Two years after throwing a snit over USATF masters ignoring social media, I’m delighted to see strong gains on Twitter, Facebook and other platforms. Bob Weiner’s annual report [see it here] on masters media still focuses on TV and newspaper coverage, but a section by social media maven Sandy Triolo, a W50 sprinter, is the most heartening. About 17 months ago, USAMastersTrack on Twitter had six followers. On Thursday, it had 443. With new chair Rex Harvey pushing hard, our social media reach should skyrocket. Let’s join his example and “Like” Facebook and follow Instagram. Our FB page has 1,200 followers. Let’s make it 3,000 in 2017.

Here’s our Twitter feed. Follow and contribute by tweeting @usamasterstrack.

Here’s what Sandy said in her social media report:

The following is a summary of the USATFMasterstrack Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts which
were created in August of 2015.

Stats
Facebook: USATFMastersTrack page
https://www.facebook.com/usatfmasterstrack/
Fans (followers): 1.177k
Posts: 350
Photos: 180
Total Reach from Aug 23rd – Sept 19th: 8,586
Post Engagement Nov 3- 5: 3,442
Demographic: 66% men, 33% Women – primarily in US, Canada and UK
and New York, Houston and Atlanta with the most viewers.

Total Currently
Twitter: @usamasterstrack
https://twitter.com/USAMastersTrack
Followers: 424
Following: 559
Tweets: 225
Likes: 888
Photos and videos posted: 28

Totals Currently
Instagram: @usatfmasterstrack
https://www.instagram.com/usatfmasterstrack/
Followers: 1021
Following: 892
Posts: 253

Each of these accounts have different formats, media structures and modes of engagement. And, while each has grown quite a bit, Facebook and Instagram accounts have the most followers. To manage multiple Social Media streams requires time and attention. To date this has been done “organically” meaning I have spent time observing the environment of Masters Track on each platform and begun to build relationships with viewers. This is done by commenting or liking other pages with similar content, or photos, by posting interesting content, which gets viewers to return to our “feeds” on a regular basis.

The next step would be to “systematize” this process by using a management software tool. I personally paid for a base version of Hootsuite ($14.99 a month) to see how this could help me manage the different platforms. I am just beginning to use it, but hope to have it operating well by the end of the quarter. I
would like to have this reimbursed if it is possible.

Additionally a reporting plug-ins would helpful to identify trends, opportunities and especially reporting.
Examples of usefulness including a better understanding of the audience and the habits of followers such
as the best time to reach them, the most successful information or photos, etc. Reporting Plug-can create
better statistics then I have provided below.

Boosting Exposure:
If growing the audience of these accounts beyond the organic (not promoted) method, I suggest a budget be allocated for promotions, monthly or quarterly. With promotions, goals can be created and worked toward, such as increasing the number of people reached, sending people to specific websites, growing the total community or creating a contest. I personally paid to boost one post “””US Women Sprinters” for $10, at the end the reach was 284 likes and total viewing was over 3 thousand.

Worlds
During the Oct 24th to Nov 4th Time period, I posted 71 posts on FB, 28 on Instagram and 23 on Twitter.
I also posted 43 photos to the FB Album, WMA