In this section, included are weekly analyses of the social media usage and details of such from the Cincinnati Nature Center
Week 1: 9/7/2018
The Cincinnati Nature Center, as shown in the picture above, currently has 7,786 followers and has posted 725 times in the five years that they've had the account. It appears that they've been posting anywhere from once a day, to once every couple of days, to once a week over time on Instagram. While this isn't necessarily as bad as some other accounts that I've seen in the past, stepping up the game to definitely posting once a day could be beneficial and even grow the amount of followers that they have!
The account that I have chosen to focus on this week is the Nature Center's Instagram account, since I use that platform regularly and I already followed them prior to start of this assignment. So far, I can notice that the style of their Instagram is definitely pretty plain and not really well formatted. They aren't doing a bad job, but they certainly seem as though they could use a little bit of extra help being able to draw more attention to their page!
The account that I have chosen to focus on this week is the Nature Center's Instagram account, since I use that platform regularly and I already followed them prior to start of this assignment. So far, I can notice that the style of their Instagram is definitely pretty plain and not really well formatted. They aren't doing a bad job, but they certainly seem as though they could use a little bit of extra help being able to draw more attention to their page!
Week 2: 9/14/18
We are only into the second week of this weekly review, and I am already noticing that The Cincinnati Nature Center doesn't do the best job keeping up with posting very often via Instagram. The last time that they posted on Instagram was the same as last weeks review- the short "nature break" video they posted on September 7th.
However, their posting on Facebook is quite strong!
However, their posting on Facebook is quite strong!
One of my favorite postings from this week is obviously the one with all of the dogs! The Cincinnati Nature Center teamed up with Park National Bank and the Clermont Animal Humane Society to do a sort of adoption event in hopes of finding these cute little puppers they deserve! Hosting events such as this one will draw more attention to the Center and show people how many events this place actually has! This post received 13 shares (which is more than the usual 2 or 3).
Another great post from this week is of an event they've created! YES. Creating an event page to share with your followers is a great way to draw awareness to the things that go on at the Nature Center and to get people to come on out and see what's going on! This event in particular however isn't necessarily entirely open to just anyone. This program is geared specifically to girl or cub scouts and their parents in hopes of fulfilling certain badge requirements! For parents that may not have an exact outline of what exactly it is that their little girl or cub scout might need to earn these certain badged, this post is quite nifty!
Upon clicking the link to go to the event page, I was quite disappointed. Only 17 people marked themselves as interested in this event. This would be such a good opportunity for kids and is only $10 per scout! Perhaps if there was a better way for the Nature Center to share their events in order to reach a greater audience... Such a missed opportunity!
Upon clicking the link to go to the event page, I was quite disappointed. Only 17 people marked themselves as interested in this event. This would be such a good opportunity for kids and is only $10 per scout! Perhaps if there was a better way for the Nature Center to share their events in order to reach a greater audience... Such a missed opportunity!
Week 3: 9/21/18
On Facebook this week, the most relevant post that was made was the one listed above, which talked about an event that the Nature Center was putting on on Sunday, September 23. Although it could have proved to be beneficial to post this much sooner than they did (more than 3 days ahead of time), the 63 likes that they've received on this post so far is pretty average for them. I'm still confused as to how they can have such a little amount of interaction from the just under 20k people that like/follow their Facebook page. Only 75 people marked themselves as "interested" on the event page... that number seems a bit small for that kind of following to me, don't you think?
On the more positive side, I love that the Nature Center has chosen to create and event page to bring people together for a relaxed Sunday afternoon (from 2-3:30pm) of "Hiking for your Health." What a great way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and how something as simple as going for a little hike can go such a long way!
I'm more of an "on my own" kind of explorer and I'm scheduled to work that afternoon, otherwise I'd consider attending!
The past couple weeks I have chosen to not even post about the Nature Center's Instagram page, as they have not posted since September 7th (c'mon, guys!).
On the more positive side, I love that the Nature Center has chosen to create and event page to bring people together for a relaxed Sunday afternoon (from 2-3:30pm) of "Hiking for your Health." What a great way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and how something as simple as going for a little hike can go such a long way!
I'm more of an "on my own" kind of explorer and I'm scheduled to work that afternoon, otherwise I'd consider attending!
The past couple weeks I have chosen to not even post about the Nature Center's Instagram page, as they have not posted since September 7th (c'mon, guys!).
Week 4: 9/28/18
Ta-da! They posted on Instagram again, hooray!
While I'm not necessarily a fan of the mediocre photo-editing that is going on here, I'm definitely happy to see that they're back on Instagram to make another post again. Going a couple weeks without posting had me a bit worried for a minute! As far as the editing goes, I wish that they maybe considered having a professional photographer or editor to design their Instagram page in order to make it look a little bit cleaner without a weird hazy vignette blur effect around the edges.
Anyway, although it has been a little bit since they lasted posted on Instagram, they still received 461 likes, nonetheless.
