By Leader Editor Kara Apel
The holidays are a time to bring us all together. Despite the many differences currently dividing our country, no one can argue that the world just feels a little more festive when the weather gets chillier in November and December.
Because of the nature of our profession, we are more limited than other industries when it comes to posting on social media. After all, you are serving families during some of the most difficult times in their lives and need to be sensitive to those viewing the page.
However, the holidays are a great time to curate feel-good content— and generate engagement from your followers. MKJ Marketing’s team of social media experts has compiled a list of ideas for your firm to consider as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. Please feel free to use as many of these ideas as you see fit.
- Surprise hospice staff with a meal — and document it. Your firm may provide food or other gifts for hospice workers in your area, but are you sharing this on your Facebook page? Snap a photo, post it on your page, and write about why you’re grateful for their work.
- Your staff members have been working overtime throughout the pandemic. Why not take a moment to express your appreciation for all that they do? Whether you spotlight all your staff members or focus on one or two, share photos and a few kind words about why you’re grateful for their service.
- We all have family recipes that we hold dear, especially for Thanksgiving celebrations. Why not share one of your family’s favorites? Perhaps ask your staff members to participate too. Describing a recipe’s origin is another personal touch, as many people enjoy reading about family traditions. When you post a recipe, be sure to include a call to action for your community to share their recipes too — you always want to be thinking about how you can best engage your followers, and this is a great way to do it.
- First responders have been through the wringer over the past two years. Why not drop off some sweet treats or coffee at a local fire station, police station, or hospital? When you do this, ask if you can take a photo and share it on your page, along with a sentence or two about why you are grateful for their work.
- Dress up the firm’s therapy dog and take a photo. Sharing photos of our furry friends is a fun way to engage your followers. Do you have a therapy dog on your staff? Or maybe a beloved pet at home? Consider dressing them up to celebrate Thanksgiving, take a photo, and ask your community members to do the same. After all, everyone loves sharing photos of their pets!
- Share the cooking mishaps you’ve experienced in past years. We’ve all heard about times when someone burned the turkey (and maybe even started a fire), started cooking too late, or forgot to buy a crucial ingredient! These are fun, lighthearted moments that everyone can relate to. When you share your stories, be sure to write about what you learned from the mishap — and encourage others to share their experiences too.
- Ask for your followers’ thoughts on hot-topic Thanksgiving issues. Is it called stuffing or dressing? Is turkey or ham best? What’s better: pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie? Do you prefer watching a parade or football? Everyone has opinions on these issues, and you’ll be sure to get feedback, resulting in a boost of engagement for your page.
- What are your best ideas for Thanksgiving arts and crafts activities for kids? Parents (and grandparents) will be grateful to have ways to keep their little ones entertained over the holiday. Even better: Share pictures of what your children and grandchildren have created in the past and ask others to do the same!
- What makes your community so special? Consider writing a post about why you are thankful to be a part of your community. The more specific you can be, the better. If you have staff members who are willing to record videos, this will be a great piece of content for your page. When you share this, ask your followers why they’re thankful to be a part of the community too.
- Encourage volunteerism in your community. Have you or some of your staff members been volunteering this holiday season? Share a photo and give ideas on where to lend a helping hand in the area. Consider asking your followers to share their ideas too. Many people want to help but don’t know where to start, and this could be a great connecting point for your community.
Interested in taking your firm’s social media presence to the next level? Contact MKJ Marketing today for a free consultation.
