During a recent site visit to the Jackson (Ohio) County Times Journal, the editorial staff discussed ways to improve the “big 4″ when it comes to using the newspaper’s Facebook page.
Of course, the “big 4″ when talking Facebook is…
1. Link
2. Promote
3. Engage
4. Measure
So, I was extremely pleased to receive an email from Jennifer Hughes, managing editor of the Times Journal and its website, www.jacksoncountydaily.com, which talked about a recent “engagement” success story on their Facebook page.
In our talk last week, I urged the staff to begin posting a “question of the day” on its Facebook page. So, last week, as the newspaper set to cover several high school graduation ceremonies, the staff posted the following:
“We congratulate the classes of 2012 from Oak Hill, Jackson and Wellston High Schools….. If you could give the graduates a piece of advice, what would it be?”
Here is a sampling of the response from readers…
• Catherine Glass – “Despite what your parents think you should do, don’t rush your way through college. Take the time to figure out exactly what you want to do, and if you change your major that’s okay. These will be the best years of your life and you will create many wonderful memories and lasting friendships.”
• Brittany Hughes-Miller – “Live one day at a time and don’t wish time away, because it flies by now that you have graduated! congrats!”
• Karen (Farley) Wyant – “Get all the further education you can-today’s job market requires more than a high school diploma.”
• Andrea Staten – “Take your time. Do not rush into things because you feel that you should. Take the time to discover what you really want to do with your life.”
• Jaime Manring – “Don’t procrastinate college. You need to go so you can further educate yourself, and become successful. The longer you wait to go to college, there’s a chance “Life” will happen, and you will never go, and then you will live with regret.”
• Tammy Williams – “My advice to the graduates of 2012, remember this is a mile stone on your life. And as you walk this path you can turn around and see the stones disappear. So take each step wisely and remember you can go wherever you want to go.”
• Samantha (Riley) Fooce – “If you want to do something, do it. You don’t have to follow someone else’s path. Make a path for others to follow. Don’t stand in your own way. Fear will never lead you to the right place at the right time. And most importantly, Don’t even try drugs. That’s the only way to avoid addiction. Good luck & God bless!”
• Debi (Markin) Burns – “Always put God first in your lives!”
• Meredith (Gwen) Davis – “Seems like this day would never come, and on some days you will wish it never had. Because now its your turn to decide your own life. College isn’t for everyone, but if you get the opportunity to go, take it! Leave home for a little while, grow on your own, live your life. (stay out of trouble). But most importantly, this is the time to figure out who you are. Listen to the advice of others, but don’t always take it. Do what makes YOU happy. It is your life, not anyone else’s! Congrats Class of 2012!”
• Michael Keeton – “Leave your childhood behind. get your priorities straight, keep your head straight, determine what you want YOUR life to be and DO IT! Good luck!”
• Tonia (Crabtree) Hatten – “Go into the world with an open mind, faith, hope, strong morals and confidence in yourself… YOU are the only one that will take you to success!”
• Teresa Oiler – “Be persistant, don’t give up! Sometimes, it just takes a little bit of time for things to fall into place. Keep the faith!”
This is great stuff, and I am glad to see that they are running the responses in the print edition as well.
Hughes said “to our surprise, this was very successful. Below you will see what we will be printing in the Times-Journal under a Facebook Connection header.”
