What do I post, where and how?

A brief guide for posting to Extension platforms 


Step 1: Who will my post be for?

  • Current and prospective 4-H Youth Development Program participants, parents, volunteers, partners and/or donors 
    • Statewide ➡   
      • Post to Extension’s Instagram
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook page for 4-H
      • Cross post as appropriate to Extension’s Facebook groups for
        • The counties
        • 4-H
    • In one county 
      • Post to Extension’s Instagram
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook page for the county
      • Cross post as appropriate to Extension’s Facebook groups for
        • The county
        • 4-H
    • In a few counties 
      • Post to Extension’s Instagram
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook page for the county where the program lead/faculty supervisor is based
      • Cross post as appropriate to Extension’s Facebook
        • Pages for other participating counties
        • Groups for the counties
        • Groups for 4-H
    • In one particular club of a county ➡
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook group for the club
    • High-level stakeholders, such as elected officials and donors ➡
      • Send suggested tweets to Extension’s community partnerships coordinator, Sheila Bray, who manages Extension’s Twitter account
    • Other researchers in my field 
      • Send suggested tweets to Extension’s community partnerships coordinator, Sheila Bray, who manages Extension’s Twitter account
    • Other people in our College ➡ Send an email
  • Current and prospective Master Gardener Program volunteer participants, community participants, partners and/or donors
    • Statewide 
      • Submit posts to Master Gardener Coordinator Katelyn Brinkerhoff for
        • Extension’s Instagram
        • Extension’s Facebook page for the Master Gardener Program
        • Cross posting to Extension’s main Facebook page
    • In one county 
      • Submit posts to Master Gardener Coordinator Katelyn Brinkerhoff for
        • Extension’s Instagram
        • Extension’s Facebook page for the county
        • Cross posting as appropriate to Extension’s
          • Groups for the county
          • Groups for the program
          • Page for the program
    • In a few counties 
      • Submit posts to Master Gardener Coordinator Katelyn Brinkerhoff for
        • Extension’s Instagram
        • Extension’s Facebook page for the county where the program lead/faculty supervisor is based
        • Cross posting as appropriate to Extension’s Facebook
          • Pages for other participating counties
          • Groups for the counties
          • Groups for the program
    • In one particular project area of the program ➡
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook group for the project area
    • High-level stakeholders, such as elected officials and donors ➡
      • Send suggested tweets to Master Gardener Coordinator Katelyn Brinkerhoff, who will work with Extension’s community partnerships coordinator, Sheila Bray, who manages Extension’s Twitter account
    • Other researchers in my field 
      • Send suggested tweets to Master Gardener Coordinator Katelyn Brinkerhoff who will work with Extension’s community partnerships coordinator, Sheila Bray, who manages Extension’s Twitter account
    • Other people in our College ➡ Send an email
  • Another program’s current and prospective participants, parents, partners and/or donors (not 4-H or Master Gardeners)
    • Statewide 
      • Post to Extension’s Instagram
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook page
      • Cross post to Extension’s Facebook groups, as appropriate
    • In one county ➡
      • Post to Extension’s Instagram
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook page for the county
      • Cross post to Extension’s Facebook groups for the
        • Counties
        • Program
    • In a few counties ➡
      • Post to Extension’s Instagram
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook page for the county where the program lead/faculty supervisor is based
      • Cross post as appropriate to Extension’s Facebook
        • Pages for other participating counties
        • Groups for the counties
        • Groups for the program
    • In the program or a facet of the program exclusively ➡
      • Post to Extension’s Facebook group for the program or program facet
    • High-level stakeholders, such as elected officials and donors ➡
      • Send suggested tweets to Extension’s community partnerships coordinator, Sheila Bray, who manages Extension’s Twitter account
    • Other researchers in my field 
      • Send suggested tweets to Extension’s community partnerships coordinator, Sheila Bray, who manages Extension’s Twitter account
    • Other people in our College ➡ Send an email

Step 2: How do I craft my post?  

  • Instagram:
    • Tell a story
      • Visually (well-produced or cell-phone quality)
      • With text (which can be long-ish)
    • Tone:
      • Authentic, raw, with emotion/empathy
      • Engaging, conversational, personal
  • Facebook:
    • Tell a story or make an announcement
      • In text
        • Goldilocks-length
          • Just long enough to briefly tell the story
          • Not too long/short
          • Link to the rest of the story on our website, if warranted
        • With a link, photos and/or videos (well-produced or cell-phone quality)
      • Tone:
        • Transparent, conversational, impact-focused
  • Twitter:
    • Share news or make an announcement
      • In text and/or links, photos or videos
      • Very concisely
    • Tone:
      • Professional, research-based, impact-focused
  • Vimeo:
    • Show a story in a well-produced video
    • Embedded on our College’s website
    • Tone:
      • Ad-like
  • YouTube:
    • Show a story or share a webinar or podcast recording
    • Well-produced or cell-phone quality
    • Tone:
      • Educational/informative, expert, conversational, transparent
  • LinkedIn:
    • Share job announcements; career achievements; new research/patents
    • Tone:
      • Professional