Can social media improve the public relations efforts of your local zoo?
Apparently so.
Over at Ragan.com Arik Hanson documents how effective use of social media has benefited the Minnesota Zoo. Apparently, the Minnesota zoo has started using the social media tools of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and FlickR. The results have been great!
By using photos effectively, encouraging fan participation, and breaking such “news” items as the birth of a baby gibbon online, the Minnesota Zoo has managed to achieve a social media presence that would make many small businesses envious.
In fact, having an active social media presence makes a lot of sense for zoos when you consider that social media use continues to grow for all age groups. Having a Facebook fan page, a Twitter account, or being involved in other social media provides an easy way for fans of all ages to stay connected to the zoo. Plus, by announcing special events through social media the zoo can increase participation.
It turns out that the social media presence of Minnesota Zoo is not quite as unique as you might think. Other zoos with a social media presence include:
- The Audobon Zoo in New Orleans–Facebook, Twitter
- The Philadelphia Zoo–Facebook, Twitter
- The Cincinnati Zoo–Facebook, Twitter
- The Houston Zoo–Facebook, Twitter
- The Phoenix Zoo–Facebook, Twitter
Oh yes, and you can find the Minnesota Zoo Twitter account at http://twitter.com/mnzoo. Their Facebook fan page is at http://www.facebook.com/MNZoo. Be sure to check them out.
In fact, in my own research, it was somewhat rare to find a zoo that was NOT making use of social media resources. (Although, there were some smaller zoos that didn’t seem to be using social media at all.)
Which begs the question, if even zoos can use and benefit from social media–is there any organization that can’t?
Personally, I love a good zoo. For many years, our family has been fortunate enough to live within driving distance of a fine zoo that is well known for its humane treatment of animals (as many large U.S. zoos are today). In the past, we’ve enjoyed the benefits of a zoo membership and I’ve found the zoo to be a great concrete way to introduce the next generation to the beauties of nature.
Is your local zoo using social media yet? Are your clients? If you and your clients aren’t yet using social media yet, why aren’t you?
