Join the conversation on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat and by tagging your photos and posts with #ATS2017. Follow these simple tips to make the most of all of your posts.
Take Images That Have an Impact
- Get close to your subject.
- Change your perspective to better frame your photo.
- Switch to portrait orientation for vertical photos.
- Focus on your subject with the tap of your screen.
- Mix things up with off-center photos.
- Enable public setting on your Instagram app.
- Tag your images with #ATS2017.
Use the 5Ws
- Who: Include your chapter, committee, assembly, or section in photos of yourself, mentors, and others.
- What: Show off your ATS swag (ATS pens, key chains, mugs, and jackets).
- Where: Take photos in public spaces of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and hotels, such as lobbies, corridors, and atria; at receptions, dinners, and anywhere ATS attendees gather; at the ATS selfie station; and out and about at Washington, DC, landmarks. (Photography is not permitted in the Exhibit Hall.)
- When: Avoid the midday sun when natural light is the most harsh. Opt for early morning, late afternoon, and early evening photo opps.
- Why: Photos are fun to share, and your colleagues will feel connected.
Twitter Essentials for Newbies
- Go easy on the hashtags. Hashtags are a must-have, but use them in moderation, limiting yourself to about two per tweet. Include the official conference hashtag, #ATS2017 so attendees can see, share, and engage with your tweets.
- Less is more: Stop short of the 140-character limit to allow for easy sharing and reposting (e.g., RT @atscommunity).
- Diversity is key: Follow the 60-30-10 rule with 60 percent retweets to promote other posts, 30 percent for conversation and responses, and 10 percent for your updates, announcements, and events. Remember: You are joining the conversation, not taking it over.
Grow Your Group’s Social Networks
Active members of ATS chapters, committees, assemblies, or sections can use this primer to build their social media presence.
- Moderation: Don’t overwhelm your followers. A basic guideline for social media frequency is about one Facebook post per day, or five to seven posts per week. For Twitter, a general rule is three to five tweets per day.
- Practice makes perfect: Inspiration for posts takes time and effort. Get into the habit of regularly searching, sourcing, and posting compelling content.
- Speak with images: Photos uploaded to Facebook generate five times the interaction and engagement compared to posts without photos. Twitter is the same, with tweeted photos getting twice the interaction.
- Stay fit: Social networks are mobile, so view your posts on mobile devices to make sure they appear correctly. Use link shorteners, such as bit.ly, to add more information and keywords to your updates.
- Test content variations. Do certain pictures perform better than others? Is there an optimal time of day, or day of the week to post? As you adjust what you post and how often, you’ll soon go from social media novice to pro.