How do you use social media to lead your volunteers?

1 Choose the right platforms

Not all social media platforms are created equal, and not all of them suit your needs and goals as a volunteer leader. You need to consider factors such as the size, age, location, and preferences of your volunteers, as well as the type, frequency, and tone of your messages. For example, if you want to share updates, photos, and videos of your projects, you might use Facebook or Instagram. If you want to coordinate tasks, schedules, and feedback, you might use WhatsApp or Slack. If you want to network, recruit, or promote your cause, you might use LinkedIn or Twitter. Do some research and ask your volunteers what platforms they use and prefer, and then choose the ones that work best for you and your team.

2 Create a strategy

Once you have selected the platforms that you want to use, you need to create a strategy for how to use them effectively. This means setting clear and realistic goals, defining your target audience, creating a content calendar, assigning roles and responsibilities, and measuring your results. A good strategy will help you stay focused, consistent, and relevant, and avoid wasting time and resources. For example, you might set a goal to increase your volunteer retention rate by 10% in six months, and then plan how to use social media to achieve that. You might create a content calendar that outlines what, when, and how often you will post, and who will be in charge of creating, editing, and publishing the content. You might also decide how to track and evaluate your social media performance, such as by using analytics tools, surveys, or feedback forms.

3 Engage your volunteers

Social media is not a one-way street, it is a conversation. You need to engage your volunteers by creating and sharing content that is relevant, interesting, and valuable to them. You also need to encourage and respond to their comments, questions, and feedback, and show appreciation and recognition for their contributions. Engaging your volunteers will help you build trust, loyalty, and community, and motivate them to stay involved and committed to your cause. For example, you might share stories, testimonials, or impact reports that highlight the achievements and challenges of your projects. You might also ask your volunteers for their opinions, suggestions, or experiences, and create polls, quizzes, or contests to spark their interest and participation. You might also thank your volunteers publicly or privately, and feature them on your social media channels as examples of excellence or inspiration.

4 Follow the rules

Social media can also pose some risks and challenges for your volunteer leadership, such as privacy issues, misinformation, conflicts, or negative feedback. You need to follow the rules and best practices of each platform, as well as the policies and guidelines of your organization or cause. You also need to educate and inform your volunteers about the dos and don'ts of using social media as part of your team, and monitor and moderate your online activities and interactions. Following the rules will help you protect yourself, your volunteers, and your reputation, and prevent or resolve any potential problems or crises. For example, you might create a social media handbook or code of conduct that outlines the expectations and responsibilities of your volunteers, such as what to post or not post, how to handle confidential or sensitive information, how to deal with criticism or complaints, and how to report any issues or concerns.

5 Learn and improve

Social media is constantly changing and evolving, and so should your volunteer leadership. You need to learn and improve from your social media experiences, by analyzing your results, collecting feedback, and identifying your strengths and weaknesses. You also need to keep up with the latest trends, tools, and best practices of social media, and adapt your strategy accordingly. Learning and improving will help you optimize your social media performance, enhance your volunteer satisfaction and retention, and achieve your goals more effectively and efficiently. For example, you might use a SWOT analysis to evaluate your social media strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You might also ask your volunteers for their input and suggestions on how to improve your social media communication and engagement. You might also follow other volunteer leaders or organizations on social media, and learn from their successes and failures.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?