Making the Most of Social Media in 2017

In the past year, more people than ever before used social media. 68% of all American adults logged in to Facebook alone in 2016!* Experts project that social media use will only continue to grow in coming years. With so many people online, your council’s Facebook Page can be the perfect tool to raise awareness, increase participation in council events, and recruit new members!

Take More Pictures! To make your council’s Facebook Page stand out from the crowd, be sure to use compelling images in your posts and create photo albums for your council’s charitable events and parish activities. Photos that show your council in action—a knight helping a child try on a winter jacket at a Coats for Kids drive, or handing out meals at a soup kitchen—will convey the Order’s first principle of charity in a concrete way.

Share Catholic Resources! While you should post about council charitable events and other council news on your Facebook Page, you should also share content of general interest to your followers as well. Regularly sharing spiritual development resources and Catholic news to your council’s Facebook page will encourage your followers to visit your page more regularly. Keep shared content appropriate and positive, and share from trusted sources like KofC.org, Catholic News Agency, and the USCCB.

Don’t Forget to be Social! It may seem obvious, but being “social” on social media is very important. Answering messages in your page’s inbox, replying to comments (while always maintaining a positive and professional tone), and liking followers’ posts is important to sustaining a strong online presence. Making your council accessible on social media means potential members will be better able to connect with your council and feel encouraged to join!

*Pew Research Center, 2016

Knightline, January 2016