Some days, perhaps even most days, battling for engagement on Facebook can seem impossible. So any time you can discover ways to best combat the daunting “Facebook algorithm” - we talk about it as if it was an actual person - it becomes a major social media victory. Better yet, when some of those ways include FREE hacks or services, you literally celebrate!

Well, in a recent Facebook Live video, social media influencer and social selling expert, Kim Garst, shared three tips for using video to improve social media engagement. Video, in any form, has come to dominate social media within the last year, especially on Facebook.
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In Facebook’s Q1 2016 earnings report, the company announced that it had reached 1.65 billion monthly users. Yeah, great news for Facebook; bad news for your business Page!  It results in more ‘noise’ for your Page’s posts to battle with in News Feed.

Also mentioned was the fact that, on average, users spend more than 50 minutes a day on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. And by the end of 2015, Facebook was experiencing 8 billion daily video views from 500 million users.

So, the bottom line is this: incorporating any type of visual or video is extremely important if you want to give your social media content a natural boost and the highest chance of engagement with your audience.

​That is why you HAVE TO consider these three simple and FREE tips from Kim Garst:

1. Create photo/text based videos. Forget about the computer, start creating unique, creative video content on the go! Turn business tips, marketing advice, inspirational quotes and more into stunning animated posts that will sure to be “thumb-stoppers” - phrase credited to Kim Garst ;). Below are three simple to use mobile apps that will have you producing super creative content for your social and digital networks:

2. Use Facebook Live. Start broadcasting on Facebook Live! Facebook has announced that they are favoring live videos in News Feed. Live video has become the hottest part of social media marketing in 2016 (and it’s not going away!). Using Facebook Live will give you the best shot at reaching a larger portion of your audience. Even better, you can edit and repurpose your Live video for use on other social networks. Check out a few quick tips on repurposing content below:

You will be crazy NOT to take advantage of this service - FREE service, by the way! And, if it happens to be a lack of knowledge keeping you from experimenting with Facebook Live, then check out these two resources:

3. Upload native video in Facebook. Facebook likes what is Facebook; they want your entire Facebook experience to be INSIDE Facebook). Videos uploaded natively (directly in Facebook) receive four times higher interaction than links to other video formats, including YouTube.

What other advice or tools do you have about creating video for social media?

Good luck!
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MLS

Image credits: Unsplash, Canva, Apple App Store

As you can see above, the image is scaled the same in the Twitter feed, as well as the enlarged version on the left.

Now, in this example, you can see the difference between the two. The image in the feed is slightly cropped on the sides.

So, do yourself a favor and check out Adobe Spark! Right now! This is extremely fresh news. The best way to learn more is to experiment yourself. Feel free to connect with the greater community of Spark users by posting your creations or searching for others on social media with the hashtag #SparkMade.

Happy designing!
​
MLS

Ah, the nasty “A” word! No, it’s not the three letter word you’re thinking of right now, this word is three times as bad! It’s the marketer’s version of the “A” word and it’s nine letters - ALGORITHM!
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Algorithms have become the most important part of social media marketing. It’s “the algorithm” that decides who sees our content on social media and when they see it! Think about Facebook: how often have we been faced with the phrase “oh, it’s because of the Facebook algorithm?” More so, how many times has Facebook changed the algorithm?! Wow, it can drive a social media manager crazy.

We might just turn into the Facebook logo trying to figure it out!!

Source: alcrego.tumblr.com

Besides the algorithm, Facebook, specifically (now at 1.65 BILLION users), has become a spending machine! Businesses have gone wild with advertising on Facebook. Here are just a few stats that HubSpot found from research back in 2015:

• 92% of social marketers use Facebook to advertise
• 1.5 million businesses spend money on mobile advertising
• Businesses paid 122% more in ad units on Facebook from 2014 to 2015

So, the question becomes, how can I still reach my audience organically (aka - for FREE) on Facebook? Kim Garst, from Boom! Social, shared four ways to increase reach and engagement on Facebook without spending a penny in a recent Facebook Live broadcast. Ready for them?

