I have no idea what you're talking about, but I can assure you that's not what's there.

Again, arguing against Facebook and the use of social media platforms is pointless. Maybe you have a personal preference against them, but that's irrelevant when it comes to marketing and advertising for your museum or historical organization. Social media is just one part of a complete marketing package that should include a web site, print advertising, press releases, etc.

Go back and re-read the TL;DR article I posted above.

-otto-

Otto -

I had no problem getting on the R&GVRM facebook page. Quick question; half hour train rides. How long (mileage-wise)?

Les

I don't think any of the posters who dislike Facebook are saying that museums should not use Facebook as a key part of their advertising and recruiting strategies.

I agree with their dislike of Facebook's terms of service, and their personal choice not to use it at all.

The point is that a museum which relies on Facebook without also having a standard web site is going to miss a significant portion of its potential audience.

I agree. Facebook (like all social media) is just one component of a comprehensive marketing plan.

-otto-

Hi Les!

All train rides are a mile and a half round trip through our museum grounds.

http://rochestertrainrides.com/faq/

We have set up a web site specifically geared towards marketing our events and selling tickets to the public. This lets us keep the "nuts and bolts" railfan stuff on our museum web site (www.rgvrrm.org), where we can go into greater detail about our collection without distracting from the marketing message we are trying to put out. The museum web site is about to be completely redone as well so that it is compatible with both mobile and desktop browsers.

-otto-

No I read it and agree with you about it being an integral part of a total package; just making you aware of another facet of it. I tried to view it clicking on the link on a Windows 10 machine running with IE as a browser - the kind of software a lot of people use today - and got that result which was frustrating and a turnoff. Perhaps it might be a good idea to test any digital offering on a variety of popular platforms to assure it is widely available on all of them.

I see what happened here. You clicked and saw the image below (or something similar to it). That's not Otto's doing - it's Facebook and Internet Explorer. For those of us who use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, that won't show up. If you're using IE, then simply enter the security check and you'll see the page.

It's an issue with the browser and each person's individual computers/preferences as to which internet browser they use - not Otto and his organization's Facebook page.

Facebook's habit of blocking public content behind a "sign in or register" for non- members is an extremely big turnoff for those people.

However, FB is a very useful tool for reaching the large segment of the population who use it.

Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario uses a web site, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. One of our volunteers and a staff member are collaborating on content, and their efforts are paying off with greatly increased traffic and interest.

https://www.facebook.com/RMEOsmithsfalls/?fref=ts

Steve Hunter

I was about to compose some snark-filled response about how Instagram appeals to the attention-deficit-disorder/fleeting-attention-span crowd that cannot be relied upon to follow through with visits, purchases, etc., and for whom a 45-minute Strasburg RR round trip must seem like an eternity of entrapment...........

......... and then I read an exchange from/about someone unwilling to take the minimal effort to decipher a "captcha" (the industry term for such garbled codes used as security to determine that a human, rather than an online "bot" or spam source, is enquiring) to access a website or Facebook.......... and I had to rethink my sarcasm a bit.

One top-level coder of my acquaintance used to keep at least a dozen older computers around the office all fired up and running everything from Windows 95 to the latest editions of Windows, Mac, Linux, etc. specifically to test beta software on every conceivable platform just to assure it would work properly. And, boy, did he uncover problems that way. Not often, but glaring problems when they did pop up. Nowadays his testing protocol includes mobile device OS platforms such as Android, iPhones, etc.

My own default computer runs Win 7 Pro and Firefox/Chrome with an arsenal of an ad-blocker, security systems, "ghosting" programs, etc. When I go to a "public" computer at a public library or a friend's computer, I'm constantly befuddled at all the stuff others have to wade through on even my usual websites (RyPN being a notable exception, thankfully).

When and after you set up a website and/or FB page, 1) keep it simple and basic unless you're a for-profit that can afford to add online sales/ticketing/etc., and 2) routinely have trusted associates road-test your website/FB page and give constructive feedback--and find the "dumbest," most computer-unsavvy people you can find. Ask them to try and find out when you're open, where to find your latest news, how to get to your place, when your next excursion or meeting is, etc. Intuitive people who make their living doing research have no trouble finding this stuff; you're trying to target the grandparents that think your place might be a good place to take the grandkids even without Thomas around.