While I'm not necessarily a fan of the mediocre photo-editing that is going on here, I'm definitely happy to see that they're back on Instagram to make another post again. Going a couple weeks without posting had me a bit worried for a minute! As far as the editing goes, I wish that they maybe considered having a professional photographer or editor to design their Instagram page in order to make it look a little bit cleaner without a weird hazy vignette blur effect around the edges.
Anyway, although it has been a little bit since they lasted posted on Instagram, they still received 461 likes, nonetheless.
On Facebook, their were a few good posts that the Nature Center had to offer, per usual!
As seen on the screenshot on the left, an event called "The Big Sweep," is being held in hopes of cleaning up a local creek, offering lunch to those volunteering to help the cause. A contact email was provided in order for anyone interested to be able to contact them with ease. Hopefully they made contacting them through Facebook messenger or in the comment section an option as well! I'm real happy to see that the Nature Center is making strides to help out the community and local areas around the Nature Center. This post only received 2 comments and 14 shares. Hopefully more people than this showed up to help such a great cause.
As for the photo on the right: a plant sale! These plants were locally grown by the Center for Conservation, and this post was made in hopes to support the sale and encourage people to buy local and plant "native." The post even says, "don't forget to share with us your pics," and you know, not a single comment made on that post was sharing purchase or planted shrubs, trees, flowers, etc. If this post was able to reach a greater audience (or maybe evThis post received 25 shares and 3 comments.
As seen on the screenshot on the left, an event called "The Big Sweep," is being held in hopes of cleaning up a local creek, offering lunch to those volunteering to help the cause. A contact email was provided in order for anyone interested to be able to contact them with ease. Hopefully they made contacting them through Facebook messenger or in the comment section an option as well! I'm real happy to see that the Nature Center is making strides to help out the community and local areas around the Nature Center. This post only received 2 comments and 14 shares. Hopefully more people than this showed up to help such a great cause.
As for the photo on the right: a plant sale! These plants were locally grown by the Center for Conservation, and this post was made in hopes to support the sale and encourage people to buy local and plant "native." The post even says, "don't forget to share with us your pics," and you know, not a single comment made on that post was sharing purchase or planted shrubs, trees, flowers, etc. If this post was able to reach a greater audience (or maybe evThis post received 25 shares and 3 comments.
Week 5: 10/5/18
Well, it's Friday and they decided to use Instagram again! This post was in hopes of advertising a Guided History Hike the following day (10/6) from 2-4 pm. While yes, I believe that the advertising is great and could prove to be beneficial, I feel as though there are a couple ways in which this post could've been better. First of all, I feel as though this post should've been made more than a day in advance so that people had more time to plan accordingly in order to be able to attend said event. Second of all, Instagram is a picture-based social media platform. Because of this, what you're posting about or trying to advertise should be shown within the picture itself, not just the caption. Placing the information merely in the caption leaves room for the information go unnoticed, as many people scrolling through their Instagram feed usually only pay attention to the photos.
The October 1st posting on the left is in regards to the "sweep" that had taken place a few days prior. Choosing to post pictures of the aftermath was definitely a great choice, and completed within a reasonable timeframe. I love this post and wish it would've gotten more than the 4 shares and 79 it received!
On the right, we see a post made in order to advertise another upcoming event: "Preparing for Night." This event is a family-oriented event (like many at the Nature Center) that's meant to be full of educational activities and food! I was disappointed again to see that only 17 people liked the post and it received a mere 3 shares. This post was little bit different than that of the previous event postings. Instead, this one didn't link to another Facebook page, but rather to the Cincinnati Nature Center's actual website. In a way, I actually appreciate that it linked directly to their site instead. It's more of a call to action. Here's the sign-up page: do it.
On the right, we see a post made in order to advertise another upcoming event: "Preparing for Night." This event is a family-oriented event (like many at the Nature Center) that's meant to be full of educational activities and food! I was disappointed again to see that only 17 people liked the post and it received a mere 3 shares. This post was little bit different than that of the previous event postings. Instead, this one didn't link to another Facebook page, but rather to the Cincinnati Nature Center's actual website. In a way, I actually appreciate that it linked directly to their site instead. It's more of a call to action. Here's the sign-up page: do it.
Week 6: 10/19/18
Post #6 - it has been a couple weeks since I've last had to post!
Yet within these couple of weeks, the Nature Center hasn't really posted on Instagram.
Yet within these couple of weeks, the Nature Center hasn't really posted on Instagram.
They did make this post, basically the same post I noted on last Friday (except last Friday's post was on Facebook, not Instagram). I hardly found this screenshot worth sharing, however. The poor cropping we see here was not my fault but in actuality how they chose to post the information... Most of the letters were cut off! I understand that the important information of the date and time are still in tact, but nonetheless it looks silly.
Just a generalized post here to draw awareness to the beauty of the outdoors, including a link to check out the calendar for any cool upcoming events (one of which is listed here to the right.