1. Content rules - You cannot just “exist” in the social space, you have to be able to generate content! That content also needs to be meaningful and relevant to your audience. If your posts don’t generate any engagement soon after being published, chances are those posts will continue to do poorly because the Facebook algorithm will discount it for not having any substantial interaction. The question, then, becomes: how do you combat that? Answer: here are two small pieces of advice: 1) generate content that you know can connect personally with your audience - it could range from a question or poll that will catch people’s attention to a gif or animated image that will make people stop to watch or read, both resulting in at least a like or even a comment (if you’re lucky, possibly a share!) and 2) capitalize off of timely events or trending issues - share an article or blog that is connected to a trending subject or create your own, personal content around an event, news story or holiday (doing your best to tie it back to your brand or business).
2. Serve, don’t sell - This is one of Kim’s staple phrases, “serve, don’t sell.” The phrase is pretty self explanatory! Make your social media strategy be more about helping people and sharing information that matters to them, rather than trying to seal the deal or make a sell. People are more apt to pay attention to the brands and businesses that serve their needs without asking. Yes, that might mean you need to prepare content or services that are free, but that could also become the hook for future business? Essentially, give them what you know they want! You might just find yourself with more people interested in your services or products than if you would have been constantly self-promoting!
3. Test new ideas - Test, test and test again! The bottom line is to not keep things the same. First off, the marketing field, especially social and digital media, is constantly changing, almost daily! Deliver different content to see what attracts the most engagement. Experiment with different posting times to catch the largest portion of your audience. Keep doing what works; stop doing what doesn’t.
4. Use what matters to them - Remember, it’s all about your audience - the relationships - the people. Always keep them in mind when you are generating and posting content. Your audience needs to find value in what you are sharing to be motivated to engage with it. By testing content and learning the needs of your audience, you have given yourself the best opportunity to give your audience what they want to know. And, in the end, that will resonate most with them, translating into better engagement, which then makes the Facebook algorithm “notice” and push your post to more of your audience! YAY - #success! PS: don’t use hashtags on Facebook, the algorithm doesn’t like that ;)​

Go for it! Beat Facebook and create a winning social media strategy!

​MLS

A message for our teachers:

It’s YOUR week! In fact, it’s YOUR day – Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! 

This week we pause and salute teachers like you who are super passionate and dedicated to educating our youth. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of children through education and providing them with an experience that will totally be life-changing!

When I was in the classroom, I always took a few minutes during class on Teacher Appreciation Day to have students write a thank you note to another teacher (or teachers!) on campus. Scott Lang, from Scott Lang Leadership, gets all the credit for the idea! But it is a great way to have your students practice giving thanks to the people who make a difference in their lives, as well as making this special week even more meaningful for your colleagues.

Below are two thank you card templates (4 x 6 in.) that you can use with your students. Each template is available for download as a jpg or pdf. The jpg files are convenient for sending messages via email or social media, whereas, the pdf files can be printed so that students can write a personal message on the back of the card. Card number one was designed for web use while card number two with printing in mind, but feel free to use whichever works for you and your situation!
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I hope you find as much satisfaction and fulfillment as I did when sharing these special notes with the teachers in your schools during this week’s celebration!

Live video has dominated social media for the better part of the last year and it continues to develop at warp speed. Apps like Periscope and Meerkat, that first introduced live video, have expanded to include other platforms and apps such as Facebook Live and Blab. 

The fight for live video dominance is real among these major platforms, although Periscope and Facebook Live have truly emerged as the leaders. It is worth mentioning that Periscope is owned by Twitter, therefore it represents yet another showdown between the two major social media networks.

