Social Media

Social media can help you expand the reach of your program, and engage your community more deeply in your program. Use social media and your community networks to advertise any special programming you are doing, both before it goes to air and afterwards.

You can extend the longevity of your program beyond your live audio broadcast by promoting your show using photos, text, video and podcasts on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. These websites are free to sign up and many people will check social media for news, more often than they look at other news sources.

• Tell your Twitter or Facebook followers when you will be having guests on your show. You can invite your followers to submit questions for your guests and use one guest question in each interview.
• Follow local politicians and community groups on Twitter. When you mention any guests, make sure you tag them with the @ function. Also use popular hashtags like #auspol (Australian politics) or any other tags that are trending.
• During the interview, have someone take photos and upload these to social media.
• While on air, encourage listeners to follow your Facebook and Twitter pages and comment or message.
• If your show is podcasted, share the link via your social media pages.
• Encourage discussion of community issues on social media, but you will need to monitor communications to ensure people are being respectful and not defaming anyone. Delete any messages that are defamatory or offensive to a ‘reasonable’ person.
• Between shows, you can keep conversations going on social media to encourage followers to be more engaged with your program and give your audience a sense that you’re active even when you’re off air – as well as a reminder to tune in when you’re on air.
• See our Leadership Media Manual for more tips.