By Taiwo ‘Orbs’ Okunlola, assistant public image chair for the Rotaract Club of Surulere South, Lagos, Nigeria.  Taken from Rotary Voices.
 
As a brand marketing consultant and past assistant to my club’s public image chair, I’m consumed with a zeal for putting the Rotaract Club of Surulere South on the map. I want us to be known for the selfless services our members are rendering. I want to motivate others to join us in the work we do.
 
You see, it’s one thing to carry out projects. It’s another thing to publicize them on Rotary Showcase and social media. Many of us know the importance of social media, but managing social media platforms effectively can be a challenge.
 
Here are eight tips to build a strong social media presence for your club.
  1. Security: Don’t share your club login details with multiple handlers. This is to protect your club’s reputation from hackers.
  2. Consistency: Post regularly and consistently to keep your followers engaged and interested. If possible, use a content calendar to plan out your posts in advance. 
  3. Engage with your followers: Respond to comments and messages promptly, and make sure to interact with your followers to build relationships and foster a sense of community.
  4. Share fun and engaging content: While it’s important to post about your club’s projects and activities, don’t be afraid to spice things up with other fun, lighthearted content. You can post about relevant holidays and events or showcase your members’ personalities and interests. By sharing a variety of content, you’ll keep your followers interested.
  5. Visual appeal: Use high-quality images and videos in your posts to make them eye-catching. You can also use tools like Canva to create graphics and designs that align with your club’s branding.
  6. Promote your social media presence: Make sure to include links to your social media accounts on your club’s website and social media reference landing pages like Linktree. To increase your reach, encourage your members to share your content with their networks.
  7. Share content from similar NGOs: Sharing content from other NGOs aligned with your club’s mission is a great way to build relationships while expanding your social media visibility. You can share posts from other organizations and give shout-outs to show support for their work.
  8. Finally, understand that public image does not end on social media. It extends to how you respond to prospective members’ direct messages (DMs). Your social accounts might attract prospective members, but failing to respond to their messages could make you lose them.
Remember to always keep your club’s mission and values in mind when creating content and engaging with your followers. Encourage members to get acquainted with the Brand Center to see all the ways they can use it to support and promote Rotary. Building a strong social media presence is crucial for Rotaract clubs to showcase their projects, attract new members, and build relationships with other organizations. By following these tips, your club can make a significant impact through social media and achieve your goals.