Following some basic guidelines can help expand the reach and effectiveness of your posts
Social media can be a highly effective way to get the word out about your upcoming event or to share the life-changing work done at Johns Hopkins. Whether you’re new to using these platforms or are a social media expert, here are some best practices to help you be a model ambassador for your division and/or hospital.
Create engaging original content
Utilize social media accounts you may already have on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share your experiences with Johns Hopkins and to highlight the many accomplishments made possible by your commitment.
- Tag official Johns Hopkins social media accounts in your posts by using “@” before the account name. By tagging Johns Hopkins accounts, we can easily identify your posts and potentially share your content.
- Use Johns Hopkins hashtags (#) when appropriate. By using event-specific or well-known Hopkins hashtags, supporters and staff can easily find and share posts pertaining to Hopkins content. You can monitor Hopkins social media accounts to pick up on popular usage. Some popular examples include #GoHop, #JHU, #JHUReunion, #FacultyFriday, and #HopkinsAtHome.
- Including a visual element in your post — a photo, video, or even a gif can help to direct people’s attention to what you have to say.
- Take photos when attending a Johns Hopkins sponsored event or function when possible. Candid photos that capture the mood of the moment work the best.
- Action shots capturing movement are great, but aren’t as effective if they’re blurry. However, your smart phone is capable of taking great action shots, especially on ‘live/motion mode,’ so don’t be afraid to try.
- Horizontal pictures are preferred over vertical photos in most cases. The best ones are those that can potentially be cropped into a square, as it keep the focus in the center of the frame.
- Refrain from using inappropriate or profane language in your posts.
Share existing content
Even if you don’t create your own posts, there are many social media channels representing our many schools, hospitals, and divisions. These channels often create content around current news, events, and announcements that you can amplify by sharing them through your own account.
- Follow your school, hospital, or division on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also find Development and Alumni Relations’ Johns Hopkins Giving accounts in the footer of this webpage.
- Like, retweet/repost, comment, and share content from Johns Hopkins accounts to amplify post impressions.
- When retweeting or sharing, include a personal message in your post about why the particular content is important to you.
If you have any questions or would like more details on how to get involved, visit our webpage or email us at volunteerleadership@jhu.edu.
