Best Practices for Capturing Video

Lights, camera, action! In the current age of digital content, sharing the magic of live events through video has never been easier. Whether you’re capturing a concert on your fairgrounds or documenting family fun at your festival, knowing best practices for gathering video can set your content apart. In this blog, we’ll explore some of our top tips, tricks and techniques to help you make the most of your video marketing strategy. From the front row to backstage, this guide is your ticket to mastering live event videography! 

Plan Ahead 

No one knows your event! Identify key points of interest around your grounds or venue (like the concert stage or a crowd-favorite ride) and take some practice shots to determine the best vantage point for filming. You’ll want to anticipate lighting conditions, possible obstructions and any challenges, so try filming a rehearsal if you can! 

Choose Your Equipment

Next up, how will you capture the videos? Nowadays, you can capture clear, high-quality video from most iPhones, but you will also want to consider the type of video you’re shooting. If it’s for a social media ad for instance, be sure you’re either filming with your phone horizontally, or you are using a camera that films in multiple ratios. Consider external microphones for better audio sources, and extra batteries or powerbanks so you won’t have to stop filming for a charge. 

Keep Shots Stable

Having a smooth stable shot is a simple way to elevate the quality of your footage. Tripods, gimbals and similar tools eliminate shaky footage, ensuring a smooth shot. Practice with your camera shooting in different angles and with different movements. 

Consider Lighting

Are you going to be filming the crowds during the day or capturing video at a nighttime concert? If you’re filming a show, familiarize yourself with the lighting setup (such as spotlights or stage lighting) and adjust your camera settings accordingly to avoid overexposed or underexposed shorts. 

Composing Your Shot

You’ll want to make sure your main subjects or point of interest are fully captured in the shot! Use the rule of thirds (essentially creating a tic-tac-toe board over the shot, and placing the subject where the lines are intersecting) to create more visually appealing shots, and experiment with different angles and perspectives to add variety to your footage. 

Don’t Forget the B-Roll 

In addition to capturing all the action at your live event, remember to shoot plenty of cutaways and B-roll footage! Getting additional shots of audience reactions and behind-the-scenes moments can add quite a bit of depth and context when editing your final video. 

At the end of the day, capturing video at live events requires careful planning, the right equipment and an eye for detail. With the right composition and footage, you can give your audience an immersive experience they won’t forget. Happy filming!

Choosing the Right Social Media for Your Event

Social media is arguably the most powerful tool for engaging with your audience to boost attendance at your event. However, not all platforms are created equally, and your plan for promoting your event on social media should differ. 

An effective social media promotion will include connecting with your followers before, during and after an event. It should be interactive, fun and informative, but planning and executing content is only half the battle. You’ll need to next choose what platform to post on! 

Facebook

With more than 2.8 billion daily active users worldwide, Facebook is the tried and true platform for promoting content. Be sure your organization has an updated company page with contact information and event details. You can create a specific event page to serve as an additional space to post a link to tickets, announce pre-sale codes or connect with fans. Facebook also allows you to narrow your audience based on numerous demographics to ensure the highest return on investment.  

Do remember to connect the corresponding business Instagram account and don’t ignore comments or messages for too long. 

Instagram 

A must-have in your social media toolkit for posting fun behind-the-scenes, featuring attractions, showcasing vendors and gathering user-generated content from attendees. Since Instagram is entirely visual, you will want to have graphics ready for any important event information or announcements. You’ll also want to be sure your content is being shared to its full potential with Instagram’s features, stories and reels. With stories, photos and videos shared are set to disappear from your profile, feed and messages after 24 hours or can be added directly to your page with highlights. Through reels you can easily create and edit short videos to dramatically drive engagement and expand the outreach of your event. 

Do use a timely hashtag to encourage others to post their experiences and don’t forget to tag your location in posts!  

TikTok

The #foryoupage (#FYP) algorithm is one that hasn’t been cracked yet, but with the right post you can get your content in front of hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of eyes. TikTok has the possibility to give you the biggest possible organic reach, much more so than traditional social media channels like Twitter and Facebook. 

Do join in on viral trends or dances and don’t take yourself too seriously!

