Three Easy Ways for Your Business to Leverage Social Media and Participate in Climate Week

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With climate marches all over the globe leading up to the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, you may be wondering how you can highlight your own organization’s green initiatives and show your support.

No matter how big or small your business may be, standing with national movements such as an event like this that is both meaningful to your values and your organization’s, is a great way to connect with your audience who likely share similar interests. Furthermore, creating timely content deepens engagement to keep your brand and its priorities top of mind while raising awareness for important issues.

If your company is already doing something to put its best environmentally-friendly foot forward and you want more people to know about it, here are some ideas to help you get the conversation started and more visibility around your initiatives:

On Twitter

Tweet relevant facts about how climate change affects your industry and what your business is doing to positively impact this issue. Part of the fun of Twitter is the real-time aspect of the platform, so ask your followers for advice on what additional changes they would like to see your organization make and what they have done in their own lives to be more sustainable.

By leveraging Twitter to speak directly to your followers, you are showing your community the positive impact that your business makes. It is a simple but powerful way to build positivity for your brand and by looking to encourage responses and engagement, you are untapping your audience’s networks as well – reaching additional users.

On Instagram

Take this time to share compelling content on your Instagram page relevant to both your company and climate change initiatives – either through illustrations, quotes or infographics. Design content or share eco-friendly tips and tricks through your Instagram page or Instagram stories that show how your organization has been making an impact.

Original content will fare well, so focus on sharing authentic posts and using messaging that still meets your overall brand guidelines and strategy. 

Effective posts are:

• Timely – posted during the week of an event

• Succinct – convey the message in a snapshot

• Visually Appealing – fonts and colors are aligned with brand image

• Contextual – use captions providing additional information to the audience

If you have Instagram for business, leverage the app’s insights to share your content during a time of high engagement for your account. If your Instagram stories have a strong viewership, consider making complementary posts to your story throughout the week as well.

On Your Own Website

Write a blog post discussing your company’s commitments to the community and what steps have been taken to address climate change within your business and industry. Having someone of influence write the blog post is a bonus – it shows your community that leadership is committed to making these changes for long-term sustainability.

For example, take Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson’s message regarding the switch from single-use toiletry bottles to pump-top dispensers in guest-room showers. Notice the clearly laid out plan of action and expected impact - this type of verbiage will

If you opt to feature a blog post on your website, share links to it across all your social media pages, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to ensure visibility. Of course, when you’re crafting consistent messaging across multiple platforms, don’t forget to tie it all together with relevant hashtags!

Final Thoughts

Overall, social media is a great, cost-effective way to build visibility for things beyond your core business initiatives. By utilizing an authentic voice, creating appealing and original visuals and providing data, you are adding value to your audience’s day by sharing in their passions during this week’s UN Climate Action Summit.

As long as your main objective is building awareness for sustainability and a greener planet, your followers will appreciate your commitment to your community and may even be inspired to make their own eco-friendly changes in their lives.

How do you plan to participate in this year’s climate week?