5 Ways Your Radio Station Can Harness Social Media

Social media is an invaluable tool for radio stations; free and easy to use, it’s an unbeatable way to connect with your listeners and gain publicity for your station. However, to ensure that your social media efforts make an impact, it’s a good idea to create a strategy that will keep your posts fresh, original and entertaining from morning ‘til night.

To help you get started, we’ve picked out a few of the best ways to harness social media for your internet radio station:

Now playing

You may have a ‘now playing’ feature on your website through your radio automation software, but from time to time it can be good to announce what’s playing on your social media platforms. The occasional ‘now playing’ tweet will give potential listeners a flavour of your station, and encourage them to tune in at peak times of the day.

 Listener requests

However, if you want to get your audience involved, don’t dictate the music 24/7. Give listeners a chance to shape their station, by encouraging them to request their favourite songs via Facebook or Twitter. You could do this on an ongoing basis, or allocate times of the day when listeners can take over the station.

Competitions

Giveaways are a fantastic way to generate exposure for your station. Encourage brands to donate prizes for your competitions, or get creative with fun or unusual prizes that won’t break the bank. Why not pass on those guest passes you were sent by the press company, instead of keeping them for yourself? By enabling listeners to enter by sharing or retweeting your post, you can grow your reach and attract new listeners.

Sponsorship 

If you have big ambitions for your internet radio station, it’s crucial to find a viable way to generate a regular income. Social media is a fantastic tool for stations seeking sponsorship, making it relatively simple to add value to your sponsors if you have a good following. By creating a sponsorship package that includes a detailed social media plan, you’re far more likely to seal a deal.

Feedback 

When getting to grips with live broadcast software, you’ll find that a lot of your progress is made through trial and error. Social media is a quick and easy way to gain feedback from your listeners, to help you refine and improve your station. If you really want detailed feedback on specific elements of your show or station, create a poll on Twitter or Facebook where listeners can vote on subjects.

It’s never been easier to promote your station as a radio DJ; social-savvy broadcasters have unlimited opportunities to gain exposure for their brand. Follow these tips to kickstart your social media strategy, to ensure that your radio station gets the attention it deserves.