – including booster clubs. Creating and posting content that will catch the eye of possible booster club volunteers or donors is absolutely necessary in order to develop an effective marketing campaign.
Due to the nature of non-profits, it can be difficult for organizations like booster clubs to set aside funds for a professional to manage their social media. This means it’s up to the volunteers and leaders of the booster club to consistently update and stay active on the booster club’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter profiles.
WHY SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BOOSTER CLUBS IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
The primary goal of any kind of booster club is to give support to the cause they’ve dedicated themselves to. Whether it be an athletic booster club, drama booster club, or academic booster club, a non-profit organization cannot function without volunteers or donations. This means that you have to do everything possible to promote and draw attention to your cause. With social media, your booster club can create exposure for its cause, engage and interact with potential volunteers and donors, and garner the attention of a wider audience.
Social media for booster clubs can be a difficult system to get the hang of. With such a variety of platforms and such opportunity for reach, getting started on social media can be daunting. Follow the steps below to start building your booster club’s social media presence!
KNOW & TARGET YOUR BOOSTER CLUB AUDIENCE
Before your booster club can start creating any sort of content, you have to first identify who you’re trying to reach. Who is your demographic? The more specific your target audience, the more effective your content. You can also separate your target audiences by platform. On your booster club Facebook page, try to create content that will appeal to older audiences, such as parents or donors. In the circumstance of an athletic booster club that is associated with a high school or university, reach out towards alumni and post videos, photos, and text posts that will catch their attention such as event announcements, “throwback” pictures, or updates on recent athletic achievements.
Additionally, any non-profit social media marketing campaign should be based on a list of trackable objectives they wish to achieve through their social media profiles. Is there a certain number of donors you wish to attract through your booster club Facebook page? A certain amount of shares or attention you would like to receive on a specific Twitter post? Identify exactly what kind of goals you’re aiming to reach with your various social media profiles and then create a posting schedule that will push you towards achieving those objectives.
MAKING THE MOST OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BOOSTER CLUBS
The main social media platforms your booster club should focus on are Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Not only are these platforms the popular, but they allow a large amount of user interaction, allowing your booster club to engage with their audience. Below, we’ve outlined some tips for making the most out of your booster clubs profile on each social media platform listed above!
Your Booster Club Facebook Page
- The first step of utilizing Facebook as a tool for engagement and publicity is to, of course, create a profile. Choose a profile picture and cover photo that reads as professional, but also reflects the nature of your booster club. Borrowing the logo or color scheme of the school your booster club supports is an effective strategy that will immediately engage those familiar with those visuals.
- In the information section of your booster club Facebook page, write a mission statement that illustrates the goals and values of your club and the cause you are supporting. Whether you are a music booster club or a sports booster club, stating your purpose clearly and authentically will help your audience gain a better understanding of your objectives.
- When it comes to creating posts for your booster club Facebook page, keep in mind the target audience. Update your followers on important events hosted by your club as well as achievements made by the booster club or the cause the club is supporting, such as a sports team or drama department.
- Include links to other articles that reference your booster club or cause in order to keep followers engaged with your content. Post photos that give your audience an inside look at the kind of work your organization is doing. Make sure to use phrases that will prompt interaction between your booster club and other users, such as “Let us know what you think in the comments!” And finally, be sure to engage with your fans that engage with your posts, commenting and being active only help raise your Facebook Profile posts moving forward.
Your Booster Club Twitter Profile
- When managing multiple social media accounts on separate platforms, try to make sure each profile has a consistent appearance. This means that it’s more than okay for your booster club Twitter profile to have the same profile picture as your booster club Facebook page.
- Twitter is, inherently, a more active social media platform. Users tend to take more time to scroll, constantly refreshing their feeds, meaning that your booster club will have to be more consistent and active with posting. Try to tweet or retweet at least 2 to 8 times throughout the day, every day.
- Retweeting other users content that relates to the activity of your booster club can also work as a useful non-profit social media marketing skill. Engagement works both ways. If you want users and followers to engage with your booster club twitter profile, you have to take steps to engage with other users and accounts.
- Fill your tweets with clear and relevant information. The main goal is to get other users to share your tweets, which will get your profile more visibility and engagement. Additionally, include photos that act as snapshots of the day to day accomplishments of your booster club. This will give other users the feeling of personal involvement when viewing content on your booster club Twitter profile.
Your Booster Club Instagram Profile
- Instagram, though on par in terms of popularity with platforms like Facebook and Twitter, has a completely different format. When creating your booster club Instagram profile, register the account as a “business profile.” Doing this will allow you to view engagement on each post, while also having the option to include information such as your booster clubs home base address, email, and phone number in the account biography.
- Facebook is Instagram’s parent company, meaning that, on Instagram, you have the option to invite friends to the application. If there is a collection of users on Facebook that are consistently engaging with the posts on your booster clubs Facebook page, send them an invitation to follow you on your Instagram profile.
- When posting on your booster club Instagram profile, choose photos that reflect the work your booster club is doing within the community. Use the captions to make announcements, direct your followers to links (which you can put in the “link” portion of your bio), and to update your audience.
- Utilize hashtags when they’re relevant, but don’t bombarded your posts with them! An overwhelming amount of hashtags can off-put users and, at times, attract negative attention as well as people outside of your target audience.
- While you don’t need to post on Instagram nearly as much as Twitter due to the nature of the platform, use Instagram’s “Story” feature as a means of engaging with your audience more casually. Document day-in-the-life moments and post them to your booster club’s story in order to create daily content that will engage your followers in a way that humanizes your organization. Granting your audience, a look behind the scenes while your booster club plans events, organizes activities, and interacts with students and faculty will communicate the authenticity of your organization.
MAINTAIN A SCHEDULE FOR YOUR BOOSTER CLUB SOCIAL MEDIA
After putting in all of the work outlined above, it only makes sense to formulate a plan that will help sustain your booster club’s presence on social media. Create an excel spreadsheet (or even simply use a standard calendar!) and outline what kind of posts you will make on each platform for each day of the week. Try and create content in advance. Pre-write posts for your booster club Facebook page, create a folder of photos that can be used on Instagram when appropriate, and draft tweets that can be posted during activities and events. The more you plan, the more smoothly your non-profit social media marketing campaign will run.
Social media, when utilized effectively, can be enormously helpful tool for booster clubs. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter don’t only help booster clubs raise their public profile, they allow non-profits to engage with their audiences and prospective volunteers and donors. Continuously updating and engaging with users on social media is an integral part in maintaining a solid and successful booster club.
Do you have a booster club? Check to see if your club is listed in our index HERE. If it’s not, add your booster club to the Booostr Booster Club Index here!