Twitter 

Although not always used for event promotion, Twitter still utilizes a powerful tool: the hashtag. Tweet your event details, where folks can purchase tickets and a countdown to the event! Engage with fans by posting interactive polls, hosting a related Twitter space and using an event-specific hashtag to encourage others to post their experiences. And don’t forget about live tweeting! Throughout the event share highlights, what performances may be happening, or keep attendees up-to-date with any last-minute announcements. 

Do monitor what people are saying about your event and don’t #overuse #hashtags. 

Snapchat

Often overlooked, the interactive features on Snapchat are an excellent way to engage with attendees and even garner some user-generated content. Design a simple frame or sticker that represents your event and submit it (for free) to Snapchat’s Community Filters. Once approved, your unique or branded filter can be used by anyone in the immediate vicinity. Feeling extra creative? Explore the creators’ platform Lens Studio 2.0 to design your own augmented reality (AR) camera effects where the possibilities are virtually endless. 

Do host a short form to answer any questions people may have about attending your event and don’t be too salesy, Snapchat is very informal in the field of social media.   

Whichever platform you choose, consistency is key when it comes to social media promotion. Create an editorial calendar and schedule posts to go live in the days and weeks leading up to your event.

Using TikTok to Promote Your Event

If you’re not already on TikTok, it’s time! Get the scoop on event marketing with the most downloaded app.

With roughly 656 million downloads in 2021, the app’s popularity has skyrocketed. Its short and engaging videos can suck you in for hours, and it is an incredible platform to promote your upcoming fair or event! 

Why is TikTok Important for Event Marketing 

The #foryoupage (#FYP) algorithm is one that hasn’t been cracked yet, but with the right post you can get your content in front of hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of eyes. TikTok has the possibility to give you the biggest possible organic reach, much more so than traditional social media channels like Twitter and Facebook. 

If you still think TikTok is ‘just for the kids’—consider this: in February 2022 alone, TikTok was (again) the most downloaded app in the world in February with a total of 41 million downloads. 

Looking to maximize reach while driving engagement? Even if you’ve never made a post before, your content can still be seen by millions of people! Additionally, your window for increased engagement is much larger, with TikTok increasing your content shelf life by 90 days. It’s a great way to start building the hype around your event and engage with potentially new customers. 


Join a viral trend: The fastest (and possibly easiest) way to get seen is by jumping in on a trend. From popular audios and hashtags, you can put a spin on a current viral trend! Strive for authenticity and find those viral popular trends that would lend well to your event marketing campaign. 

Host a takeover: Have someone else take over your account for the day! Get some perspectives like backstage access or a “day in the life”. If you’re hosting a state or county fair, you could ask 4H guests to post for an entire day, showing pictures of the animals being shown or results from a competition. 

Collaborate with an influencer: If there is an influencer in your area, consider reaching out to them. If you can swing it, offer comped tickets in exchange for a post featuring your event. Not only can this introduce your event to their followers, but increased engagement will lead to higher views. 

Run a contest: Encourage attendees to participate with the promise of a possible prize! Offering something like free or upgraded tickets for the winner can drive engagement while potentially giving you additional content to repost from your account. 

Don’t Forget Instagram Reels: Born shortly after the rise of TikTok, Reels is Instagram’s take on short, vertical videos. Use the content created for TikTok and upload them to your Instagram account to connect with your existing Instagram audience.

Post a personalized hashtag: Post videos with a hashtag unique specifically to this year’s event. Be sure to share this hashtag on your different platforms, so your existing audience can get in on the fun! 

Creating a TikTok plan

Before you post, have a plan in place! As you are planning your promotional campaign for the event, schedule time to film and post TikToks! Before the event, work on building the excitement for attendees and during the event capture what makes your fair or concert so fun. While the average length of a post on TikTok is just 15 seconds, you can take advantage of the 30-second or 1-minute feature to get a bit creative. As a team brainstorm some fun trends to participate in, and even storyboard out your ideas. That way when it comes to filming, you’ll be more than ready. 

As social media trends continue to grow and new platforms become popular, it’s important to stay cognizant of engaging opportunities. Start connecting with fans from your events and start your TikTok account today! 

