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Note: This was originally posted back in 2023 and is now being reposted. Some of the insights or examples may be outdated.
One thing that all social media users and businesses alike know: social media is a multi-faceted space with endless possibilities. Whether it’s to share your latest selfie, promote your business, or advocate for a unique cause, there is value in gaining the attention of an audience.
Today we’re looking at some unique players on the platform and how they are utilizing social media and video in order to reach new targets and also advocate for their cause: Southern California water districts.
Conservation Efforts and Social Media
Social Media is one of the best places to advocate for a cause and actually gain followers. There are countless examples of how people have figured out how to leverage an online presence to raise awareness. With accounts ranging in topics from eco-friendly diets to water saving measures, some have even garnered hundreds of thousands of followers with millions of daily interactions.
When it comes specifically to water conservation, there is a massive audience of individuals who care and want more information on the part they can play.
Social Media is a valuable resource for educational measures, and information can reach significantly more people when shared.
Creative Use of Media
Creativity is greatly rewarded on social media! At the end of the day, boring content is one of the biggest deterrents for success when it comes to complex topics such as water conservation. Many of the Southern California water districts have found a way to creatively advocate for water saving measures. Social media should be fun.
One of the ways we’ve seen many water districts bridge the gap between them and their audience is by posting how water plays a role in some of the public’s favorite holidays or special events. This is the intersection between relatability, creativity and practical information.
For example, for National Beer Day, we saw water districts posting about how many gallons of water are needed for one pint of beer. As pictured below, for National Puppy Day, we saw many districts posting a reminder to keep their dogs hydrated and to refill their water dish.
After Easter, many districts pushed out messages about how to properly dispose of plastic Easter Eggs after use.
We have also seen many districts utilize social media as an informative tool used to educate the public on future measures. As shown above, this takes place in the form of interactive quizzes, environmental scavenger hunts, etc.
The possibilities for creativity and advocacy are endless, and with millions of people on Instagram everyday, this has been an effective tool in reaching the public.
Means of Connection
Beyond the realm of advocacy and education, Southern California Water Districts are also doing a great job of utilizing social media to connect with others.
Whether it’s engaging with other water districts and collaborating on long-running campaigns, or engaging directly with the community, water districts have been able to garner attention. Especially in the time we are in, face-to-face communication and connection is wavering.
However, connecting with community figures on social media and showing an active front is a great way to remind people of what actions water districts are taking. Showcasing the hard work that’s taking place shows the community the importance of water conservation measures and environmental impact.
Best Practices
Whether it’s for educational purposes, showcasing hard-work, or just engaging with the community in a relatable way,
Southern California Water Districts have found many ways to utilize social media to their advantage. We thank all of our water districts for their hard work and dedication to bettering the environment, as well as the community!
Here are some of our tips for best practices on social media:
- Know your audience. This is essentially social media 101- whether it’s a certain community, age group, interest group, etc. understanding your audience is key.
- Develop creative and interesting content. This is also a given when it comes to social media, and this is a fundamental element to successful posting.
- Use video and other forms of media. Because Instagram is so reliant on visual mediums, diversify your feed with different videos, text and graphics.
- Develop a strong voice. The water districts that have the strongest identity on social media tend to have the most attention. This includes a set aesthetic, themes and language.
- Interact with similar content. For water districts, this may include other similar districts, community members, or accounts with similar branding.
If you are interested in adding visual media to your social media, contact us today!