One advantage that Periscope initially had over Facebook Live was that any user could broadcast on Periscope with an active Twitter account. In May 2015, Periscope removed the requirement of a Twitter account to ‘scope’ (the official term for a live video on Periscope). But, on April 6, Facebook released a number of enhancements to Facebook Live, one of which made live video available to all users. Other notable updates included the availability to use Facebook Live with Groups and Events on Facebook, a dedicated tab on the mobile app for live videos and a new Facebook Live Map for desktop.

Interested in learning more about each of these new features? Read the entire update from the Facebook Newsroom.

These updates to Facebook Live have created an opportunity for schools, from the elementary level all through higher education, to creatively integrate live video into their overall communications plan. As schools have begun to appropriately utilize social media over the past few years, the experimentation of live video should now be encouraged.

All of these social media and live video platforms and apps simply allow schools a greater way to communicate with students, parents and the community. More importantly, the usage of these channels make schools maintain their relevancy with current technologies. This doesn't mean, though, that schools should abandon more traditional communication methods like snail mail, email or even text messaging; social media and live video should be used to complement these “older” means of communication. Like any successful organization or business, successful school communities are built upon developed and effective communication systems.

To help, I have started a list of ideas schools could use to experiment with Facebook Live:

Large Events:

• School board meetings
• Important announcement sessions for parents
• Coverage from a major athletic event
• Broadcast of a school assembly (pep rally)
• Live stream of performing arts events
• Speeches from award ceremonies/inductions
• Commencement coverage
• New student orientation sessions

Individual Classroom Activities:

• Teacher Q&A w/ students (test prep for AP Exams or finals)
• Classroom broadcast for parents (demonstrate ‘live’ look at learning)
• Open house sessions (for parents who cannot be present)

Obviously, if your school hasn't actively engaged in social media or initiated a social media presence, jumping into live video is not advised. Social media requires a great deal of thought and planning, especially in the beginning. It is not something that you want to start blindly, particularly with a large organization such as a school.
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Whether your school has a well-developed social media presence or not, a written policy and an internal guide is highly suggested to effectively run a safe, appropriate and effective campaign. Administrators, staff and faculty should all be knowledgeable of best practices for social media accounts, those school-related and personal.

Edutopia, in collaboration with Facebook, produced a convenient guide to building social media guidelines for schools. So, if you are in need of producing a policy guide or simply want to review your existing guide, check out this resource.

Interested in sharing your perspectives with like-minded people about the world of social media for education, nonprofits or small businesses? If yes, consider joining the Together We Can Slack Community for an on-going, live conversation.

If you are still looking to learn more and expand your knowledge about social media or anything else technology related that can help your marketing efforts or digital presence, please sign up for our e-newsletter, #trending, for all the latest in social media and technology.

Finally, if you want to send me a quick message with comments, questions or thoughts, scan my Facebook Page Messenger code below to immediately begin a personal conversation!

Existence in the technology world today relies heavily upon an organization's website. The website acts as the nucleus of all electronic communications; links for digital media and materials are hosted through the website. No matter what level of marketing is required by your field, your ultimate goal is to drive your audience to the website.

Schools and educators can greatly benefit from being well connected with their "audience" - students, parents, school community - in today's digital age. Electronic communication, such as text messages, emails and blogs, have become a popular way to communicate; they are efficient ways to be able to quickly disseminate important and relevant information. These forms of communication have also become standard - even expected - in our age of 24/7 connectivity.

Having an individual site for your music program can also be great for advocacy purposes. In addition to a site benefiting your own membership and school community, it allows your program to act as an authority in music education and join a national - even international - audience in the music field.

Whether or not you already have a website for your program, the following suggestions will help you maximize your time and effort to ensure a successful online hub for your electronic communications.

All three of these platforms offer free accounts that will allow you to build a basic site that will cover your needs. They are very intuitive platforms with drag and drop applications that make building (and updating) your site super easy.

Though, if your budget can support one of the levels of paid plans, I highly recommend making the investment. Some of the options, such as HD video and audio, larger sized files, expanded statistics and site search, are definitely worth the upgrade. Another reason to choose a premium plan is for aesthetics. Paid plans allow you to remove the website builder's name the bottom of the site. Doing this will give your site a more professional look.

