It might feel uneasy, especially if you are introverted, to promote yourself and your work, but this is the key!
Awareness of your movement is the ONLY way to get people to know about what you are doing..
Be consistent, post regularly and frequently, tell your story, share your passion far and wide, all over all your social media platforms and in your local community communications groups.
Make sure that your contact details are all over the place and be ready to engage with your audience.
Create videos, livestream, take photos of before and after and ask people to share, you’d be surprised how many people don’t share unless you tell them to! Encourage people to join your efforts to save the planet!
In the end, it’s a numbers game, the more people who know, the more people will join your movement. There are so many people who want to do something but just don’t know where to start, so you need to share and share and share.
I have found that sometimes posts only get noticed on day 3 after posting, so be sure to post well in advance, and keep reminding people, because it is so easy to be distracted by all the goings on of the world.
Ask your volunteers to create their own posts and share their experiences of the day and tag you and your organization.
Make it easy to find, make it fun and a safe environment to work in – (if it’s potentially unsafe, involve your community policing forum or a security company to volunteer their services in aid of your cause) start with your friends and family, and neighbourhood and broaden gently, you don’t want to come across as disorganized and unprofessional, so make sure your house is in order before you go large..
Have screening protocols in place and indemnities signed to assist with data collection so that you can communicate with volunteers after your event and keep them posted about upcoming ones too!
Remember, horrible people don’t volunteer, so you will attract likeminded individuals! Not all events will have your anticipated turnout, but you just keep going!
It’s always a good idea to have fruit or snacks and fresh drinking water available for volunteers, if you can – offer tools, boots and/or gloves – ask around to try to get these items sponsored and always give public thanks and recognition to all who have supported you! Otherwise just let your audience know what to bring along to your cleanup!
Besides your own platforms, use international platforms like www.volunteerworld.com www.volunteerMatch.org, www.volunteeringsolutions.com, www.communityhourssa.co.za
to advertise events where willing volunteers will be waiting to find an opportunity that you make available!
Your volunteers are without a doubt your most valuable asset! They arrive with passion!
These are people, like you, who are offering their precious time to help save our communities, rivers and oceans! Treat them with love and kindness, engage with them, find out more about them, what brought them to you, what their area of expertise is and have discussions about how their skillset can bring about more positive change on our planet!
Be sure to define clearly what your expectations of them are, and make sure there are no blurred lines or over expectations.
Go speak at community business meetings/forums, give presentations, be proud and confident!
You’ve got this Warrior! And we are right behind you!
Tarryn Johnston
Founding Director: Hennops Revival