[PPRAANet] PPRAA Social Media presence

[John Bloodgood]

It was brought to my attention that not everyone may be aware of the club social media presence.  Aside from the outstanding website www.ppraa.org<http://www.ppraa.org> managed by N7LEM, the club also has Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. KD0KQL and I are the admins for these accounts.

Facebook Page.  This is used for announcements of interest and direct messaging. Only the Admins can create posts and events, but any Facebook user can comment on or share those posts or events. All posts, events, and comments are visible to the public regardless of having a Facebook account. If you have something you would like to have posted, you can submit it via a Facebook message or via email.  We currently have 443 followers and 409 page likes.  :  https://www.facebook.com/ppraacos/

Facebook Group.  This is a restricted public group, meaning only group members may post and posts/comments are only visible to the public if they have a Facebook account. Any group member may create or comment on a post.  It is designed to be more of a free flowing discussion forum.  You have to ask to be a member and the application asks three questions -- your callsign, if you are a club member, and if you are an ARRL member. Currently we are being pretty lenient on group requirements and a person does not have to be a licensed operator, club member, or ARRL member to be approved, though we will ask why an unlicensed person wants to join. If a person is licensed (and checks out on QRZ), they will usually be approved. These measures are simply to keep out trolls, troublemakers, spammers, and such.  We currently have 56 members.  : https://www.facebook.com/pg/ppraacos/groups/

Twitter. Used to post items of interest and interact with the media and general public. Posts are made by the Admins and are visible to anyone regardless of having a Twitter account.  Anyone with a Twitter account can share or comment on a post (tweet).  We have 225 followers as of tonight.  : https://twitter.com/PPRAA_club

Instagram. A more visual based system. Posts are made by the Admins and are visible to anyone regardless of having an Instagram account. Anyone with an Instagram account can comment on or share posts.  We only have 24 followers, but we haven't been posting as much here because we need pictures.  :  https://www.instagram.com/pikespeakradio/

These accounts can be powerful tools to reach out to the general public, news media, and other operators. A recent post about the club Pearl Harbor Day event has tallied over 1,000 views in just over a day (good job KD0KQL).

We need your help.  The Admins try their best to keep these running and to post things; however, it helps if we have content to post to the Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.  So if you have done something club related or have a club event that would be good to share, LET US KNOW!  And if you have pictures or video, EVEN BETTER! The more we post, the more visibility we get.


V/r





John Bloodgood, KD0SFY
PPRAA Boardmember and acting PR & Social Media Coordinator

(Most of you know me from my position as a Regional and District Emergency Coordinator for ARES, but I am also a trained Public Information Officer and fill that role for both at large in the Colorado ARRL Section and for Pikes Peak ARES, and am a member of the national ARRL Public Relations Committee)