Social Media and Public Relations

SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Social Media is quickly becoming one of the primary sources of information sharing.  Corporations, small businesses, government entities, charities and all community organizations recognize and use social media in ever increasing ways. Use of social media to get messages out is immediate and far reaching and allows for input and interaction of your audiences.  The benefits are significant.  As you decide to use social media there are a few things to consider.

FACEBOOK:  Like us on Facebook!  Encourage your parents to like Utah PTA on Facebook and then link your Facebook  page to the Utah PTA Facebook page and the National Facebook page so that you are getting all the information that they are putting on their pages to your membership.  This will make sure that all resources are available to every single PTA member.  Setting up a PTA facebook page is easy. Just go to the Facebook Site and fill out the information.  Place all your executive board members on as administrators so that they can all help monitor the posts that come on to your Facebook Page.  Keep your facebook page information pertinent to the function of your PTA organization so that people will want to follow you.  Make sure that your board members are responding to the posts every day.   Studies have found that the two way communication on facebook is crucial to its success.  If anyone places any undesirable information on your Facebook page you can easily go on and have them blocked from any more posts so that you can clean up who can post to your site.  You may get advertisers trying to post to your site.  Use this as a tool to acquire sponsors and partners.  Simply call them and tell them that you can not allow advertising on your PTA site but if they want to become a sponsor or partner to any of your programs or support PTA efforts at your school then you will be happy to add them and their logo to you Web site and Facebook page as a sponsor of PTA. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Utah-PTA/369502677130

TWITTER:  Follow us on Twitter:  Also remind your PTA members to follow Utah PTA on Twitter to get important up to date information.  We will be using this in increasing ways during the Legislative session to let members know about important legislation. Many of the Utah Legislators follow Utah PTA on Twitter and we get their posts. This is also a great way to remind members about deadlines and events.Twitter is fast becoming an important way to discuss topics and get information out fast.  You link you Twitter to your Facebook so that you only have to post once. @utahpta

PINTEREST: The fastest growing Social Media site in Utah. Since so many moms and yes even dads are using Pinterest, we saw the need for us to be there also. Todays PTA is where it is at!!! This is a great way to share ideas for PTA parents, volunteers, and teachers. Join us on Pinterest today. If you are new to Pinterest, it is easy to get started. Just go to the Pinterest site and sign up to be a member and then follow Utah PTA. If you click on “about” which is on the Pinterest header and then the help button, it will give you a tutorial of how to use Pinterest and then you are on your way!! We welcome your ideas for us to use on Pinterest. We hope that you are all following Utah PTA on Facebook and Twitter. It is a great way for parents and teachers to get new and up to date information about childrens’ issues and educational issues. Every PTA member can be IN THE KNOW in Todays PTA! http://pinterest.com/utahpta/