Facebook Top Fan Badges: What They Are and How To Use Them to Increase Engagement

Do you ever feel like your favorite brand’s biggest fan? Well, now you can prove it!   You might’ve already seen one of Facebook’s newest features, the top fan badge. What’s the deal with these badges and how do you use them?   Top fan badges, which pop up with a little star next to a … Continue reading “Facebook Top Fan Badges: What They Are and How To Use Them to Increase Engagement”

Do you ever feel like your favorite brand’s biggest fan? Well, now you can prove it!

 

You might’ve already seen one of Facebook’s newest features, the top fan badge. What’s the deal with these badges and how do you use them?

 

Top fan badges, which pop up with a little star next to a user’s name, will display top fan status when a user comments on your posts. To get them, a user has to be one of the most active people on your page. Facebook hasn’t told us EXACTLY what it means to be “most active,” but we know that a mix of clicking on posts, liking things and leaving comments will do the trick.

 

Basically, if a user seems really interested in your page, Facebook will reward them with a tiny badge of honor. It’s positive reinforcement at its finest.

 

For you, it means your followers are more likely to interact with your page and feel proud doing it. It’s a win-win!

 

Here’s the fun part: If you want to encourage fans to earn top fan badges and ultimately engage more with your page, there are lots of fun games you can play to encourage interaction.

 

Our social media client, Tulsa State Fair, has been encouraging people to become top fans by offering random giveaways to Facebook top fans during fair season. So far, the page has seen a huge spike in interaction with more than 60 top fans now active on their Facebook page!

 

For pages hoping to follow in their footsteps, a giveaway of any sort will do! Tulsa is giving away free ride passes, but food vouchers, tokens, meet and greet passes, swag or any other fun item will work.

 

Another more discreet way of encouraging top fans is to send messages, thanking them for their interaction. You can even offer them a discount or a free item! This encourages them to stay active on your page.

 

To turn on top fan badges, go to your business page, click Settings in the top right corner, then click “Facebook Badges” in the left-hand sidebar.

 

Saffire will be having a bit of fun in the following weeks with top fans on our page! We encourage you all to join in on the fun and to come up with other creative ways to interact with your fans on your own page!

Are Boosted Posts Worth It? The Difference Between Boosted Posts and Facebook Ads

If you’re new to Facebook advertising, you might be wondering about boosted posts – like what they’re used for, how to set them up and whether they’re the same as Facebook ads (spoiler alert: they’re not!) While boosted posts sometimes get a bad rap, they can still be useful in your social media strategy.   … Continue reading “Are Boosted Posts Worth It? The Difference Between Boosted Posts and Facebook Ads”

If you’re new to Facebook advertising, you might be wondering about boosted posts – like what they’re used for, how to set them up and whether they’re the same as Facebook ads (spoiler alert: they’re not!) While boosted posts sometimes get a bad rap, they can still be useful in your social media strategy.

 

In this guide, we’ll explain the ins-and-outs of boosted posts, what they’re used for and how to set them up.

 

Boosted Post Vs. Facebook Ad: What’s the difference?

 

Boosted posts are the most simple way to run an ad on Facebook. They don’t have the same types of targeting, features and power you can expect from a full Facebook ad, but they are a great option for anyone who is new to the ad world.

 

People love boosted posts because you can quickly and easily create them from content you already have on your feed! Just post your content, click “boost this post” and boom – you’re pretty much done.  Once started, boosted posts allow you to target for engagement (more likes or comments), traffic (more clicks to your website), or messages. With as little as a few clicks and $10, you can reach more people and increase your engagement with a boost!

 

Facebook ads are a little more tricky, but in turn they offer you much more power. To get started you’ll have to create an Ads Manager account and take some time to learn the ins-and-outs of the Facebook Ads world.

 

Anyone that’s ever been in the Facebook Ads Manager knows that it can be a long confusing process. Unlike boosted posts, Facebook ads open up a whole world of possibility when it comes to targeting. While you may target people who have been to your website with a boosted post, with Facebook ads you can get even deeper – like targeting people who have been to your website, are also moms with young children and who live in Texas. Plus, you’ll get many more ad objectives like conversions (getting people to take a specific action on your website like buying tickets or signing up for a newsletter), event responses and video views.  And don’t even get us started on all the different templates you can choose to show content in!

