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If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you’re a passionate person. You care very deeply about one or a number of causes. You may even want to start a business or start a blog to promote your cause. But with all of the information and technology out there, what’s the best way to go about promoting your cause?
Promoting Your Cause on Social Media
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that social media is everywhere. It’s become a way for people to entertain themselves, connect with friends and family, engage in conversations, and even check the news. Social media is so prevalent, that research suggests that it may have a negative impact on mental health.
Although it’s unclear how much social media is linked to the rising rates of anxiety and depression, its impact on your life really depends on how you use it. Social media can be used for good or evil. The choice is yours. And if you choose to use social media for good, then it can be a very powerful tool for promoting your cause.
I social media to spread positivity, encourage people, and empower them throughout their personal growth journey. You can check out my social media channels here:
Regardless of which social media platform(s) you decide to use, here are five social media tips for promoting your cause online.
1. Look forward to meeting new people.
While promoting your cause on social media, you’ll likely encounter people from all walks of life. Be open to meeting new people (virtually, of course). This includes those who share your point of view as well as those who don’t. Always treat people with kindness and respect, even if they don’t agree with you.
Even if you enjoy meeting new people, be careful when talking to people online. People may not always be what they seem. Be safe at all times. Never share your personal info with someone you’ve met online. And definitely, don’t arrange to meet with anyone in person that you’ve only talked to on the internet.
2. Commit to advocating for your cause
Ask any serious blogger and they’ll say that advocacy is nearly a full-time job! Whether you’re sharing your favorite recipes, revealing tips for how to grow your business, or raising awareness for mental health, you likely spend a lot of time thinking, writing, and promoting your cause.
Although social media should not replace face-to-face interaction, it can supplement your advocacy efforts. Social media can be a great place to network, connect with like-minded people, obtain and offer support and encouragement, and brainstorm ideas.
Ways of promoting your cause online include:
- Posting original content to your page or profile
- Sharing other people’s content that is related to your cause
- Commenting on relevant posts
- Joining and participating in groups in your niche
- Direct messaging people who are open to receiving private messages
A word of caution: don’t be spammy, no matter how passionate you are about your cause. Nobody wants a can of spam in their inbox!
Advocating can take a lot of time and energy, but the results can be worth it. Here are a few more ways you can leverage the power of social media to make the most of your advocacy efforts:
- Tailor your content to what’s trending in the news and/or current events
- Celebrate holidays and events using the relevant hashtags (for example, if you write about mental health, you might post about World Mental Health Day)
- Post to pages or groups that specialize in your topic
While we believe in independent thinking and would advise against catering to the masses, being aware of what’s going on in the world around you will empower you to promote your cause more effectively.
3. Be open to tweaking your mindset.
It can be easy to treat social media as a soapbox for proclaiming beliefs. However, try to be open to hearing other points of view. Being open to tweaking your mindset doesn’t mean that you have to agree with other perspectives. It just means that you’re willing to be challenged, respectfully debate, and consider alternate approaches.
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
– Aristotle
In tweaking your mindset, you’ll also need to be open to adjusting your social media strategy as needed. Being adaptable is crucial in today’s fast-paced world run by algorithms. What worked today might not work tomorrow. Stick to your agenda, but be flexible with your strategy to accommodate the changes of the social media platforms. Be stubborn about your goals, and flexible about your methods. You can learn more about the art of evaluating in my post about how to start a business.
4. Embrace working together for the common good.
One of the biggest advantages of social media is its reach. You can reach much larger audiences online than you typically could in-person. This means more opportunities for collaborating.
Working together can include:
- Fundraising
- Organizing events
- Writing guest posts
Other examples of partnering for a cause include:
- Organizing disaster relief efforts
- Crowdfunding such as GoFundMe or Kickstarter
- Donating to charities or nonprofits such as Project Semicolon
- Raising awareness for specific medical conditions such as ME/CFS or hemiplegic migraines (Chronically Hopeful and The Frozen Mind are great examples of this, respectively)
- Educating people about certain topics such as chronic illness (A Chronic Voice and My Medical Musings do this beautifully)
Promoting your cause with like-minded people can be both fun and impactful!
5. Be strategic when curating content.
If you’re serious about promoting your cause online, then you need to selectively curate your content. Haphazardly posting random pictures to fill in time slots won’t work. Instead, carefully consider the intent and potential impact of each post. Think about your niche and your target audience. Share what would be most interesting and meaningful for them.
It might be helpful to ask yourself the following questions when creating a post, scheduling your content, or organizing your editorial calendar:
- What is the purpose of this post or campaign?
- What problem am I trying to solve with this content?
- How will this story or piece of information help people?
- What are the potential consequences and benefits of sharing this?
Taking time to thoughtfully consider your content when promoting your cause will ensure that you’re sharing content that is relevant to them.
Of course, whatever you share online should also be interesting and meaningful for YOU. We once read that if you don’t absolutely love something, don’t post it. This is one of the most helpful social media tips we’ve come across. But don’t worry. If you’re a second-guesser, most things on social media can be deleted or removed (although nothing on the internet ever really disappears. However, only sharing what you wholeheartedly believe in will create a stronger connection with your audience.
Conclusion
Whether you’re starting a blog, building a business, or advocating for mental health and wellness, there are lots of ways to promote your cause online using these social media tips. For more information on how to use social media to promote your blog and grow your business, check out my soulful social media and heart-centered sales bundle.
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