Learn about each platform's different plans and compare prices by clicking below:

The homepage obviously hosts important material like upcoming events (of which might include a calendar embed?), announcements and news, recent photos and social media feeds. Make sure the materials is easy to find and organized in a professional manner. This will also depend on the type of theme you choose. Always err on the side of a minimalist design; you want to make sure your content is the focus, not the design.

Some people in your organization might be interested in maintaining a blog. A dedicated blog could be a nice way to advertise student news - honor ensembles, all-state groups, solo awards, etc. - and noteworthy department news - local/national awards, concert schedule, festival ratings, etc. Your blogs could also consist of faculty spotlight features or music advocacy articles. Parent group officers could also contribute to the blog periodically to share 'thank-you' messages or first-hand benefits of their child's experience in music. Keep in mind, though, once you commit to starting a blog, be sure to maintain a regular publishing schedule.

Another important page would be the contacts page. Include a general phone number and email for the main webmaster, director or parent officer. You may even want to go a step further with a more complete directory of faculty and staff within the program, as well as parent officers (with appropriate permission).

Other suggested pages include separate pages for different ensembles in your program (concert bands, marching band, orchestra, choir) and a photos page (photo albums for specific events or large photo galleries). On occasion, you might have a dedicated hashtag for a particular event, in which case you can easily create an Instagram widget (click here to learn more) to embed on your photos page.

Most importantly, keep your website up to date! Nothing is worse than a site that has been abandoned; an outdated site is the quickest way to lose your audience - no one is going to rely on a site that hasn't been updated within a reasonable amount of time. Take the time to "clean-up" your site after events have passed or information is no longer current. Likewise, always have information readily available for the next upcoming event.

Website management can be a time-consuming task, therefore, it might be a great idea to have a small team (2-3 people) to act as administrators for the site. If your program is fortunate enough to have a secretary for the music program or fine/performing arts department, then that person might be a great choice for the day-to-day management. Another reliable person to be involved would be a parent group officer, like the president or vice-president; it might even be appropriate in your situation to create a webmaster position on your parent executive board.

Creating a website or blog for any organization, large or small, can be a large undertaking. Hopefully, with this information, as well as a good team of help, you will be able to successful create (or enhance) a site for your program. The next TWC Blog feature on websites will focus on integrations like Google and social media accounts that can further improve sites and integrate them with your daily operation.

Please know that TWC is happy to conduct a review of your existing website or even help you build a new one so that you are best positioned to represent online the great things happening in your music program. Visit twcmarketing.org to schedule an appointment or contact me directly at twcmarketingorg@gmail.com. 

Good luck building your site!

MLS

The celebration of a new year has become synonymous with starting fresh and setting resolutions for ourselves, both personally and professionally. The key, of course, is sticking to our plan and following through with our new resolutions. We really don't want our new plans to become like the often used example of the "empty gyms" in mid-January! In other words, everyone has great intentions, and we might even get started with those plans, but after a few days or weeks, we often fall right back into our habits.

Well, don't let that happen with your music program's 2016 marketing plan! Advocating for your program through positive publicity is huge in today's educational climate. Not only do you want your students and parents being well informed, you also want to regularly share news with your school community. 

I have singled out three super simple tips that you can apply now: PLAN, CONNECT and ENGAGE. Yes, they are words you have probably heard before; perhaps words you hear every day, but they provide a simple and practical guide to all of your digital marketing work.

Whether the marketing for your music program is handled by a team of teachers and parents or just you, below are a few general ideas for each tip to help build instant success:

1) PLAN - Plan your posts in advance! It is imperative to take the time to create a schedule for your content based upon what is going on with your program. Your posts on social media should complement your upcoming events and relevant news, acting as a reliable and instant source for event details and news reminders. By creating a posting calendar, you will be sure that you always have content to share - you want to remain current so that your audience knows your accounts are a dependable source for information - and that your content is relevant - sharing the information that your audience needs to know at that point in time. Scheduling platforms like Buffer and Hootsuite are great tools to help schedule content in advance. Depending on your needs, you may be able to get by with each platform’s free account.

