In today’s digital world, social media is one of the best ways to connect with our communities, celebrate our BB Companies, and attract new members and supporters. Whether you want to spread the word about a big event, share weekly activities, or highlight the personal growth of your members, social media can be a powerful tool for reaching both young people and their families.
Whether you’re new to social media or seeking fresh ideas, join RefreshPR in exploring practical tips for getting the most out of different social media platforms from our recently created Social Media Guides. This article will show you how to select winning strategies and share inspiration from some of our inaugural Social Media Award winners.
Navigating different social media channels
Social media provides Companies with an incredible opportunity to share their mission and achievements. There are three key platforms for sharing news and reaching your wider communities – Facebook, Instagram and X. Here’s a brief breakdown of the key platforms and how to make the most of each to engage with your audience effectively, taken from our Social Media Guides.
Facebook
Why Facebook? With millions of UK users, Facebook offers one of the widest reaches, especially among families and local groups. It’s an ideal platform for updates, event information, and building community awareness.
Posting tips: Use visually engaging content like photos or videos, which tend to attract more attention than text-based posts alone. When posting, try to share content during peak times when your audience is likely online, typically between 8-9am and 1-3pm.
Content suggestions: Highlight the fun and variety of BB activities – showcase achievements, introduce your leaders, or share behind-the-scenes moments from recent events. Tag the national BB account for increased visibility.
Photography tips: Even with a smartphone, you can capture great photos by using bright lighting, a tidy background, and obtaining parent/carer consent before sharing images of young people. Take several snaps at each meeting and choose the best one to share each week.
Instagram
Why Instagram? This visual platform is perfect for reaching younger audiences and parents/carers. Instagram offers various formats to post content, such as Stories, Reels, and grid posts, so you can share images and videos.
Types of Posts: Stories: These are short-lived but highly engaging, ideal for quick updates, interactive polls, or sharing moments from your latest events. You can save these for people to view at a later date as a ‘Highlight’. Grid posts: Perfect for lasting photos or carousel posts that stay on your profile and can highlight action shots, group moments, or events for people to scroll at their own leisure. Reels: Short, engaging videos that capture dynamic moments from activities. Reels offer great exposure and often gain visibility quickly.
Posting tips: To work with Instagram’s algorithm, timing matters. Avoid posting during busy family times, like 3-9pm, and use relevant hashtags (#YouthOrganisation, #BoysBrigade) to reach a broader audience. You can also include a location tag. Don’t forget to tag @theboysbrigade_ukroi to increase the chance of a reshare!
X (formerly Twitter)
Why X? Known for its fast-paced environment, X is excellent for real-time updates and connecting with local news outlets, other organisations, and BB Companies.
Creating posts: With a 280-character limit, posts need to be direct and to the point. Enhance posts with images, GIFs, or videos. Consider using polls for follower engagement, such as asking for opinions on activities.
Timing and hashtags: X engagement is highest from Tuesday to Thursday. Use hashtags like #YouthOrganisation and location tags (#Rainford) to boost your content’s discoverability.
Social media best practices
Here are some best practices to maximise your group’s impact on social media:
Know your audience: Think about the content that connects with both young people and parents.
Be consistent: Create a regular posting schedule to keep followers engaged and familiar with your content.
Use hashtags and tags: Hashtags and tags extend your reach. Relevant tags, like #BoysBrigade or #YouthInAction, help others find your posts, and tagging other community groups can broaden exposure.
Showcase values and mission: Use social media to highlight the BB’s commitment to youth development and community involvement.
Learning from Social Media Award Winners
We held BB Social Media Awards for the first time this year, crowning winners in four categories – Best Use of Video, Best Use of Photography, Best New Account and Overall Best Use of Social Media. Companies displayed remarkable creativity and impact in their local communities through their social channels. Our judges scored the entries on the number of followers, engagements, photos and videos used in content, as well as consistency in posting.
Here’s how they achieved success and how your Company can follow their lead on social media:
Facebook
Consistent updates: Posting regular event updates kept interest alive and informed followers about progress.
Sponsor engagement: Tagging local sponsors drew in their networks and encouraged mutual support.
Impactful storytelling: After meetings, winning Companies shared stories and images that allowed the community to feel part of the success.
Celebrating achievements on Instagram
Focus on personal stories: Personalising posts with individual stories helped followers connect.
Creative photography: Simple edits made photos more vibrant and noticeable in feeds.
Parental engagement: Tagging parents/carers increased sharing and amplified reach.
Creative content ideas for leaders
Are you feeling inspired? Ready to write your next post? Here are some content ideas to help leaders engage their social media audiences. We want to see even more entries for next year’s Social Media Awards event.
Activity spotlights: Showcase memorable moments from activities, whether weekly or monthly. It’s easy to forget the fun and learnings from meet to meet. Make the most of the sessions on social media.
Member testimonials: Post stories from members or alumni about what BB means to them. We have such a wide based of members, show your followers that everyone is welcome.
Behind-the-scenes content: Share glimpses of event planning or preparation. You go to lots of effort – shout and show it to inspire others.
What Next?
If you want to learn more about tips and strategies to bring your Company’s social media presence to the next level find our updated Social Media Guides online. By implementing these tips, leaders not only help their own groups but contribute to the visibility of the BB as a whole.
