In Search of Online Content: Using social media to keep your site in the public thought

Let's face it, for many of us in the heritage sector, gainful UNemployment is likely to be our future. Many of us are seeking out new ways to engage with history, but also keep abreast of life in the heritage sector. We are embracing social media like never before. Personally, I have an instagram account, this blog, a discord, twitch, youtube, linkedin, and two facebook accounts (personal and professional pages). There could be more I could jump on to, but this is what I am feeling comfortable keeping updated on a regular basis. 

That's important, keeping things updated. 

You need to be putting content on your pages. You need to stay in the public eye. Don't be worrying if it's perfect, just do the best you can right now with what you have at hand...which is likely a phone and your knowledge. Sites could be doing this sort of thing as well, with very little staffing resources. If a few or even just one person knows that it's their job to keep the social media updated, that could be their job going forward. A photo and brief blurb of an artifact, an upcoming lecture on Zoom, a pre-recorded bit of interpretation will all do wonders keeping your site in the public's minds so that when things DO reopen, people will want to come spend money at your site and visit you in person. It doesn't take much, but that presence should be on a regular basis. 

Since we have gone into lockdown, I have attended lectures, workshops, conferences. I have watched living history demonstrations, and folks in their own homes showing me how they do things. These, coupled with photographic updates of artifacts and new art projects have given me a community of people to follow and want to contact in person once Covid is through. As a few of my social media friends have mentioned in the past few days, it's important to get out and be seen, to strike new paths for heritage, arts, and the humanities going forward. Join us! Just do it!