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You are welcome to join the private Facebook group that has been set up by Sheila for anyone involved in social media on behalf of their u3a. Contact Sheila via the website Contact page or search for https://www.facebook.com/groups/1089142077409793
We have decided that a support function for social media could be very useful to our u3as, and Sheila Crawley has volunteered to be the contact point.
Sheila has spent the past couple of years encouraging the use of social media to raise awareness of u3as locally, particularly through Facebook and Instagram, and has helped many u3as develop a successful presence.
You can ask any question, large or small, and we'll try to help.
You don't need to be a social-media expert, and you don't need to know where to start. The aim is simply to help U3As make the most of the opportunities that social media offers.
Contact Sheila by clicking this link: Sheila Crawley
Why should U3As engage with social media?
Because being visible matters.
u3as are doing fantastic things every day—but people who aren't already members don't necessarily know about them.
Social media can help us:
- Reach potential new members who may never visit a U3A website
- Show what U3A really is through photographs, stories and videos of members enjoying activities
- Challenge outdated perceptions of U3A and demonstrate the fun we all enjoy
- Promote groups and activities and attract new participants
- Celebrate our members and volunteers and the things they achieve
- Keep U3A visible locally, so that people think of us when they are looking for something new to do
- Extend word-of-mouth—a member sharing a post can introduce U3A to people we would otherwise never reach
And it's not just about today.
The people who will become our members in the future are already accustomed to discovering organisations, activities and communities online.
If we want U3A to remain relevant, visible and attractive to future members, we need to be where people are looking.
Social media doesn't replace our website, newsletters, emails or face-to-face communication. It complements them.
- Our website provides the detail.
- Our newsletter keeps members informed and complements the website.
- Our groups provide the experience.
- Social media helps people discover us in the first place.
You don't have to become a social-media expert.
We're here to help!