2) CONNECT - Connect with similar people and programs in your field! One of the best aspects of social media is the ability for different people and groups to connect anywhere in the world at any time of the day. One way to grow your network, follow current trends and learn new information is to connect with people of similar interests or groups in the same field. Use your social accounts to build new relationships that will have the opportunity to enhance your programs, as well as the learning of you and your students. Take time every few days or on weekends to search for other music programs, teachers, composers and industry groups in which you will be able to follow. Use the search function on Facebook to find profiles, pages and tags and pay attention to the account suggestions on Twitter to help.

3) ENGAGE - Engage with your audience! It’s called social media because it’s a “social” experience. The most important metric that digital marketers seek is engagement - you want people to be engaging with your content by liking, commenting or sharing. Likewise, you also want to engage with your audience; it is important to show that your account is not just a machine spitting out posts. Social media is a two-way street; acknowledge your audience and interact with them. This is especially important when responding to important comments or direct messages. In your music programs, the easiest (and quickest) way for parents and students, alike, to connect may be through their social media accounts. Today's generation of parents are becoming more and more active on social media. Be a reliable source for them. If you have a social account and are spending the time to create/post content, then you certainly want people to take those accounts seriously. The easiest way to build credibility and reliability is to be engaging in a timely and courteous fashion.

Now, it doesn't end with those three tips - of course not, right? There is always “one more thing." Another important part of a successful marketing plan is your website. And, yes, you NEED to have a website. It is the nucleus of your online existence and the electronic space you want people to ultimately reach by means of your social media posts. On your website you will host anything from your calendar to blog posts to important documents. By having all of this important content on your website, you will easily be able to share it through social media posts. It is really difficult (practically near impossible) to link important information to your social posts without a website to host it. Now, it is 2016, so please make sure that your sites are responsible and mobile friendly. Google (yes, Google, the King of anything and everything online) likes responsive and mobile friendly sites! If you are in need of creating a site - and it certainly doesn't have to be anything elaborate, especially if you don't have a large program - there are three great tools to help you build a sites without being an expert. The three best platforms are WordPress, Weebly and Wix (they make for a great example of alliteration, too). Look for future posts about creating simple, yet effective sites for your music programs from the TWC Blog in the near future!

Best of luck with your 2016 marketing plan! As always, I am available to help YOU with whatever you need to help publicize and advocate for your music program. No matter what the task is - creating press materials for an upcoming concert or managing social media profiles - I am here as a guide and resource. Visit twcmarketing.org/arts-advocacy to see available services or contact me personally at twcmarketingorg@gmail.com for customized services.

May you continue to find ways to promote the good news about your students and your programs in 2016!

Happy New Year,

MLS

The holiday season is such a special time of the year. It is a wonderful time for us to spread the joy, peace and cheer of the season with others. In our schools and places of work, it is also a nice time to connect and share those holiday sentiments through cards, special greetings and gifts. Albeit cliche, it is definitely more of a time for giving than receiving! I encourage you and your students to find ways to reach your school families and communities this holiday season.

Below is a list of holiday outreach ideas for teachers in the general classroom and music programs:

1. Christmas cards - keep it simply by creating your own or, if you have the resources, buy professional cards; have the students sign and include a simple holiday greeting on behalf of your class or program; send to parents, administration, school board and community sponsors or businesses that are important to your work

Feel free to download and use the samples below to save some time. The first is a postcard (4x6") that has a generic Season's Greetings design on the front and can be personalized with a message on the back. The second is holiday letterhead (8.5x11") that can be used as a "card" where all of your students can sign their names.

