6 Social Media Tips to Help You Search for a Living Donor
When you’re searching for a living donor, social media can be a powerful tool. Follow these tips to maximize your chances of finding a donor through social media.
1. Don’t Skip the Basics
When you post on social media, the goal is to have your immediate social network share your posts with their social network, which will likely include people you don’t know. Be sure to start your posts with all the basics about your search. Even if it feels repetitive, that information may trigger someone outside of your immediate circle to make a connection and read more.
2. Make it Personal
With the exception of LinkedIn, which is a more professional social channel, all social platforms are personal by nature, so it’s OK to be real and share your kidney transplant journey candidly and with emotion. It’s also a good idea to explain why certain people in your inner circle may have already been ruled out as donors and why you are searching for a living donor.
3. Include Photos
Posts with images do a better job of grabbing people’s attention, so consider using photos to make your post stand out in people’s feeds. Using photos can also help personalize your appeal by letting potential donors see the real person behind the request.
4. Use Video
Statistics show that video posts get more engagement than traditional posts, so if you are comfortable with the idea of recording a short video, it is definitely worth a try. Video posts on social media don’t need to be long. In fact, shorter videos (less than one minute) taken on a smartphone can be shared separately on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
5. Have a Call to Action
A call to action is a request for someone to take the next step. In this case, that next step is to get screened to be your donor. It is crucial to include a call to action on every social media post, because the point of your search is not just to share your story but to find a donor. Be sure to include a link to your microsite if you have one, or at least instructions on what people can do next if they are considering becoming a donor.
6. Be Responsive
Social media posts can be highly impactful, but they also require ongoing attention. If you choose to post about your transplant journey, plan to monitor your post for comments and respond to them as quickly as you can. Many comments will be well wishes, thoughts, and prayers, which can be acknowledged by simply “liking” the comment. Be prepared to respond to questions about your need for a donor—and if you can’t answer the question, be sure to have a link to your transplant center’s website ready to share.