Becoming a volunteer host for Editors Canada’s LinkedIn page for an entire month felt like a big project at first. As I started writing content, I felt unsure about social media best practices and where to begin my research. Editors Canada made it easier for me.
Each month, a different Editors Canada member volunteers to run the organization’s LinkedIn page. The aim is to promote the association and its membership benefits and to help build connections with other editing professionals across Canada. We are always on the lookout for new members to share content ideas and their editing wisdom!
Editors Canada provides volunteers with a guidebook about its goals and strategies for improving each social media platform and promoting both the host and the association. For my month as host, I drafted a list of questions and answers that I’ve shared here for future volunteers to reference.
Brainstorming content
To begin, I thought about how I interact with social media posts about editing or the publishing industry. This helped me plan what I would like to share with the community.
Tips for LinkedIn hosts
Focus on what catches your attention right away. Is it an interesting article about the latest publishing trends, a book recommendation or an in-depth explanation about the Oxford comma? Do clever editing-related memes make your day? Is there a commemorative “international day” that can spark meaningful conversations?
Finding images for posts
Every organization has its preferred image sources. For example, Editors Canada selects stock images to stay on-brand with a particular illustration style, which can be adjusted to fit the organization’s colour palette. These are available to volunteers in a stock image library. Another option is licence-free images from sites like Unsplash. One crucial aspect is to remember to cite the source and include the original copyright information. When in doubt about using an image, volunteer LinkedIn hosts can ask Editors Canada for clarification.
Tips for LinkedIn hosts
It is best practice for accessibility to include image descriptions known as alt text for pictures. Alt text provides an overview of an image for users who are blind or partially sighted, or who are accessing the site with a screen reader.
Drafting posts
I found Excel spreadsheets quite useful for planning each post and categorizing its components: the schedule, type of content, drafts and relevant hashtags.
Editors Canada uses Buffer to post across social media channels. I watched Buffer’s tutorials on YouTube and experimented with the software’s features to better understand how it works. This was helpful because I could see the process of drafting a post across different social media channels.
Tips for LinkedIn hosts
Use your preferred writing software to draft your posts so you can plan ahead for the month. Remember to save your work!
Takeaways
As a volunteer LinkedIn host, I liked interacting with and finding relatable content for the editing community in real time, as the profession can sometimes feel isolating. I also appreciated being able to ask other Marcom team members for answers or a final proofread of a post. Their feedback was constructive!
In addition, I reminded myself to approach the project with a self-growth mindset. When I started, I knew little about Buffer or how to manage a social media platform. Over the course of the month, I was able to practice new marketing skills that I can continue to use for my own business.
I asked fellow LinkedIn volunteers for their reflections on being a part of this project. Here’s what they would like to share:
What did you like most about hosting on LinkedIn?
“What I liked most about hosting the Editors Canada LinkedIn page was the feeling of community. Even if this was in the form of likes and a few comments, it was great to help foster a connection among Editors Canada members.”
— Alex Benarzi
“I particularly enjoyed sharing webinars organized by Editors BC with the rest of our members. I think the organizers noticed a surprising amount of attendees, which means I helped some of our members acquire more knowledge.”
— Merel Elsinga, Chair, Marketing & Communications Committee
What did you learn during the process?
“The world of editing is wide. There are so many topics we can engage with and so many valuable discussions we can have.”
— Alex Benarzi
“Each host brings a personal angle that you would not see if it was just the association posting. I learned that it didn’t take too much time to come up with a few posts for one week. I could dedicate a few hours and have all the posts lined up. The reactions showed appreciation for the topics I chose.”
— Merel Elsinga
How to become a LinkedIn host
Now that I’ve had the opportunity to take on this role, I hope you — the future volunteers — find this post helpful as you navigate the initial questions of running a social media channel.
If you’re an Editors Canada member who would like to host the LinkedIn page, please email Merel Elsinga at communications-marketing@editors.ca to express your interest in becoming a host (and for which month).
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