Step 4: Setup Social Media and Messaging Apps
This step is applicable for All Campaigners
Estimated Time: 45 minutes - 1 hour
To conduct a social media campaign we need to be present on social media!
There are 30+ social media platforms with more than 100 million users. So should you have a presence on all those platforms?
No. We need to understand where our audience is and we should build our presence there.
But, we should understand how the different platforms work - because you never know when you might need to become active there. So, as part of ICIMWS we'll try to maximize your exposure to the different platforms - not all the 30+ - but the ones more important for general public.
Good News! You're probably already using some of these platforms in your daily life. So, less work for you :)
Note: It is important that you create accounts on all the platforms listed below.
This will help you to:
Develop an understanding of what they are.
Do campaigning on your topic there. Your content will be posted on these platforms - you will have to like, comment and share it with people across the board to increase awareness.
PS: If you decide not to continue with any of these after completing your awareness campaign - there is usually an option to close your account.
Setup Accounts
Social Media Platforms
Step 4.1: Setup Instagram
Launched in 2010, Instagram allows users to create visual content (pictures and videos). It has more than 2 billion users.
Create Instagram account if you don't already have one: Click Here to Join Instagram.
Follow the primary page, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
View the ICIMWS content already posted here and develop a perspective about what you like and do not like. Look at the post/video, the description, the tags. Are they engaging and evoking action/reaction from you?
Also, please follow the supporting organisations' pages to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.2: Setup YouTube
Launched in 2005, YouTube is the world's largest video content platform. It has more than 2.5 billion users.
Create account: Good News! Considering YouTube is owned by Google, if you have a Google account, you don't need to create a YouTube account - just login with your Google account. Click Here to Join YouTube.
Subscribe the primary channel, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
View the ICIMWS playlist and develop a perspective about what you like and do not like. Look at the videos, their descriptions, the tags. Are they engaging and evoking action/reaction from you?
Also, please subscribe the supporting organisations' channels to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.3: Setup Facebook
No surprises here! Love it or hate it - FB maintains it's number 1 position with 3bn+ active users.
Launched in 2004, Facebook allows users to create all kinds of content - posts, images, videos etc.
Create Facebook account if you are the rare person who doesn't already have one: Click Here to Join Facebook.
Follow the primary page, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Join the following primary groups - these will be used to disseminate your content during campaigning:
In addition, you may want to join groups with audience that might find your content interesting so that you may disseminate there - example: groups related to psychology, mental health, parenting, relationships, etc.
View the ICIMWS content already posted here and develop a perspective about what you like and do not like. Look at the post/video, the description, the tags. Are they engaging and evoking action/reaction from you?
Also, please follow the supporting organisations' pages to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.4: Setup LinkedIn
Launched in 2003, now owned by Microsoft, LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform with close to a billion monthly active users!
Create LinkedIn account if you don't already have one: Click Here to Join LinkedIn.
Follow the primary pages, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Join groups: In addition, you may want to join groups with audience that might find your content interesting so that you may disseminate there - example: groups related to psychology, mental health, parenting, relationships, etc.
Step 4.5: Setup Pinterest
Launched in 2009, Pinterest is an image sharing platform with close to half a billion users. Historically, Pinterest has been dominaed by women - with close to 70% of female users. It is rated very highly by users for helping them discover new brands and products.
Create Pinterest account if you don't already have one: Click Here to Join Pinterest. You can directly login using your Google account - will take a few seconds!
Follow the primary page, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
View the ICIMWS content already posted here and develop a perspective about what you like and do not like. Look at the post/video, the description, the tags. Are they engaging and evoking action/reaction from you? And, of course, practice how to save the posts and comment on them.
Step 4.6: Setup X (Twitter)
Launched in 2006, X is used by some of the most influential people in the world, and brands too. It has more than half a billion monthly active users and is amongst the world's most well-known platforms.
Create X account if you don't already have one: Click Here to Join X. You can directly login using your Google account - will take a few seconds!
Follow the primary page and ICIMWS list, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Also, please subscribe the supporting organisations' pages to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.7: Setup Quora
Launched in 2009, Quora is the world's largest social Q&A site with close to close to half a billion monthly active users.
Create a Quora account: Click Here to Join Quora. You can directly login using your Google account - will take a few seconds!
Join these two spaces. This is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Step 4.8: Setup Reddit
Launched in 2005, Reddit is a news aggregation, content rating, and discussion website - a site where people can find a community for anything and everything.
Create a Reddit account: Click Here to Join Reddit. You can directly login using your Google account - will take a few seconds!
Join this community. This is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Also, please follow the supporting organisations' to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.9: Setup Tumblr
Launched in 2007, Tumblr is a 'blogging' website with almost 150 million users, where the users Tumble from one piece of content to another.
Create a Tumblr account: Click Here to Join Tumblr. You can directly login using your Google account - will take a few seconds!
Follow this blog. This is where you will be directly posting your content during campaigning:
Also, please follow the supporting organisations' to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.10: Setup Discord
Launched in 2015, Discord was created to let people around the world communicate online. Users can join or create different communities (servers) and connect through text, voice chat, and video.
With a user base of just around 150 million people, it is considered to be one of the most engaging social media sites. Excellent for influencers who would like to connect with their users directly - grow and monetise.
Create a Discord account: Click Here to Join Discord.
Follow this server which will be used to share your content.
Setup Messaging Apps
Step 4.11: Setup WhatsApp
Launched in 2009, WhatsApp is the world's number 1 messaging platform with 2 billion monthy active users.
Create a WhatsApp account: If you're one of the rare souls who are not on WhatsApp - just install the app on your mobile device and get started - Visit Site.
Follow the primary channel, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Join the supporters group - this will be used by you to disseminate your content during campaigning, and to support others:
In addition, you may want to invite your friends, family and colleagues - people who care about the cause of mental health and would like to contribute to join us here.
Also, please follow the supporting organisations' channels to show our appreciation for their support:
Step 4.12: Setup Telegram
Launched in 2013, Telegram is a feature-laden messaging platform with almost a billion monthy active users.
Create a Telegram account: Just install the app on your PC or mobile device and get started - Visit Site.
Follow the primary channel, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Join the primary group - this will be used by you to disseminate your content during campaigning, and to support others:
In addition, you may want to join groups with audience that might find your content interesting so that you may disseminate there - example: groups related to psychology, mental health, parenting, relationships, etc.
Step 4.13: Setup SnapChat
Launched in 2011, Snapchat is immensely popular with the younger generation and has a user base of almost a billion monthy active users.
Create a Snapchat account: Just install the app on your mobile device and get started - Visit Site.
Follow the primary account and join the Psychology Learners group, this is where your content will be posted during campaigning:
Done!
Phew! That's all for now.
There are zillions of other messaging apps and social media sites similar to and different from the above. Please feel free to explore and, if you're a registered campaigner, share your experience with others in the workgroups.