Build a Social Media Presence

Updated

Social Media is a powerful tool that you can use to promote AFS. In this article, you will find instructions, tips & tricks, and sample posts to get you started on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Make sure to review the AFS-USA Social Media Guidelines prior to posting. 

Facebook

How to create a group
How to optimize a post
How to share a post
How to create an event

Some Hosting Focused Tips:

  1. Photo posts with captions are generally more popular than plain-text posts. Similar to Instagram, people love authentic photos. AFS activity photos in your area work well for this purpose.
  2. A strong caption is personal and direct and relates to the photo. Sometimes putting a keyword in CAPS draws the reader’s eye. Here’s an example: “The Grover family LOVED hosting their Japanese student Hikaru. Want to become a global family? Meet the AFS students coming to our area by clicking here: afsusa.org/host-family/meet-students”
  3. Or, click on one or more of these links below, and press “Share” at the bottom of the image. Then copy and paste one of the messages listed below, and hit “post.” Your Facebook network will see your message on top, and the original post below it. Often, we try to highlight a benefit of hosting or something that makes AFS unique. 

Sample posts:

Sample messages: 

  • “I’m a volunteer with AFS, and love working with exchange students and discovering new cultures. Want to learn more? We’re looking for great host families in our area this fall. Click here to see our students: www.afsusa.org/host-family/meet-students"
  • “I’m a trained local volunteer. I support local AFS host families and their exchange students during the year. I see the positive difference hosting makes in my community, and that’s why I do it. Have you thought about hosting? Click here to see our students: www.afsusa.org/host-family/meet-students”
  • "Broaden your horizons by hosting an exchange student for 6-12 weeks. To learn more, click the photo below or contact me at [email]."

Instagram

How to Open an Account
How to Post
Hashtags

Some Hosting focused tips:

  1. In your Instagram account settings, there is a small line where you can write a short description or “bio” of yourself. If you want, put the link www.afsusa.org/host in it. That way, you can post an AFS photo and in the caption of the photo you can write “Link in Bio.” People usually know what that means. People do this because web-links do not work within a photo’s caption or a comment.
  2. A good practice is to post a photo of a local AFS activity, and describe what’s happening in the caption, and if you reference hosting an AFS exchange student, or meeting students, you can say “Link in Bio.” Post the photo, then use hashtags in a comment (not in the main caption).
  3. As mentioned above, the best way to use hashtags on Instagram is to post your photo and caption first, and then make a comment on your own photo. In that comment, you can use as many hashtags as you want. We recommend a combination of AFS hashtags and generic ones that relate to our work, such as #afseffect #afslife #travel #goabroad #study #intercultural #myafs #afsusa #exchangestudent #foreignstudent
  4. Lastly, you can download a free separate app called “Regram” (there are lots of others, too), which allows you to re-post other photos. If you follow the AFS-USA Instagram account (@afs_usa), you can then re-gram our photos from your own personal account.

Twitter

How to Open an Account
How to Post
Hashtags

Twitter communication is short and direct. Here are some hosting focused sample messages that you can share:

  1. Have a life-changing experience in your own home. Host an AFS Exchange Student. Visit www.afsusa.org/host for more info.
  2. AFS welcomes exchange students from around the world in August/September; info about becoming a host family is available at www.afsusa.org/host
  3. Think global, host local. Become a global family with an AFS exchange student. For info: www.afsusa.org/host

To directly reach out to someone, you can tweet AT someone. Here’s an example: “@AFS-USA we can’t wait to meet our new students in Montana! #afseffect” You can also re-tweet someone else’s tweet, and add your own twist. Don’t use more than one hashtag per message.

Snapchat

How to create a Geofilter for an event:

  1. Access a website that is trusted to make Snapchat filters and Geotags. Click here for an example.
  2. Pick between a lens or a filter (a filter is a design for the entire image).
  3. If you choose filter: You will be taken to the design tab. On the left, you can pick from what type of pre-made filter you want based on category. You can also upload your own design. An example will be generated.
  4. Three sections will appear on the right: “color”, “text” and “elements”. Color changes the color of the filter itself. Text allows you to add text. You can change the color and font of the text in the "text" section. Elements allow you to put bitmojis on the filter (you must sign in to do this).
  5. Once you’re done designing your lens or filter you go to the dates section at the top. This is where you select what days your design will run for. You pay based on how long it will run. They have various plan options, so make sure you look around this page for the deal that best fits your needs.
  6. Next, visit the “location” section. This is where you decide where to put your filter, thus making it a Geofilter. You must select the geographical area you would like your filter to show up in.
  7. Lastly, you will click the checkout button and finalize your purchase.

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