 

Just remember that Facebook ads won’t show up on your regular feed. Instead, they’ll be shown only to a specific audience that you select through targeting.

 

Should I Create a Boosted Post?

 

While full Facebook ads are always a good idea for organizations looking for more than just engagement, like merch or ticket sales, boosted posts still have their uses. They’re a great way to increase engagement on content already posted to your page in an algorithm that makes it hard for businesses to get noticed. Plus, they are cheaper and easier to use.

 

We recommend boosted posts to anyone who is just starting out. They’re a great way to get familiar with Facebook targeting and optimization, and it’s better to run boosted posts than no ads at all. Use boosted posts as a stepping stone until you’re ready to run full-blown Facebook ads. They will help you get comfortable with the ins-and-outs when you’re ready to take the leap!

 

If you find you’re still scared of setting foot inside the Facebook Ads Manager, there are tons of resources to help you get started with full Facebook ads (and Saffire is always here to help!)

 

So, I’ve Decided to Boost A Post. What Now?

 

Boosting a post is easy! Just follow these simple steps.

 

  1. Post your content. Include your photo or video and some fun, interesting text!
  2. Click the bright blue “Boost Post” button.
  3. Select your objective: Do you want to send people to your website, get more engagement on your post, or encourage people to send you messages?
  4. Choose your audience. Choose between targeting specific demographics, people who like your page or people who like your page and their friends.
  5. Select your budget. The minimum is $1 a day and at least $10. After you select your budget Facebook will give you an estimate of how many people they expect your post to reach.
  6. Set your post duration. This is how many days you want your post to run.
  7. Click boost.
  8. Congrats! You have a boosted post.

 

 

In the end, boosted posts are a great starting place, but we don’t recommend sticking with boosted posts forever. When you are ready to start creating full ads, reach out to Saffire or read more about getting started.

10 Mistakes You Might Be Making on Social Media

Ever put a ton of work into your social media, only to wonder later why your posts aren’t performing like you thought they would?   Here we break down the most common mistakes made on social media, so you can change your social media strategy to become a social media superstar!   Ugly, bad or … Continue reading “10 Mistakes You Might Be Making on Social Media”

Ever put a ton of work into your social media, only to wonder later why your posts aren’t performing like you thought they would?

 

Here we break down the most common mistakes made on social media, so you can change your social media strategy to become a social media superstar!

 

  1. Ugly, bad or just plain uninteresting photos

 

2008 called and they want their flip phone photos back. It’s 2019, and we are officially in embedded far into the visual era. Brands with beautiful, creative and curated feeds are everywhere. Chances are that some of them are even your competition. Bad photos just don’t cut it anymore.

 

There’s just no excuse for bad, boring, pixelated photos anymore. Resources like Canva and Adobe Spark Post make it possible to create great-looking graphics without any experience, and even stock images (which once get a bad rep) are stepping their game up. It’s time to stop putting up just any old thing, and time to start really planning your posts – including finding the perfect image or graphic to really bring your message home.

 

  1. Writing like a robot

 

“Come to our event. We will have many fun things to do. We will have great food like hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. There will be rides and cool animals. You do not want to miss this!”

 

What’s wrong with this text? It’s not that it’s bad – it’s just that it’s boring! It doesn’t entertain, inspire or even call for an action. How many times have you seen text like this online? Copy like this is boring, unpersonal, and it belongs nowhere near social media! Social media is a place for fun and interaction! Don’t be afraid to show some personality and spunk. Before you post anything, try asking yourself “Do I actually talk like this? Would I say this to a friend?” If the answer is no, rewrite it!

 

  1. Outdated Information

 

Okay okay, we know that updating your profile information is not the most fun task on this list, but it’s an important one, nonetheless. Studies show that people are searching social media more and more to find their favorite businesses. That means that about sections, links and descriptions MUST be consistent or up to date or you could miss out on potential business. Do yourself a favor and check on these every few months.

