“Social Media and Ham Radio and our Club” by Rebecca Addison, K1BKY
Al asked me to write up something for the “Communicator” about social media on very
short notice. Social Media covers a lot of territory. Some club members use social media
and some do not. Those of us who do use it use it in different ways. I am by no means an
“expert”. I’m just a frequent user.
short notice. Social Media covers a lot of territory. Some club members use social media
and some do not. Those of us who do use it use it in different ways. I am by no means an
“expert”. I’m just a frequent user.
A quick Google search on “Social Media for newbies” gives back several places to get
started. Here’s a few from the top of the list:
started. Here’s a few from the top of the list:
To quote from that last link that’s targeted toward small businesses “Social media gives
you direct access and communication with these potential customers to grow your brand
with little cost.
you direct access and communication with these potential customers to grow your brand
with little cost.
Social Media is the fastest way to create awareness. It’s only through social media that a
post can go viral within minutes, with no restrictions.”
post can go viral within minutes, with no restrictions.”
This is a great opportunity for us but it does take work. We can use social media to get the
word out about our events and build community with our members.
word out about our events and build community with our members.
For a long time we’ve had a Facebook group that has had some activity. We’ve tried to boost
that recently. In the past few weeks I’ve created a Facebook page also. The group is a good
place for discussions and community. The page is a good place to post events and
information.
that recently. In the past few weeks I’ve created a Facebook page also. The group is a good
place for discussions and community. The page is a good place to post events and
information.
We also now have a Twitter account. Twitter is more limited because of the character limit.
For the club it’s a good place to say “Hey we’re doing this… and go to the website for the
details….”
For the club it’s a good place to say “Hey we’re doing this… and go to the website for the
details….”
The ARRL has a social media presence in several places- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
YouTube, SnapChat, and LinkedIn.
YouTube, SnapChat, and LinkedIn.
All the “cool kids” use Instagram and Snapchat. I’m personally NOT that cool yet so I haven’t
taken those on for the club. If you are one of the “cool kids” and want to help let’s talk! We
could expand our club’s social media outreach to other platforms.
taken those on for the club. If you are one of the “cool kids” and want to help let’s talk! We
could expand our club’s social media outreach to other platforms.
If you happen to have a copy of “Ham Radio for Dummies” 3rd edition, online edition.
by H. Ward Silver Published by For Dummies, 2018
by H. Ward Silver Published by For Dummies, 2018
you can flip to chapter 3 and read about “Finding other hams: Your Support group”.
(The Umass libraries has the digital edition so if you’ve got a Umass email address you can
read it online.) I don’t want to quote too heavily but I’ll pull out this
(The Umass libraries has the digital edition so if you’ve got a Umass email address you can
read it online.) I don’t want to quote too heavily but I’ll pull out this
“Social media and blogs
Everything has a presence online, and ham radio is no different. Just search for ham radio
on Facebook, for example, and you’ll find dozens of possibilities, ranging from
general-interest clubs to emergency communications to license-exam practice to contesting
— and more.
on Facebook, for example, and you’ll find dozens of possibilities, ranging from
general-interest clubs to emergency communications to license-exam practice to contesting
— and more.
Here are two popular streams of information about amateur radio:
- Twitter: twitter.com/amateurradio (@Amateurradio) or search for ham radio topics
at https://twitter.com/search?q=ham+radio
Personally I lurk on Reddit but don’t post much. Aaron, KC1CXX, posts on Reddit but I don’t
even know his user name. Reddit tends to be more anonymous than some of the other
social media platforms. It’s a good place for individuals but I’m not convinced that the Club
needs to have a presence there.
even know his user name. Reddit tends to be more anonymous than some of the other
social media platforms. It’s a good place for individuals but I’m not convinced that the Club
needs to have a presence there.
The author goes on to talk about videos, podcasts, and webinars. We all know about
“Ham Nation” by now though, don’t we?
“Ham Nation” by now though, don’t we?
From personal experience- The Facebook group has some local interaction. The Facebook
page helps us to promote the club to people who might not be members. With Twitter we
can use #Hashtags and reach people who have never heard of us. I found Twitter to be a
great source of support when I was studying for my license exams. By using #hamradio
and #amateurradio I was able to build an online support network that guided me toward
better study materials and acted as an online support group when I struggled with the Extra
exam. For me, Twitter and Facebook reach different audiences. Your mileage may vary.
page helps us to promote the club to people who might not be members. With Twitter we
can use #Hashtags and reach people who have never heard of us. I found Twitter to be a
great source of support when I was studying for my license exams. By using #hamradio
and #amateurradio I was able to build an online support network that guided me toward
better study materials and acted as an online support group when I struggled with the Extra
exam. For me, Twitter and Facebook reach different audiences. Your mileage may vary.
I think that having a solid website is the backbone of our club’s online presence. From that
we can reach out through social media to draw people in. Think of social media as the
advertising and the website as the actual storefront. Of course ourselves, our events, and
our community are the real deal behind it all.
we can reach out through social media to draw people in. Think of social media as the
advertising and the website as the actual storefront. Of course ourselves, our events, and
our community are the real deal behind it all.