Now excuse me while--ooh, look, a squirrel..........

Not so minimal through cataracts. Not everybody has the same ability for perception.

Not having a Facebook account or not feeling comfortable using computers is irrelevant to this conversation. We are talking about online marketing being a valuable tool that should not be ignored. I didn't use Instagram for the longest time because I didn't have a smartphone. Now I do and I'm trying to learn how to use it as an marketing tool that could benefit my clients.

Don't use computers? Don't use Facebook? That's okay! Because maybe you'll see my advertisements I place in the local newspapers, press releases, local television coverage, the free listings in railfan magazines, or the posters I put up in the local businesses. You're probably going to see my message in multiple places, which reinforces the brand and the message. That's what a complete marketing program looks like.

Advertising is not a "one size fits all" situation. But you should certainly evaluate every tool available to see what is a good fit.

-otto-

Amen. Too many Facebook Cult members think that it's the only thing you need, ever.
Not so, focusing your communications into one channel only, no matter what it is, is a horrible idea.

Dear Otto

Face book has a page on Southern Pacific 3420. The problem some of us have is none of us involved with the SWC of the R&LHS have no clue who created the page. Interest from old supporters can be seen in the comments but in the end it does not seem to be kept up. The end it is just sitting there.

I know of ads saying see our face book deals. What this shows is a political statement bias against people who believe that the terms of face book are unreasonable. Having lived in many small towns I often realize the dangers for a business owner of supporting one person running for office over another because you seem to alienate about half of the local population that you depend upon. When an organization only uses something like face book to reach people with current events or offers it tells me that the offer is set up to help face book status as much as making a real offer. The social status face book promotes thru likes is like the social clubs many of our organizations suffer thru.

The equipment we work on today will likely be here after we move on in life. We need to move away fro the cliques that these groups have created and do more in the area expanding our base of support. There is a mistake made by many today that they are the reason something is preserved with out recognizing the efforts of those who came before. In the end we are just the caretakers of this generation who control what we are going to give to the next generation. Weather it is current or possible visitors or supporters we have a responsibility to communicate with them in as many ways as possible given the abilities one has, Understand when you only use ways to communicate that you find easy such as paperless news letters or other ideas it may not be the way to communicate to the audience you want to reach.

Robby Peartree

There is a significant disconnect emerging here and my apologies if this



You market where people are, not where you hope they will be. 1.71 billion monthly active users is not a clique. While it's a stretch to say you'll reach all of them, the "social" aspect of marketing is what broadens its appeal beyond your intended audience. By being where people are, you are present. Our organization was one of the first on Facebook and the very first on Twitter (which I'm sure means something to somebody...), and we built an audience from there. While the airways are far busier than they were in 2007/2008, that's why you need a strategy instead of just posting stuff, let alone just posting stuff on one platform.



There's some bitterness or a fundamental misunderstanding of social media here.

As far as I can tell, this thread was about sharing and capitalizing on a social presence -- not critiquing' its existence. Hating on social media is extraordinarilyy common in niche industries, and among older demographics and it's seriously passé. It does nothing to further the conversation about how to make good use of it. It's here to stay, will continue to evolve. As Otto and I have posted, it needs to be part of a comprehensive strategy.

As far as the Southern Pacific page goes, all someone has to do is contact Facebook, say it's not official, provide proof (email from the right domain, incorporation papers from the organization, etc) and get control of it or get it removed.

If you need assistance, feel free to send me a PM.

A clue as to who set it up is right in the attached screenshot:

Last year, the non-profit theatre I manage put together a comedy improv show with ten days advance notice for ticket sales. Marketing solely with Facebook and Constant Contact, we sold out the show. I have observed a direct connection between Facebook posts/eBlasts and successful ticket sales for our regular performances as well.

We have had similar success with our social media efforts at National Capital Trolley Museum where a very savvy high school student keeps the page updated regularly with new content. Have a look at the fall banner photo and this photo posted by a parent.

I am not a Facebook user for personal contacts - I don't post my every move and "like" my way through a list of Friends. But Facebook is a force to be reckoned with as part of an overall media plan.

Your mileage may vary.

Wesley