 

  1. Not responding when people engage

 

Here’s the thing about social media – it’s meant to be social. Your posts and content first and foremost should be created to connect and engage with your followers. Nobody wants to engage by themselves! Too often we see organizations forget to respond to their fans, then wonder why their engagement starts to fall off!

 

Remember, Facebook wants you to talk to your followers. The algorithm views your comments and fans’ comments as equally important. That means that when you reply to comments on your posts, you improve your engagement rate, making it more likely that the algorithm will show people your posts. Plus, without engaging you miss the opportunity to talk directly with your customers, build positive relationships and even resolve customer service problems.

 

  1. Spamming people with too much content

 

This one is a biggie. Yes, we LOVE your content, but no we don’t want it 10 times a day. Social media is not a catch-all for every piece of information that you have for your customers. You still need to utilize emails, calls, messages and plain old in-person conversations. Don’t post every little thing on social media and expect to keep a captive audience. Limit posting to one to two times a day. Your followers will thank you.

 

  1. Not utilizing all of the features at your fingertips

 

Polls, recommendations, stories OH MY! There are so many different ways to post on social media in 2019. Don’t forget to try them all out. We’re not saying to go crazy with different features for every post (unless that’s your thing – then go for it!) but a good poll or carousel

have been shown to increase engagement and add an extra layer of entertainment to your feed.

 

  1. Not using videos

 

With tools like Biteable it’s now easier than ever to create fun and quick videos. And since Facebook is now basically a video streaming machine (Facebook execs predict Facebook will be ALL video and no text by 2021) it’s also more important than ever to jump on the video train. We know video takes a little more time and effort, but studies show that that the payoff is worth it.

 

  1. Too much promotion, not enough interaction

 

When was the last time you logged on to social media thinking “Ooooh! I just can’t wait to see all the ads!!”? My guess: probably never, and your followers are no different. We all put up with the occasional promo between our cat photos, baby announcements and Spongebob gifs, but nobody ever gets excited to see your sales pitches. So, do yourself a favor and keep your promo content short.

 

Promotion is necessary, but it should be used subtly and sparingly when it comes to social media. Obvious promotional content will get scrolled (and scrolled and scrolled) past. Too much promotional content might just land you an unfollow. Spend 80% of your time thinking of ways to entertain and delight your clients.

 

  1. Forgetting CTAs

 

Having an effective call to action is an important part of any digital content. You’re not just doing all this work for fun, right? So, don’t forget to let your audience what you want them to do. Plus, CTAs don’t always have to be all about the sell! They come in handy for regular posts too! Try asking your audience questions to encourage engagement or telling them to click on your newest blog post.

 

 

 

  1. Failing to follow a strategy

 

As fun and impactful as social media can be, without a plan it can also be a huge waste of time. We see this time and time again – organizations post on social media every once in a while, without a solid plan, then wonder why their page fails to grow or sell tickets. Here’s the thing: posting with no plan is not marketing. It’s taking a shot in the dark and hoping that something sticks.

 

Social media should be approached the same way as any other marketing campaign! You should set goals, choose your audience, select a budget and have a solid content calendar in place to help you measure your results.

What to Post on Social Media When You’re All Out of Ideas

We’ve all been there: It’s been days, maybe even weeks since you’ve posted on social media.   Then, that dreaded notification pops up from Facebook: “[So-and-so number of] people who like your page haven’t heard from you in a while. Write a post!”   So, what do you do when you know it’s time to … Continue reading “What to Post on Social Media When You’re All Out of Ideas”

We’ve all been there: It’s been days, maybe even weeks since you’ve posted on social media.

 

Then, that dreaded notification pops up from Facebook: “[So-and-so number of] people who like your page haven’t heard from you in a while. Write a post!”

 

So, what do you do when you know it’s time to post something, but your brain is drawing a blank? After checking your content calendar, of course, try using one of these five ideas to help you get creative on social media!

 

Here’s What to Post on Social Media When You’re All Out of Ideas:

 

  1. Participate in Fun Holidays

 

Who knows what day National Ferris Wheel Day is on? Hint: It shares the same day as everyone’s favorite date night! (Valentine’s Day!)

