The Way Forward

Our Success with Social Media

What types of Social Media do we use

Social Media

Twitter

FacebookWebsite

Blog

We have made real advances in our membership through the use of our Website and Social Media

In 2010 our full membership had fallen to a level of about 16 with our last initiation in 2007*

*That initiate is our current master

We had exhausted all traditional methods of recruitment and our most common source of new members, Pinner Round Table, had closed

We recognised we had to do some thing different and setup a Website in March 2010

Since 2011 we have had 18 initiates and referred

32 candidates to other Lodges

Our website was the key engine that drove this success

The website was successful because it was focused on our target audience

We directed the Web content at Non-Freemasons who may want to know more about Freemasonry

We itemised the costs and other information about Freemasonry and a named contact with whom they could meet and discuss their interest

We were pro-active in keeping regular contact with each prospective candidate

However, this isn’t enough to keep our membership engaged and the pipeline

growing

We use Social Media to keep up the momentum We started a Twitter account in 2012We have built a network of likeminded

people and communicate on a regular basisWe publicised our meetings, events and

actively encourage engagementU.G.L.E actively encourages the use of

Twitter and has approx. 6,000 followersTwitter has over 14 million users in the U.KThe Twitter Pin has promoted the

communication link with Freemasonry and creates a common bond whilst raising iro £2,500 to date for Masonic Charities

Twitter supports our network of Lodge members and drives new people to our web

site

We are also using Facebook and run a Blog

Facebook has 24 million UK users and is used for general communication and interaction

Any Facebook member can register to “like” a public Facebook page which subscribes them to receive any items posted

Facebook is not restricted to 140 characters and can provide more information and pictures than you can with Twitter

The website Blog is used as a newsletter to publicise the day to day activities of the Lodge and is uploaded to Twitter automatically

How can you benefit from our experience?

Websites and Social Media isn’t the answer, it is just the beginning

A little technical understanding and time is needed

You need to be pro-active to maintain interest and follow up on all enquiries

Produce a clear Mentoring and Retention Policy

Focus on Retention and not just getting enquiries

Most importantly it’s all about Communication

Don’t assume people will come to you, you need to work at getting them interested

You can replicate our successI am happy to give you some advice and

guidance

Nigel Harris-CooksleyNHCooksley@NorthHarrowLodge.org

http://NorthHarrowLodge.org@HarrowFreemason

Finally, My grateful thanks to

Brian Chidgey @dorsetreg and his Team for organising and co-ordinating this

event&

Paul Hughes @prhughes for the Twitter Pin initiative