You are here

  • Home
  • Social Media Tips for Arboreta

Social Media Tips for Arboreta

Looking to boost your public garden’s social media presence? You don’t have to be a large arboretum to make a big impact on social media. Follow these tips to keep your social channels thriving:

  • Research best practices and trends. Social media technology and trends move fast. Stay up to date with the latest best practices, developments, and strategies by seeking out social media resources and signing up for free newsletters from industry outlets such as Social Media Today.
  • Tag partners. Tag partners mentioned in social posts. On Instagram, add them as a post or reel collaborator. This practice helps to build rapport, boost your social network, and increase your channel’s engagement if the partner shares the content.
  • Use hashtags and searchable keywords. Optimize social posts by including popular and relevant hashtags and top keywords so more people find your content. See this Sprout Social resource: Hashtags: What they are and how to use them effectively.
  • Include strong visuals. Short videos and compelling photos, especially a photo gallery, are popular on social media. High-quality videos and photos taken on your phone work just fine. There are many free or low-budget video and photo editing platforms such as CapCut and PhotoPea to support content creation. A gimbal stabilizer and wireless microphone for your phone help immensely with video creation.
  • Repurpose popular content. It’s a common practice to repurpose top posts for future use, perhaps with a different image and updated copy. 
  • Interact with your audience. Engage with inquiries, comments, and messages on your channels. Share public posts about your arboretum created by followers and other vetted content creators to enhance your social media presence.
  • Announce your ArbNet accreditation: If you haven’t already, share news of your ArbNet accreditation. Here are examples of how to market your ArbNet accreditation through social media and other means.
  • Follow and analyze arboreta social accounts. Follow the channels of ArbNet, The Morton Arboretum, other public gardens, and cultural institutions to analyze their content and inspire your own ideas. This practice will expand your social network and could spur future potential opportunities for social media collaborations with peer institutions.
  • Have fun! Elevate your public garden, including its expertise, in an approachable way for a general audience. Embrace innovative storytelling, have fun, and let your creativity shine! Popular content topics include beauty shots of spring blooms and fall color and “did you know?” posts that reveal interesting facts.