It's a been a minute. Did you miss me? I've been so busy with awesome Area Visits, that I didn't have much time to write. But now we have something really important that I want you to know about for your club's social media presence. Read on Rotary friends!
If you follow CNY Rotary on Facebook (or Instagram), then you know our page was shut down. For a long time. A really long time. This happens because we use the Rotary logo, as we all do and should, which makes us all look alike. For us, that's the point. I have talked to you about proper branding and the power of looking like a united team for many years! But to Facebook's algorithms that are set up to detect bad actors on their site, it comes across as suspicious. Like we are impersonating someone else. So they unpublish the page until you appeal the decision and provide proof that you are legitimate. This was the third time our page has been shut down and it's a problem across all of the Rotary world. Clubs and districts struggle with having their pages shut down, with not everyone equipped to win the appeals process.
Thankfully, Rotary International has stepped in. The power of our global organization means we have a little more sway with Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram). They have set up a better process for protecting club and district pages that are legitimate, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION to get this protection. And I hope you do!
Social media is a powerful tool for us to tell our stories, connect with our communities, and inform our members. Getting your page taken away when you've done nothing wrong is not only frustrating, but it hurts our mission on every level.
It's VERY EASY to get some added protection.
Click here to add your club's official Facebook page to the new "allow list," which will let Meta know you have rights to the Rotary brand.
In the form, you can indicate if your page is currently shut down or not.
Every club with a Facebook page should complete this form one time, even if you are not currently shutdown nor have been shut down before. It will be protection for you moving forward.
Be safe out there friends and post often!
Reach out if you have any questions on this form - rotarylizzy@gmail.com.
If your club needs help with Public Image, connect with our team today!