Social Media Dos and Don'ts for Memorial Day
Memorial Day is just around the corner and car dealerships across the nation are gearing up to commemorate the occasion with their followers on social media.
However, in the midst of all the excitement, it is important to remember Memorial Day is not just another federal holiday. First and foremost, it is a day of mourning for US military personnel who lost their lives while serving their country.
As such, if you plan to commemorate the holiday on social media, you must do so in a sensitive and respectful manner. Crass and inconsiderate Facebook or Instagram posts are sure to result in a great deal of blowback from your community.
Luckily, you don’t have to handle this tricky situation alone. The social media nerds (that’s us!) have prepared a detailed list of dos and don’ts you can follow to observe Memorial Day the right way. We recommend following these tips to observe Memorial Day in a respectful manner:
Do Recognize the Fallen Soldiers
It is important to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers who gave their lives to protect our country. Your social media followers will expect a respectful message, but it does not have be lengthy or complicated. Consider emulating the following examples:
- Thank you to our fallen soldiers. We are forever grateful for your sacrifice.
- This Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect our country.
- Today, we honor the heroes who lose their lives fighting for our freedom.
Pro Tip: When it comes to posting on social media for holidays, it’s usually best post early in the day. Chances are, your followers will be scrolling through their feeds over their morning coffee or as they start their day, so it best to catch them when they are more active.
Do Post Patriotic Images
Commemorating Memorial Day isn’t just about the words you use. It’s also about the photos you post across your social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
We recommend sticking to patriotic images. You can’t go wrong with pictures of soldiers, the United States flag, or the Statue of Liberty. However, it’s best to avoid using images of politicians and political buildings, like the White House, though. These pictures are likely to result in inflammatory comments and messages.
Pro Tip: Remember to use royalty free images when posting your content online. Companies such as Adobe Stock and Canva are a great resource for finding high-quality, royalty free images.
Social Media Mistakes to Avoid on Memorial Day
It can be easy to find yourself or your company at the center of controversy on Memorial Day. To prevent upsetting or angering your social media followers, avoid making the following mistakes:
Saying Happy Memorial Day
When creating posts to commemorate the holiday, you may be tempted to say Happy Memorial Day to your followers. After all, that’s what you would say on the 4th of July or Labor Day.
Memorial Day is different, though. It is primarily a day of mourning for fallen American soldiers. If you use a phrase like Happy Memorial Day, you might upset people who have lost a friend or a family member.
Instead, consider wishing your followers a thoughtful or meaningful Memorial Day.
Shoehorning Your Brand into Your Memorial Day Posts
Memorial Day weekend is about fallen US military members and their families. It isn’t about your brand.
As such, you should avoid shoehorning your brand and its holiday deals into your remembrance and recognition posts in the following ways:
- This Memorial Day, we celebrate our fallen heroes. Honor their memory with $500 off any new Camry this weekend!
- To celebrate the lives of the soldiers we have lost, we’re offering $20 oil changes this Memorial Day!
- This Memorial Day, celebrate the brave men and women who gave their lives so you can test drive the new Sonata at our dealership.
These types of posts are quite vulgar, and they are likely to elicit angry responses from your followers.
If you want to promote a Memorial Day sales event, consider creating a separate post to inform your followers. We recommend keeping at least a few hours between your recognition post and your promotion announcements.
Need Help Managing Your Social Media Accounts? Contact Us Today!
Do you need help managing your auto dealership’s social media accounts? If so, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our social media management team. We’ve been helping companies drive sales and engage with their community on Facebook and Instagram for years, and we’d love to do the same for you.
To learn more about our services, all you need to do is give us a call at (424) 232-0801 or fill out our short online contact form. Our friendly representatives will be more than happy to answer all your questions!