One of the most popular platforms of Social Media is Facebook with more than two billion people using it every month. Facebook is a powerful marketing tool – it's a great space to inform current members and attract new dancers, inform them of events, celebrate achievements and broaden your club’s reach and generally develop your brand identity. There are some general principles when using Facebook for promoting Square Dancing that have proven to be successful. These include:

1. Use of images

• Choose or create images that are directly relevant to your message or promotion.

• Use images that are bright and eye-catching, even when viewed at a small size

• Avoid images that have many small details or text and opt for something simple instead.

• Ensure images project ‘Happy’ sentiments and that colours used in text is attractive to the eye

• Include images whenever possible, simply because they work.

   2. Use Videos to enhance your message

• Ensure videos used are short, enticing and the messaging is clear. Facebook users are looking to be entertained as well as been informed. Short videos resonate more with your target audience.

• Ensure your video respects intellectual property

• Use tight editing and good lighting in the video.

• Have movement in the first two to three seconds. This will attract the attention of people.

  3. Use of Posts

• Keep posts short and specific. Marketers see success on Facebook when they’re short and succinct with content. Choose you eye catching Titles wisely.

• Always produce/use high quality videos

• Use responsive questions to spark a reaction to engage your audience. For example, Do you wish that you were having this much fun?

• Post frequently and timely. Most people tend to view Facebook at lunch or the end of the day, which makes afternoons and early evenings between 1 p.m.-4 p.m. prime for posting

• Use Hashtags to stay relevant. Hashtags are free, and they make it easy for people who are searching for square dancing to find that information. When posting square dance information include a hashtag like #squaredance, #newdanceclass When you place them in the text of your message it works like a hyperlink on a webpage – that is, anyone who sees the hashtag and clicks on it will immediately receive any and all messages on Facebook with that particular hashtag.
   

To create a Facebook account:
The following is only a brief description of the steps to create a Facebook account. For a more detailed step by step (with video) go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgcTp91ZE6o

 

1. Go to your web browser and type in facebook.com and click Create New Account and the following will appear.

2. Type in the following details in the fields provided:
First name,
Mobile number or email
Email again
Create a strong password word
Enter Birthday information
Choose your gender
Finally click on the Sign Up button
3. You’ll be sent a code via your email. Enter code and click on the Continue button
4. A new dialogue box will appear which tells you that Your Account has been confirmed. Click on the Okay button

5. A new dialogue box will appear Welcome you to Facebook. You now have created a new Facebook Account.

6. Click on the Add a Picture button to upload a Profile Picture. If you’re a club you can upload your logo for the profile picture. Don’t forget to click on the Save button.

7. Click on Add Cover Photo button to Upload a photo/image for your cover photo. Don’t forget to save changes.

8. Click on About and complete the fields.

9. You’re ready to create a post.