Tackling Social Media County FA Social Social Networking Media Guidelines and the Workplace Safeguarding Children Introduction 3. Dos and Don’ts 5. Tone of voice 7. How to run your Facebook page 9. Questions 11. Be topical to start a conversation 13. Matches 15. Content plan 16. Types of content 20. Measuring success 21. Example posts 23. Promoting your page 24. Twitter 27. The difference between Twitter and Facebook 28. Starting out with Twitter 30. When might you Tweet? 31. Your style on Twitter 32. Contents 2 Introduction Why Social Media? For many organisations, the debate about the value of social media to them is over – the discussion is now about “how” rather than “why”. But it’s always useful to remind ourselves of the “why” from time to time. Introduction 3 Over 750 million people Worldwide use Facebook, and over 50% of those people use Facebook every day And what does this guide do? Many (but by no means all) of your players, officials and volunteers For those of you who have just taken your first steps in to social media, will already be using social media to talk with each other, to organise this guide will help you turn a walk in to a run. their social lives and have banter regarding football. A good proportion Over 250 million of those of these people will welcome you entering that conversation, so long For those of you with a little more experience, we hope there are some people use Facebook via a as you follow a few simple rules. ideas to help you engage with your community. More than that, the mobile device content plan should give you some ideas for getting the most “social For the County FAs, the ultimate success in social media will be when media mileage” from your existing activities, and even to share the we can all start a conversation with those stakeholders who know workload around your colleagues – anyone can use a camera, and we us best, and that conversation continues to their footballing friends all meet interesting people within the footballing family! join in, and ultimately engage directly with us too. What might that conversation be about? Anything from your upcoming County Cup We don’t go in to a huge amount of detail in any single section, as Finals through to how your Level 2 Coaching Courses are working out. the intention is to touch on each issue but not to overwhelm you in We’ll give you many ideas for content later in the guide. one go. There is one exception to this, the content plan. As the largest Around 30 million people in obstacle tends to be finding content, this section talks in detail the UK use Facebook So now we know where we might eventually be heading, about how you can find enough good quality content in your let’s look at taking the first steps along that journey. everyday activities. Finally, we hope that this guide will act as a catalyst to promote a conversation with you all. Don’t be afraid to run your ideas past your CFA Business Support Team. Introduction 4 Dos and Don’ts Dos and Don’ts 5 If you go in to a pub, you instinctively know how to behave – when it’s OK to chat to people, what to say and when to leave them well alone. Facebook has similar rules, and don’t worry, they are all pretty much common sense. Don’t “broadcast” your links all the time. Sometimes it’s Do take time to read the Safeguarding Children area as U18s England Football Team nice just to chat rather than sell. will have access to your website. We need a “Dislike” button for this one... Today is 25 years since “that goal” in the 86 World Cup. FATV caught up with Don’t ignore people. Don’t dominate the conversation, Do vary your posts. Mix it up with photos, videos, questions, Steve Hodge who swapped shirts with Maradona after but do join other peoples’ conversations if you have something opinions and of course links. the match... to offer. Do write “for the news feed”. Even though you are writing on your Hodge’s Maradona memories Do thank people. If someone likes or shares your own wall, remember that most people will read your message on www.thefa.com content, thank them! their own news feed. So saying things like “check out the tab on 22 June at 11:38 • Like • Comment • Share the left” doesn’t work. Do post fairly often. It’s hard to have a conversation if there’s 246 people like this nothing to chat about. Start with a couple of posts a day - you’ll Do send updates, but only for really important things. Edit page View all 67 comments soon get a good feel for how often but don’t post everything in > resources > connect with people & then you can send your one day, make the amount you post consistent. message. This arrives as a notification, so don’t use this too often Write a comment... or you will turn people off. Don’t pass this document onto Clubs and Leagues. This document is for Counties use only. Do make your page as open as possible. Allow fans to post to your page, add photos, tag photos etc. This is the best way to Do moderate your page. It is important that you benefit from Facebook’s viral effect, so if you don’t do this it’s check and moderate your page for inappropriate material just more marketing! (facebook, Twitter). Dos and Don’ts 6 Tone of voice Tone of voice 7 So, you’re still in the pub – what tone of voice should you use? • Be friendly. Open, honest and considerate • Be informal. If you have a corporate style guide, start the discussion now about how you’ll need to change the rules for social media • Be a good host. Make people feel welcome, ensure they know enough to feel comfortable and have a few tricks up your sleeve to start the conversation going (more on The best way to imagine it is you are that later) going for a drink after work. So you • DON’T SHOUT. Besides being harder to read, online etiquette are friendly with everyone – your usual has it that CAPS is shouting enthusiastic and lively self. • Be humorous. But stop way before you think you might be getting anywhere near the line. And use smileys just to make sure people know you are joking Adam Kelly Are the Community shield tickets on sale ?? 22 June at 11:38 • Like • Comment • Share But not as friendly as you would be Wembley Stadium Hi Adam, you need to check with with the mates you’ve known since the individual club’s ticket offices, they will be handling ticket sales for the Community Shield. Thanks school. You just don’t have the same Yesterday at 14:05 • Like shared experiences and references to Adam Kelly Ok cheers be that familiar, particularly when 22 hours ago • Like it comes to humour. Write a comment... Tone of voice 8 How to run your Facebook page Creating a Facebook page is easy. The tricky part is to run the page well, so that you attract and engage with lots of visitors to your page. But with a few simple steps, you can run your page like a pro. Using examples from football and other sports, we’ll show you how. How to run your Facebook page 9 Top tips Northamptonshire FA Moulton Magpiesand Moulton FC are holding a Grand Opening Day on Saturday 18th June at Brunting Rd Moulton. The event will be opened by Pete Walton, our Premier League referee. Get along and ahve a fun day out. 14 June at 16:21 • Like • Comment • Share The FA Cup asked Who is going to win The FA Cup? Manchester City … ESSEX County FA Stoke City … Essex Soccability League 2010 Adam Kelly www.youtube.com 55,464 Impressions • 0% feedback Are the Community shield tickets on sale ?? Some clips from the last Match Day of the 13 May at 11:01 • 98 • Ask friends • Unvote 22 June at 11:38 • Like • Comment • Share Essex Soccability League 2010/11 held at Colchester. Hi Adam, you need to check with Wembley Stadium 29 May at 14:56 • Like • Comment • Share the individual club’s ticket offices, they will be handling ticket sales Wembley Stadium We are delighted to announce that Wembley Stadium will host the for the Community Shield. Thanks John Duffy likes this Yesterday at 14:05 • Like 2013 UEFA Champions league Final. 22 June at 11:38 • Like • Comment • Share Adam Kelly Ok cheers 22 hours ago • Like FA WSL 246 people like this Good luck to our Welsh #FAWSL stars today as they take on England’s View all 67 comments World Cup opponenets New Zealand, in the Swiss Tournament. Photo Write a comment... – BRISTOL ACADEMY WFC and WALES Write a comment... forward Jess Fishlock Wall Photos Nottinghamshire FA added 10 new photos Liverpool County Football Association Congratulations to Falcon FC Winners of the LCFA Under 16 Youth Cup 2011 29 May at 14:56 • Like • Comment • Share Wall Photos Martin Cadogan C’MON U WALES!!!!!! Nottinghamshire RESPECT 15 June at 11:05 • Like 08 March at 09:59 • Like • Comment • Share Write a comment... 246 people like this 29 May at 14:56 • Like • Comment • Share How to run your Facebook page 10 Questions Back in the real world, if someone makes a statement to you, it’s easy to ignore.