2. Caroling - if you’re involved with a music program, gather a group of carolers (this can be done with small instrumental ensembles, too) and go around the school or campus to different classes; it is also a great opportunity to drop off a Christmas card to those faculty members

3. Holiday social - yes, it’s okay to take a day to celebrate the holiday season, especially after all of the work preparing and organizing a holiday concert is done, but consider helping your student council, National Honor Society or TRI-M Honor Society students host a special holiday lunch or social for the faculty and staff of your school

4. Gift tree - (this has to be one of my favorites) get your parent association involved with the guidance department to build a list of gifts for children in need from your school district or community; there are many ways to execute this - a literal “gift tree” where families buy specific gifts and return them or just have a collection of money in which a small group of parents/students go out and buy the gifts

5. Clothing drive - similar to the gift tree idea, offer to hold a collection of clothing/winter gear to be able to donate to a local shelter or community mission group; get other programs and clubs involved in your school to expand the reach

If you are looking to be extra creative (and some great fun!) and have the time in your schedule to organize events with your students, the following ideas are a nice way to stop the work for a bit and celebrate the holiday together:

6. Decorations - decorate the stage for the holiday/winter concerts with Christmas trees and lights; I used to organize a poinsettia memorial where families would purchase a plant in advance in honor or memory of a loved one, all of the donations would be listed in the program, the stage looked great with the plants and all those who bought a plant were able to take one home after the concert; students also love to decorate around the classroom or rehearsal spaces, too - let your student leadership organize among the students for a great team effort (maybe even have them offer to go around to other areas of the school, with permission, to decorate?)

7. Gift exchange - this can be done with gifts (I suggest placing a cost ‘cap’ like $5 or $10) or just with cards; it is great activity to have the students focusing on ‘giving’ rather than receiving

We are just beginning the height of the "Christmas card" season. Cards are still a great way to share with those closest to you that you are thinking about them at this joyous time of the year. I am a constant promoter of handwritten letters and cards in today's technologically driven world of communication. It is so satisfying and sincere to write old fashioned notes of congratulations, best wishes or, in this case, holiday greetings.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

MLS

Thanksgiving provides us with the perfect opportunity to share our gratitude and thanks to the people in our daily lives. So often, especially in today’s busy world, we take for granted the relationships and daily interactions we have with family and friends. Let the celebration of Thanksgiving be different this year – STOP and make a note or card to share with those meaningful people in your life. Tell them how much they mean to you; thank them for all that they do for you; let them know you appreciate them!

Relationships are an integral part of life and they are also important to effective and successful business. We are constantly surrounded by people no matter what our work happens to be. People enjoy being valued and are more likely to be positively involved if they are treated the same way. Just like your family, the friends and co-workers in your professional circles need just the same amount of value and appreciation from you.

So, do this: take a few minutes from your days leading up to Thanksgiving and reach out to those people in your personal and professional worlds – family members, friends, co-workers, students, parents – and share with them why you are thankful for their relationship. Perhaps they have done something special recently or remember your birthday every year or just simply put a smile on your face every single day. Connect with them by sending a Thanksgiving card, writing a handwritten note, or simply stopping by to speak to them in person.

To help you save time, I have included a few card and letter templates that can be used for a variety of audiences.

I hope that you are able to find time to go the extra mile and prepare special, sincere messages for the people in your life this Thanksgiving. The genuine, handwritten notes and cards are worth it and extremely meaningful! Each year in the classroom I had my students write to other faculty or staff members on campus, and there would always be custodians and teachers who would stop me to share how much they appreciated the letters, or to say that the letters weren't necessary but they appreciated it anyway. The impact is great, I know, as I am reminded of “Mike the Custodian,” because every year he would tell me how much he loved receiving the letters from the students and that he still had the letters from previous years. That always made me feel good; it was really rewarding to know that a simple gesture like a handwritten letter saying ‘thank you’ made such a difference!