 

There are tons of fun holidays from National Ferris Wheel Day to National Best Friend Day that are perfect for adding to your social media calendar! Not only are they quick and easy content, but they’re a perfect way to participate in timely and highly shareable content!

 

As a festival or event, using national holidays to promote food and fun at your event is a no-brainer. Destinations and venues can find luck in highlighting local eats, partners and shared posts from your community.

 

Big E Donut Day

 

  1. User-Generated Content from Your Fans

 

There are lots of fun things about running social media for events, festivals and destinations, but possibly the best thing of all is running into people that ADORE spending time there! Luckily for us, people who love spending time at your event often love sharing photos.

 

User-generated content is a great way to fill your feed with content that is valuable, trustworthy and on-brand.

 

We recommend setting up a hashtag and asking your followers to tag you in their photos, that way there is an easy-to-find space where fans can share their posts.

 

Tulsa UGC

  1. Promote upcoming events or specials

Got a sweet event coming up that your followers just can’t miss? Post about it!

 

Even if your event is a few weeks or months away, try getting the excitement going with sneak peeks or behind the scenes footage! Not only does it open up the opportunity to create hype and promote your event – sneak peek content gives you another way to build a more authentic relationship with your followers.

 

Clay County Goat Yoga

 

 

  1. Ask Questions, Create Polls or Play Fun Games with Your Followers

Asking questions is one of the best ways to increase engagement on your social media! The best thing about using questions and polls is that it not only encourages comments, but it also gives insight into the personalities and preferences of your customers.

 

Here’s some fun ideas to get you started:

  • Would you rather…?
  • This or that?
  • If you could….?
  • Fill in the blank
  • What is your favorite…?

Ozark Empire Poll

  1. Participate in Daily Hashtags

Daily hashtags are popular hashtags on social media for certain days of the week. You’ve probably seen some of the popular ones like #MotivationMonday, #TravelTuesday or #ThrowbackThursday.

 

When in doubt, combine a daily hashtag with a fun photo! They’re a great way to fill your feed with content that is fun, shareable and creates extra reach.

 

Madera District Fair

 

There you have it: 5 ideas for posting on social media when you have no idea what to post. Get creative with these ideas, and we’re sure you could fill a whole calendar with them!

 

Good luck and happy posting!

Spring Cleaning: How to Freshen Up Your Social Media this Season

For some of us, spring weather means one thing: spring cleaning! Many of us rush to clean out our homes, our offices or our closets, but don’t think about what spring cleaning can do for our business. As event marketers, we know how important social media can be for selling tickets. For us, spring cleaning … Continue reading “Spring Cleaning: How to Freshen Up Your Social Media this Season”

For some of us, spring weather means one thing: spring cleaning! Many of us rush to clean out our homes, our offices or our closets, but don’t think about what spring cleaning can do for our business. As event marketers, we know how important social media can be for selling tickets. For us, spring cleaning can take on a whole new meaning.

 

These chores are quick, but they will make your new profiles feel (to quote Ms. Marie Kondo) like a “spark of joy.”

 

Throw away old images

 

If your pages are filled with old logos, grainy header images or improperly sized photos – it’s time to throw them all away. Bad profile photos are a quick route to a sloppy and unprofessional feeling page. Luckily, this small change can make a huge difference in the way people view your profile. Take this time to make sure all of your profiles feature the same perfectly-sized logo, and that your images are nice, crisp and up to date. While you’re at it, look over your About sections and business descriptions. Make sure the text is current and consistent across all of your platforms.

 

If you haven’t changed your cover photos in over a year, it’s time to give your profiles a mini makeover. Cover photos are an opportunity to wow your audience with eye-catching photos and create a striking first impression. Even if your cover photo looks snazzy already, it’s a good idea to add a new photo every-so-often to give your page a fresh clean feel. Frequenting fans will notice.

 

Organize your fans and followers

 

Do you know who you follow on social media and who follows you? It’s important to make sure that you are following business partners, clients and important industry leaders. Not only does this ensure that you are up-to-date on industry news, it gives you another opportunity to engage with key connections.

