Animal Welfare Professionals

• Creating a blazing hot brand
• FUNdamentals of Marketing
• How to Get Your Story Told: Effective Engagement with Local Media
• Reaching Your Marketing Audience
• Is it time to hit the brand refresh button?
• Shelter Pet Marketing is Not Adoption Counseling
• Overcoming Adoption Barries: Where Marketing Meets Policy

Hi Johanna, 

In addition to the really wonderful resources that Charlotte posted I wanted to add a few more to the list of free courses or tools:
- https://heartsspeak.org/social-media-on-a-schedule/
- https://heartsspeak.org/25-days-of-social-content-ideas/
- https://youtu.be/Ey-1QVjyNSY (this was specifically for fosters but lots of universal info here!)
- https://youtu.be/3bKebJ5zdi8
- https://heartsspeak.org/marketing-resource-center/ 

When I took a quick look at your social channels, I thought about two things you could do immediately for a bit more engagement:
 --- When you share a post from another organization or a link to a website on Facebook, add a short caption to give it context for your followers (this will help them understand on a deeper level why you're sharing it and may result in them sharing or commenting which will increase your interactions).
---Similarly, when you share a photo on Instagram, you may need to give more context and assume that not all of your followers know the details or ins-and-outs of the amazing work you do, or even why you do it. Providing that depth of context can make people feel more connected (So in some cases, reintroduce your mission or how the photo ties back to some of your goals as an organization. You don't need to do this every time but grounding those posts that way occasionally will make it easier for new followers to understand and for current followers to repost or comment and interact more intentionally). 

I hope that helps a bit and wish you tons of luck with all of your good work. Social media can be frustrating at times for sure, so being able to schedule some of it ahead and take a small break might also help!

-Caitlin

Hi Johanna, 

In addition to the really wonderful resources that Charlotte posted I wanted to add a few more to the list of free courses or tools:
- https://heartsspeak.org/social-media-on-a-schedule/
- https://heartsspeak.org/25-days-of-social-content-ideas/
- https://youtu.be/Ey-1QVjyNSY (this was specifically for fosters but lots of universal info here!)
- https://youtu.be/3bKebJ5zdi8
- https://heartsspeak.org/marketing-resource-center/ 

When I took a quick look at your social channels, I thought about two things you could do immediately for a bit more engagement:
 --- When you share a post from another organization or a link to a website on Facebook, add a short caption to give it context for your followers (this will help them understand on a deeper level why you're sharing it and may result in them sharing or commenting which will increase your interactions).
---Similarly, when you share a photo on Instagram, you may need to give more context and assume that not all of your followers know the details or ins-and-outs of the amazing work you do, or even why you do it. Providing that depth of context can make people feel more connected (So in some cases, reintroduce your mission or how the photo ties back to some of your goals as an organization. You don't need to do this every time but grounding those posts that way occasionally will make it easier for new followers to understand and for current followers to repost or comment and interact more intentionally). 

I hope that helps a bit and wish you tons of luck with all of your good work. Social media can be frustrating at times for sure, so being able to schedule some of it ahead and take a small break might also help!

-Caitlin

• Put the majority of the focus on the work your organization is doing with pets and people. Since you're helping keep pets with their people, ask for permission to tell their stories and to feature them in posts (you can also use pseudonyms and/or not include the person's face in the photo so they're not identifiable). When you help with events like the spay/neuter one I saw posted, go there and get photos & video (again, you can leave faces out if needed). Interview one of the vets on FB Live.
• Tell stories!!! I bet you have the most amazing ones. Here's an example
• FB de-prioritizes graphics.  I hear this is because the algorithm sees them as advertisements. Use regular photos whenever possible.

Hi Johanna, 

In addition to the really wonderful resources that Charlotte posted I wanted to add a few more to the list of free courses or tools:
- https://heartsspeak.org/social-media-on-a-schedule/
- https://heartsspeak.org/25-days-of-social-content-ideas/
- https://youtu.be/Ey-1QVjyNSY (this was specifically for fosters but lots of universal info here!)
- https://youtu.be/3bKebJ5zdi8
- https://heartsspeak.org/marketing-resource-center/ 

When I took a quick look at your social channels, I thought about two things you could do immediately for a bit more engagement:
 --- When you share a post from another organization or a link to a website on Facebook, add a short caption to give it context for your followers (this will help them understand on a deeper level why you're sharing it and may result in them sharing or commenting which will increase your interactions).
---Similarly, when you share a photo on Instagram, you may need to give more context and assume that not all of your followers know the details or ins-and-outs of the amazing work you do, or even why you do it. Providing that depth of context can make people feel more connected (So in some cases, reintroduce your mission or how the photo ties back to some of your goals as an organization. You don't need to do this every time but grounding those posts that way occasionally will make it easier for new followers to understand and for current followers to repost or comment and interact more intentionally). 

I hope that helps a bit and wish you tons of luck with all of your good work. Social media can be frustrating at times for sure, so being able to schedule some of it ahead and take a small break might also help!

-Caitlin