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, thank YOU for being a special part of my world and all of what TWC has to offer for you! As always, please let me know how I can help YOU be more awesome!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

MLS

*Updated on April 19, 2016 with new information about live-streaming capabilities through social media platforms. Click here to view.

Wow! It's hard to believe it's November already. Ready or not, though, ’tis the season for holiday music concerts. And that's just what music teachers and directors don't want to hear! A countdown to any type of concert is always one of the most stressful parts of being a music educator. That stress not only comes from the musical aspects related to preparing an ensemble for a concert but also all of the logistical work. Office work like making and printing a program, creating and sending out posters, updating the website and posting to social media, not to mention the work of setting up the stage, organizing parent volunteers and other school-related tasks necessary in preparing your performance space.

Because of the nature of that exhaustive list above, the time, energy and materials for publicizing your concert - that you and your students, in the end, have worked tirelessly to perfect - get the least amount of attention. Being a former music educator at the high school level, I can relate to the wealth of ‘extra’ work necessary to make an entire concert production come together. I can also think of the appreciation I would have to solely focus my efforts of the music-making process with my students - the heart of a music educator's passion.

With that in mind, I have organized the following list to assist with the preparation of upcoming holiday or winter concerts in an effort to creativity increase concert publicity without adding additional tasks, time or stress to the to-do list.

 1. Concert Program

• begin about 2-3 weeks prior to the concert
• design a standard template that can be saved and used for future concerts
• consider including "extras" like a principal message, advocacy information, upcoming events
• prepare a kind, reminder section on concert etiquette (no matter what level you teach!)
• involve student leaders in the process to save time
• recommended resources: Pages, Canva

2. Concert Poster 

• begin about 4 weeks prior to the concert
• use to advertise the concert and post throughout the building, even share with feeder schools
• rely on student leaders to help design
• host a contest for the best design
• reach out to an art class or marketing class to make it a student project
• send out to families via e-mail, include feeder schools/sister programs and school board/administrators​​
• recommended resources: Pages, Canva

3. Press Release

• have published about 1 week prior to the concert
• ​send to local paper and school publications
• reach out to journalism classes to have students write the release​

4. Social Media

• post periodically starting about 5-6 weeks prior to the concert
• create posts that advertise concert details, special promotions/offers, or highlight repertoire, which is great for sharing program notes in advance
• create images to accompany text posts
• recommended resource: Canva

Please note that for some of the tasks above I have mentioned including students from other disciplines which will allow your program to build connections with other areas of the school. Never a bad idea!

5. Live-Streaming

• a "tech-savvy" option
• it is great to offer a live broadcast for family members who are out of town, those who might not be able to get to the event, or reach alumni in different places
• social media services: Periscope, Facebook Live
• Periscope and Facebook Live are relatively new live-streaming services that are integrated with social media (Periscope with Twitter; Facebook Live with Facebook); these are the easiest ways to broadcast since you most likely have a social media account on Facebook or Twitter and, therefore, already have an audience; both platforms are free, open to all users and super easy to use (just hit record)
• traditional service: Livestream 
• the Livestream service is free (with enough features) to broadcast a concert, though archives are deleted after 30 days and visitors must log in to Livestream to view; paying plans are available if interested in streaming regularly (perhaps your school has a live streaming service?)

Now, don't worry - if you think that you still need help or just don't have the time and resources to handle everything on the list above, TWC Marketing can assist! I would encourage you to look into our Arts Advocacy packages for music educators! The Concert Package includes program design and all of the press materials for print and digital, including social media, for your next concert. Feel free to look through some past examples by clicking the box below.

Additionally, we offer a Publicity Package that includes press releases and social media management for not only concerts, but events all throughout the school year. The package also offers website design/management and email newsletter campaigns. Visit www.twcmarketing.org/arts-advocacy for all of our Arts Advocacy services.

Most importantly, best wishes to you and your groups during this holiday concert season. Never hesitate to let TWC know how we can help YOU! Meanwhile, break a baton!

​MLS