Six Tips for Telling

PRESERVATION STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Develop an aesthetic.Much like developing a voice in writing, developing an aesthetic

allows you to tell your preservation story authentically and

consistently.

2. Create Instagram galleries.Instagram galleries function like a slideshow. You can add up to 10

photos with a single caption. They’re great to use if you have a batch

of photos from a single event.

3. Go simply visual with stories.Stories are a fun way to combine still photos and short videos around

a single theme or event. They’re currently the most casual format

social media offers, and include fun filters, stickers, and text options—

including handwriting.

4. Reuse your stories.Both the full story and each of its segments individually of Instagram

and Snapchat stories can be saved—making that content very flexible

for resharing later or on other channels.

5. To go live or not to go live?Facebook Live, Periscope, and Instagram Live let you share with your

audience while also allowing them to participate in real time.

6. Hand over the reins for a day.Handing over the reins is always a little nerve-wracking, but letting an

Instagram influencer take over your handle is a great way to tell your

preservation story while engaging a wider audience and capitalizing

on someone else’s skillset.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation works to save America’s

historic places. Preservation Tips & Tools helps others do the same

in their own communities.

For more information, visit SavingPlaces.org.

Photo credits: Raina Regan/Grant Stevens/Sarah

Heffern; National Trust for Historic Preservation;

Sarah Heffern; Diana Tisue/National Trust for

Historic Preservation; Kelly Schindler; Grant

Stevens; Raina Regan.