 

Start with your list of partners and clients. Are you following the key players? Are they following you? If not, make sure to hit the follow button and start connecting. It’s not a bad idea to like a few recent posts if a page you are connected with is not following you back. Just don’t get too gung-ho. Spamming their page or appearing stalkerish is a no-no.

 

Then take a look at your general followers list. Are there any irrelevant or inactive accounts that you should unfollow? Anyone just outright inappropriate?

 

Now is also a good time to look at your demographics page. See if the demographic data is similar to that of your average customer. If not, now is a good time to tweak your content strategy to create relevant content and attract the audience that you want.

 

Dust off your strategies and goals

 

It can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of why you’re doing things in the first place. Everyone knows that posting on social media is important, but busy companies often forget to decide why. There are many ways social media can tie back to your organization’s overall mission. Is your intent simply to connect with customers? Provide customer service? Educate your clients? Maybe your goal is strictly to sell tickets online. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to select one (or a few). Then, create monthly or quarterly goals to serve as your guiding light.

 

A successful social media strategy will help your company connect with more customers, create brand loyalty – and yes, even sell more tickets! Focus on your organization’s overall goals. A social media strategy can help you begin to see a real impact with your efforts.

 

 

Focus your attention on de-cluttering your account this spring and make sure all your information is up to date.  Then get busy sharing your fresh new content with your audience. We bet you’ll be happy you joined us for spring cleaning!

 

This article previously appeared in IFEA’s ie Magazine.

3 Ways to Get More Comments on Your Facebook Posts

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a trillion times: engagement on your Facebook posts is important. However, all engagement is not created equal. Lately, Facebook has been showing special treatment to posts with lots of comments by catapulting them to the top of our newsfeeds and awarding “Top Fan” and “Valued Commenter” badges. … Continue reading “3 Ways to Get More Comments on Your Facebook Posts”

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a trillion times: engagement on your Facebook posts is important. However, all engagement is not created equal. Lately, Facebook has been showing special treatment to posts with lots of comments by catapulting them to the top of our newsfeeds and awarding “Top Fan” and “Valued Commenter” badges.

 

It makes sense. There’s something special about posts that get people talking.  While posts with a lot of likes perform well in the algorithm, stats show that posts with tons of comments get 4x more clicks!

 

That’s why encouraging comments is the top way to increase your visibility and customer engagement. Just make sure you’re not trying to game the system by using “engagement-bait” posts that Facebook counts as spam. (For example: “Tag 3 of your friends who would agree with this post!” or “Comment “YES” if you really love candy apples!”)

 

So, what should you do to create meaningful conversations in your comment sections?

 

Try These 3 Tips to Get More Comments on Your Facebook Posts:

 

  1. Engage with and Reply to your Followers

 FabFitFun replying to Facebook comments

 

Responding to your followers is an easy trick that so many organizations forget to do! Too many people spend time planning, creating and posting content then drop the ball when it comes to the fun part – engaging with and responding to fans! It is still social media, after all.

 

A study of more than 1,200 Facebook users found that personalized responses are more satisfying to the receiver than a simple Like. Think about it, who wants to talk to someone who never talks back? On top of that, you miss the opportunity to start conversations, create positive memories with your customers and possibly resolve customer service problems.

 

The juicy part is that Facebook wants you to reply to your followers, so they view your comments and your followers’ comments as equally important. That means if you reply to each and every comment on your post, you double your comment count and your opportunity to move up in the algorithm.

 

 

  1. Ask authentic questions

Oreo

 

Asking questions just works. Don’t get us wrong – asking spammy questions with no rhyme or reason is always a no-no, but asking real, genuine questions almost always gets great responses. Try asking your followers for recommendations or advice: “What is your favorite food to eat at the festival?” or “Which topping would you prefer, chocolate or bananas?”

 

The best thing about this tactic is not only that it encourages comments, but it also gives insight into the personalities and preferences of your customers.

