Social Media Usage Rules
Thanks for spreading the word about SingStrong on social media! Here are the three golden rules:
- 100% true.
- 100% positive.
- 100% yours.
Get those rules right and expect smooth social sailing. Now follow these expanded tips and become a master!
- Know SingStrong.org web content so you can harmonize social with it. Link to it. Do not contradict or paraphrase. If anything is unclear, let a producer know.
- Children use social media. Regarding SingStrong, if you wouldn't say it to a hypersensitive, emotionally immature 12 year old, then don't write it.
- Doublecheck all links and all facts before posting. Then check again. Don't write "dot com" when the link is "dot org"
- Doublecheck all spellings and capitalizations. Groups can get very particular about whether you write "indigo girls" "Indigo Girls" or "The Indigo Girls".
- Avoid disparaging any individuals or entities. Leave that to outsiders.
- Consider the frequency of your posts. More than one tweet an hour, if done often, can rub some people the wrong way. Live-blogging may be an exception.
- Avoid promises and specificity, unless you are 100% sure. Don't say "We'll email you the answer tonight!". Say instead, "We'll get back to you ASAP!"
- To be safe, use descriptive, but non-specific words like "tons" "loads" "a weekend full of" "a whole day of" rather than specific numbers.
- Carefully consider the meaning of, "some", "all" "none" "almost" "nearly" "the majority" "everyone" "no one" before using -or not using! "Tickets $15!" is very different than "Tickets start at $15". The first implies that "all" tickets are $15 no matter what and that's probably not true.
- Avoid trademarked images or names unless a producer gives the OK.
- Avoid implying that SingStrong is endorsing a person, product or service, or that others are endorsing us unless it is verifiably true.
- Avoid ranking "unranked" things. "Of all the performers on Saturday, X Group was the best!" That seems 100% positive, but it may unnecessarily make the other groups and their fans feel bad. Better to say "One of my favorites was ..." or "X group nailed it!"
- Avoid using images or video that don't belong to you, or where you don't have permission. We do have permission to use a TON of images and video, but double-check if you aren't sure.
- Avoid using long quotes unless you have permission from the author in writing.
- Generally avoid comments involving race, religion, gender, sexual preference or even just "looks" -even if the comment seems like a compliment. 1 exception is indisputable facts: "all female quartet" or "Gay Men's Chorus" (as in, that's their name). The other is material prepared by the artist: "The first African-American barbershop Quartet to win international gold". If the group wishes to draw attention to race, then that's fine. But if they don't, then we don't. We see people as people.
- Use the correct handles to link to groups and individuals. Don't guess and accidentally link to unrelated parties.
- Link to a wide variety of individuals and groups as often as you can.
- Consider these best times for posting, according to a Fast Company 2014 article:
|
Facebook and Twitter: weekdays, between 1-4, peaking at 3PM.
Linked In weekdays at noon or at 5 Pinterest Saturday mornings, first thing Tumblr Fri at 7PM OR Sun-Tues at 7PM. Google+ first thing in the morning |
Social Media Themes
Consider a clearly identified message, and run it by the producers. Here is one example.
SingStrong. #MoreACAPPELLA
More opportunities for You to perform: Single Singers, ACA-IDOL, HS Competition, Spotlight Showcases, Performance Classes ...!
More Headline Performers: names of groups and more!
More closer to you, cause Other Festivals Is Farrrrrrr Awayyyyyyyy (‘spensive )
More Affordable cause 5 concerts and 20 classes for $75 dollars = 33 CENTS per ACA-Thing. YOU HAVE 33 CENTS. Look in the couch.
More Prizes and Trophies that You Can Win. ACA-IDOL dishes out over $1,000 at ACA-IDOL ALONE! HS Competition has more trophies than you can carry! TRY. We dare you.
More Goes to Charity. 100% of our profits support local music programs and the fight against Alzheimer’s. And we didn’t play "In the Arms of the Angels" or show one sad puppy. Not even once!
More Convenience. Meet-Ups, Free Shuttles, Free Parking and Discount Hotel. Cause paying out the nose for parking, hotel and drinks is LAME.
More Education. We didn’t say more classes. We said more education. Cause learning from professionals is different than learning from people who are still kinda figuring it all out, or people who paid to teach a class.
More Love. That’s SCIENCE. Ask anyone.
More Freedom to be Yourself. When you compete at ACA-IDOL, you can be a group of ANY size. Just 1 to Just one truckload. You can use technology. You can have back-up dancers. You just be you.
Keywords to incorporate: a cappella festival sing singing singers voice vocals [location] entertainment pitch perfect sing-off
SingStrong. #MoreACAPPELLA
More opportunities for You to perform: Single Singers, ACA-IDOL, HS Competition, Spotlight Showcases, Performance Classes ...!
More Headline Performers: names of groups and more!
More closer to you, cause Other Festivals Is Farrrrrrr Awayyyyyyyy (‘spensive )
More Affordable cause 5 concerts and 20 classes for $75 dollars = 33 CENTS per ACA-Thing. YOU HAVE 33 CENTS. Look in the couch.
More Prizes and Trophies that You Can Win. ACA-IDOL dishes out over $1,000 at ACA-IDOL ALONE! HS Competition has more trophies than you can carry! TRY. We dare you.
More Goes to Charity. 100% of our profits support local music programs and the fight against Alzheimer’s. And we didn’t play "In the Arms of the Angels" or show one sad puppy. Not even once!
More Convenience. Meet-Ups, Free Shuttles, Free Parking and Discount Hotel. Cause paying out the nose for parking, hotel and drinks is LAME.
More Education. We didn’t say more classes. We said more education. Cause learning from professionals is different than learning from people who are still kinda figuring it all out, or people who paid to teach a class.
More Love. That’s SCIENCE. Ask anyone.
More Freedom to be Yourself. When you compete at ACA-IDOL, you can be a group of ANY size. Just 1 to Just one truckload. You can use technology. You can have back-up dancers. You just be you.
Keywords to incorporate: a cappella festival sing singing singers voice vocals [location] entertainment pitch perfect sing-off