In this blog, Meningitis Research Foundation’s Digital Community Officer and social media expert, Zara Pereira, shares her expert tips on leveraging social media to boost awareness.
Social media is more than just tweets and posts—it’s today’s version of newspapers, word-of-mouth and community gatherings all rolled into one. It helps people share news, ideas and important causes instantly, often creating real-world change.
This makes it a powerful platform to raise awareness of meningitis and potentially save lives.
The world of social media can seem daunting and confusing when you’re new to it – but I promise it’s actually really simple. Here are some ideas of how you can help in your role as Ambassador:
It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to raise awareness. Just visit our page, click “share” or “repost” and you’re instantly helping others learn about meningitis. You can add a comment—or just share as it is.
Personal experiences are powerful. Our posts that include people’s real-life stories with meningitis often receive lots of likes, comments and spark conversations. If you feel comfortable, share your story in your own way—whether it’s a post, a photo or a short video. You can also include a link to your ‘Meningitis in your words’ story.
Images help posts stand out and are more likely to be seen, shared and remembered. Social media algorithms love them (algorithms are rules that social media platforms use to decide what content you see and in what order) —and people do too. Share photos from events, of yourself in your Ambassador / Meningitis Research Foundation gear or anything related to our cause. Real photos create connection and drive action.
Maureen’s example perfectly illustrates the impact of a lovely, clear photo on a post. The bright purple colours make it eye catching on the feed and raise awareness of our charity too. Before even reading the caption, you know who it is from, what sort of event they are at and that they are there for Meningitis Research Foundation – all from the photo.
Hashtags make your posts discoverable beyond your followers. They link your content to wider conversations, campaigns and communities. We use #DefeatMeningitis to connect with others and help us track our impact. On World Meningitis Day, remember to use #WorldMeningitisDay too.
Other relevant hashtags to consider include: #Meningitis, #MeningitisSurvivor, #GlobalHealth, #HealthAdvocacy and #Charity. Feel free to use any hashtag that aligns with your post.
Your workplace, volunteer groups, local clubs and even friends and family can help spread awareness. Ask them to comment, share your posts or create their own. Different people have different networks, and this helps our message reach even further.
We’ve got facts, figures and information on our website to help you post confidently. Whether you’re resharing or creating something new, everything you need is there.
One post could be the reason someone learns the signs of meningitis, gets help in time or finds support after a diagnosis or loss. By simply posting, sharing or telling your story, you’re helping to raise awareness, build community and defeat meningitis.
We’re excited to see your posts. For questions, further ideas or support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.