Social media can be an effective (and free!) way to reach a large audience and generate and maintain interest and involvement in your Green Hub. But it can only be effective if it can be updated regularly, and the messages are appropriate and interesting.
Here are some tips on how to use social media for your Hub:
Create social media accounts
Start by creating social media accounts for your Hub on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These platforms allow you to reach different audiences and share information about your garden so think about which one might be most appropriate -ask around to understand who uses what.
Share updates
Regularly share updates about your Hub, including photos and videos if you can (checking that people are happy to be photographed). Share images and information about the progress of the Hub, any upcoming events, things that have happened recently, and any new developments.
Use hashtags
Use hashtags such as #communitygarden, #sustainability, and #greenhub to make it easier for people to find your posts. Encourage people to share their own photos and experiences with the Hub. Respond to comments and messages to build a relationship with your audience.
Collaborate with others
Partner with other organisations or voluntary groups in your community to cross-promote each other’s projects. You can tag them in your posts, or share their posts on your feed. This can help increase awareness of your Hub and attract new followers.
Encourage Engagement
Encourage people to share, comment, and like your posts to generate buzz about your Hub. For example, you could ask followers to share their favorite gardening tips or their favorite activities at the Hub. Or, you can run a poll to see what people what to do more of.
Share other content
It doesn’t have to all be about your Hub. Share other content about gardening, sustainability, and the benefits of community gardens. This can help build engagement with the bigger picture and increase support for your project.
Social media can be really beneficial for your Hub but it needs regular attention. Consider who might be able to help with this, perhaps it could be shared between a few people, or on a rotating basis. Or it may be that there is a student or person wanting to boost their work experience in this area, who could commit an hour or two per week.
Learn more
If you’d like to learn more about using Social Media for your Green Community Hub, including understanding social media channels, creating a social media marketing strategy, and managing a content calendar, you can watch our webinar here…