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They did a great job this time with posting an entire week in advance so that people could better plan accordingly for this fun bird nature walk that they have planned! The only real flaw with this post is that fact that it instructs the audience to "pre-register," ...but where? Once you click on the link to the event, there is only a link to the event page, not to the Nature Center's webpage where I would imagine would be you would be able to actually pre-register.
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Finally, included in the last couple week's posts, is details about the upcoming Quilt and Fiber Art Show- featuring art with baby Fiona! Featuring the piece with Fiona as one of the first available photos was a good move within itself. Fiona is a big hit in the Cincinnati area right now and odds are, if someone that think she's cute (who doesn't?), they're going to click on the photos to see what the page posting has to say! Anyway, this post is a great way for the Nature Center to bring attention to a different side of what they do, especially for the upcoming winter months. Not only do they have plenty of beautiful scenery and things to do outside, but as I have discovered through visiting, they also have many activities inside, such as this fine arts show!
Week 7: 10/26/18
Out of the few posts that were made on Facebook this week, this one is easily the most noteworthy. This post not only presents an incredibly important issue, but also received the most interactions and shares I have witnessed.
With 121 interactions, 27 comments, and 102 shares, this post easily takes the gold for the posts that I've read through and noticed thus far along in the assignment. Taking up that much land for the use of developmental construction is terribly unnecessary and I love seeing the community band together to share and raise awareness to fight against such an issue. As seen on the bottom, The Cincinnati Nature Center even responded to the comments that had been posted and encouraged everyone to attend the meeting that was being held that very evening. This call to action is important and definitely encourages the audience to actually take a stand and do something.
With 121 interactions, 27 comments, and 102 shares, this post easily takes the gold for the posts that I've read through and noticed thus far along in the assignment. Taking up that much land for the use of developmental construction is terribly unnecessary and I love seeing the community band together to share and raise awareness to fight against such an issue. As seen on the bottom, The Cincinnati Nature Center even responded to the comments that had been posted and encouraged everyone to attend the meeting that was being held that very evening. This call to action is important and definitely encourages the audience to actually take a stand and do something.
Week 8: 11/2/18
It's the third to last week of posts!
...and there were only a couple posts to even been mentioned for either social media platform. On Instagram (left) the Nature Center made a post about random acts of conservation and what we can do to help. Raking leaves in your yard into a pile in the fall creates a natural form of mulch and is apparently a great fertilizer (fun fact, in case you weren't aware). They crafted this post really well, including words within the photo that weren't cropped off, and provided a little bit of likely unknown information to their audience!
The Facebook post on the right was yet another event at the Cincinnati Nature Center- an event to learn about different trees! So far, I have enjoyed seeing the wide variety of events that the Nature Center puts on, and I can say that none of them have been a repeat or really even similar to one another. This variety maintains interest and shows the wide variety of things that the Nature Center really does have to offer.
...and there were only a couple posts to even been mentioned for either social media platform. On Instagram (left) the Nature Center made a post about random acts of conservation and what we can do to help. Raking leaves in your yard into a pile in the fall creates a natural form of mulch and is apparently a great fertilizer (fun fact, in case you weren't aware). They crafted this post really well, including words within the photo that weren't cropped off, and provided a little bit of likely unknown information to their audience!
The Facebook post on the right was yet another event at the Cincinnati Nature Center- an event to learn about different trees! So far, I have enjoyed seeing the wide variety of events that the Nature Center puts on, and I can say that none of them have been a repeat or really even similar to one another. This variety maintains interest and shows the wide variety of things that the Nature Center really does have to offer.
Week 9: 11/9/18
This weeks posts from Instagram and Facebook actually coincide with one another, which is interesting! Posted on the very same day, these posts are about hiking for your health and how participants can earn a t-shirt or hat by completing each of the trails at the Nature Center. In the photo on the right, we can see a whole family that apparently completed the challenge, as they are all wearing the "hike for your health" t-shirts! I love the fact that, because I follow the Nature Center on multiple social media platforms, I was able to get a deeper story behind the whole "hike for your health" campaign and witness people completing it and actually receiving a reward for it, as the Cincinnati Nature Center claimed they would. Great use of social media this week, guys! Keep up the good work.
Week 10: 11/16/18
As I've noticed throughout the course of observing the Cincinnati Nature Center's activity on social media, they tend to typically be much more active on Facebook than any other platform (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram). One thing that I found interesting (as seen in the photo on the right) is the awesome amount of interaction that occurred on that particular post. As I've seen before, they usually tend to get anywhere between 10-20 likes with only a few comments or shares... but with this one! The post was about a pressing issue about an upcoming plan for development of rural land on Rumpke Road and the need to vote against it (as we've seen a couple weeks ago). Let's all join in the fight against urban development and preserve nature. Seeing the community's ability to come together is so awesome. This post in particular got 202 shares and 93 likes/interactions.
People love the Nature Center and want to preserve the area around it, which is beautiful.
People love the Nature Center and want to preserve the area around it, which is beautiful.