The best ways to share your news this summer
Written by Katie test davis
Summer. Is it here yet? I’m dreaming of pool loungers, beach umbrellas, ice cream and breaking news.
Yup, you read that right. You can break news during the summer.
Today, we’re taking you on a deep dive into the clear blue waters of how you can share your news during the summer months.
We’re sharing the freshest data about how people are consuming news in 2023, so you can ensure your information gets in front of your target audiences, even while they’re sunning themselves at the beach.
So grab your flip flops and hop on in…(Yeah, I’m going big on this theme, and I’m not sorry.)
Where you share your content matters.
Let’s begin our adventure with the most recent Media Insight Project study on media consumption habits and interests of Americans, 40 and younger. The findings – which delve into where this generation is getting their news – are really helpful for communicators and leaders like you.
The bottom line? Facebook, Twitter* and TikTok should be on your list if you’re working nationally, and make sure to invest in outreach to local TV and newspapers if you’re working locally.
Here’s what the researchers found:
“For national politics, Facebook (25%) is rivaled by YouTube (23%) and Twitter* (20%).
TikTok, often associated with these generations, comes most into play for the groups closely following social issues (where 19% of close followers use it) and health or mental health (12%), though Facebook and other platforms still rank higher…
Local news media — including local TV stations and local newspapers, their websites, apps, or news alerts — are key sources that Gen Z and Millennials use to get information about crime, COVID-19, and traffic and weather.”
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So what does this mean? Social media remains an important strategy for sharing information, but make sure you’re still reaching out to reporters and building media relations into your outreach strategies.
*We know Twitter engagement and effectiveness is a big ol’ question mark right now. We’re sharing what the data says, but aren’t endorsing the platform. We’re encouraging our clients who have chosen to stay on the platform to keep a close watch on the latest announcements and continue monitoring their performance data for ROI.
How you share your content matters.
If you haven’t made your content mobile friendly, your time is now. Digital remains queen, my friends.
Recent data published by Pew Research Center shares that “a large majority of U.S. adults (82%) say they often or sometimes get news from a smartphone, computer or tablet, including 49% who say they do so often…The portion of Americans who often get news from television has also decreased, from 40% in 2020 to 31% in 2022.”
So what does that mean? Invest in your search engine optimization, and make sure your content is mobile friendly. This includes making sure your graphics are readable on a small mobile phone screen, too.
When you share your content matters.
According to social media giant HubSpot, afternoons and evenings are a great place to start.
“According to our 2022 survey of 1000+ marketers, the best times to post on social media – across all industries and platforms – are 6 PM to 9 PM and 12 PM to 3 PM. The best day to post is Friday.” The data gets more specific by platform.
And don't forget your posts are a flash in the pan. According to Hootsuite data, to stay relevant, here's how frequently you should be posting on each channel:
Instagram: Post between 3 and 5 times per week.
Instagram Stories: Post 2 times per day.
Twitter: Post between 2 and 3 times per day.
Facebook: Post between 1 to 2 times per day.
LinkedIn: Post between 1 to 2 times per day.
TikTok: Post between 3 and 5 times per week.
Pinterest: Post at least 1 time per week.
Google My Business: Post at least 1 time per week.
What does this mean for you? REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT! Don’t be afraid to share the same content multiple times.
So let’s make the most of our summer months by ensuring that your information lands where it needs to, and gets in front of who needs to hear it!
