Today we’ll be looking at Hootsuite.com. Hootsuite is a place where you can type a status update once and have it post to multiple platforms. The sites that Hootsuite supports are: twitter, Facebook, linked-in, foursquare, Google+ , Myspace, wordpress, and mixi. But their are also a bunch of third party apps that add a bunch of other options. You can have 6 social accounts linked with the free package or pay 9.99 for unlimited accounts as well as other features.
What I use it for: twitter and Facebook. I’m looking into a couple of apps, but haven’t integrated them yet.
How I use Hootsuite:
I’ve got a schedule that every Monday I sit down and set up for the following week. The best part about Hootsuite is that you can schedule posts, so my social media is always updating and reminding parents. I’ve put my schedule below for those of you that need a starting point. I also will sit down a month or so before an event and plan out reminders through out the month so that I don’t have to remember to do it. Since I’ve started using Hootsuite I’ve gotten a lot more response from families on our Facebook and even twitter. I also love the app on my phone because I can be logged in for church on that app, but all my other app logins are personal, so I can post on the go as well.
Schedule:
Sunday: I post what each age learned for the day (pre-k, elem, preteen) as well as links for take home downloads through dropbox (more on cloud options next month)
Monday: Memory verses for each group with a word photo through our pinterest (it’s always good to integrate your social media options as much as possible)
Tuesday: This is a day I push special information such as events or things we’re collecting
Wednesday: connection group reminders
Thurs: take home reminders
Friday: again, upcoming events
Saturday: hints about tomorrows lesson and reminder to lay out bible.
Mon-Sat: each night at 5:00 I do a scripture reading suggestion (any where from 5-15 verses) that goes with the Elem lessons. This is because the Elem lessons go through the bible so if a family reads all the suggested scriptures they will read the major stories of a bible together every 4 years.
Eventually I’m going to have worship motion videos on YouTube which will be linked through Hootsuite as well, and I’m sure I could link our other accounts through Facebook and twitter more. But this is what I do for now.
Have you used Hootsuite? How do you integrate your social media?