 

  1. Create Interactive Posts

Wix

 

Another great way to get people to interact with your posts is to craft posts that are fun and engaging. To do this, play games with your followers by asking them to engage in fun ways with your content. Remember to make it entertaining and easy! Here are some fun ideas to get you started:

 

  • Caption This
  • Fill in the blank
  • Would you rather
  • Poll
  • Guessing game

 

What type of tips have helped you get more comments? Stop by our Facebook page and drop a comment under this article!

How to Create your 2019 Content Calendar (Plus a Free Template!)

Here at Saffire, our content calendar is our best friend! In fact, we just completed mapping out our calendar for the whole year. Whew! A content calendar is a plan, either for a few months or an entire year, of what you’re going to publish and where you’re going to publish it to further your … Continue reading “How to Create your 2019 Content Calendar (Plus a Free Template!)”

Here at Saffire, our content calendar is our best friend! In fact, we just completed mapping out our calendar for the whole year. Whew! A content calendar is a plan, either for a few months or an entire year, of what you’re going to publish and where you’re going to publish it to further your organization’s goals. It is a complete roadmap of your outbound marketing efforts.

 

It took lots of time and planning to build our calendar, but we knew it would be worth it. Why? Because content calendars are the best possible tool to keep you organized all year long!

 

Most importantly, creating a content calendar forces you to put thought and creativity into your content instead of throwing it together at the last moment. (We’ve all been there!)

 

Imagine that you work at a festival known for its spectacular corndogs. Little did you know, today is National Corndog Day. You go on Facebook to see hundreds of festivals around the country posting their photos for #NationalCorndogDay. You search through your photo library but don’t see any great corndog photos available to post.

 

Instead, you miss out on the chance to gain some buzz and create some free promotion for you and your vendors.

 

A content calendar can help you make sure that you always have the perfect post for moments like this. Plus, you’ll never miss another National Corndog Day again.

 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we’ve got you covered! Here are a few tips for getting started!

 

 

  1. 1. Identify your content

Before you start mapping out your content calendar, begin making a list of the topics you should cover. Start by asking yourself a few questions:

 

 

Who are your audiences and what do they want to see? Your audiences can include groups like: current and past customers, potential customers, vendors, board members, staff, etc. We recommend choosing 2 or 3 groups and creating content designed to keep them engaged.

 

 

What important dates, milestones or promotions does your organization have coming up this year? Ticket sales, box office times and promotion dates are obvious inclusions on your content calendar, but what about other interesting milestones? Anniversaries and holidays can make for lighthearted and engaging content! Make sure to check the National Day Calendar for other social media holidays related to your business. You can find it at www.nationaldaycalendar.com.

 

What kinds of assets do you have available? Who and what do you have available to help create unique content? Maybe you have a full creative team or maybe you’re using a simpler editing tool like Canva. Maybe you have a photographer or maybe you use Shutterstock. What about a videographer or even just partners that can contribute to your blog? Either way, take note of all people and tools available. This will determine what types of content you can post throughout the year.

 

  1. Decide when and where to publish

 

As little as a decade ago, there were only a few options for publishing. Today, however, there are dozens of options at our fingertips! Take a moment to take inventory of all the channels that your organization offers, and decide which content is best to post where. We bet that your organization already utilizes some of these channels: social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.…), video sharing sites like YouTube or Vimeo, newsletters, e-blasts, an online blog, your website and advertisements.

Next, decide how often to post. You could try to publish a new blog every day, but if you don’t have the resources necessary that could get tricky.  Be realistic about what you and your teammates can handle. Then be consistent.

 

  1. Create your calendar

 

There are many different ways to create your perfect content calendar! Here at Saffire, we recommend using a good ol’ spreadsheet. You can find our downloadable template at www.Saffire.com/Calendar.

Make sure to include important information like: date, post type, author, prize winners, publication channels etc. We love keeping ours in an organized Google Sheet that can be updated by all of our marketing teammates.

Once you have it perfected, get posting!

 

Remember, the best thing about your content calendar is that it’s flexible! See what works best for you and your team then add or remove things as you go! Once you get it perfected, we bet your content calendar will be your best friend too! You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every year. Next year, edit the template you create this year. You’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to manage your marketing presence!

 

This article previously appeared in IFEA’s ie Magazine.