| MARCH 3, 2025 -- Hashtags are a fundamental aspect of social media platforms like
X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Represented by the pound sign (#) followed by a word or a phrase (without spaces), hashtags serve as a tool for categorizing content, making it easier to discover and engage with. For example, if someone shares a photo of a beautiful sunset and includes the hashtag #Sunset, users searching for that term can easily find and view related posts.
How does this apply to my Grange?
If your Grange is using Facebook, Instagram, X, and more, then using hashtags can be beneficial to track your content. Here’s a few reasons - Increased Visibility: Hashtags can significantly enhance the visibility of your Grange posts. By using trending or relevant hashtags, your content can reach a broader audience beyond your immediate followers. This can attract new followers and increase user engagement.
Content Discovery: Hashtags create a way for users to find specific topics of interest. By categorizing your posts, you make it easier for users to discover content on subjects they are passionate about, thereby fostering communities around shared interests. For example, if your Grange is hosting a dinner raising funds for veterans, your hashtags can be #yourgrangename #veterans #veteransinconnecticut #fundraising
Branding and Marketing: For Granges, hashtags are essential for community recognition. Creating a unique hashtag allows Granges to promote themselves and engage with prospective members. It encourages users to interact with your Grange, share experiences, and participate in discussions. For example, #yourgrangename, #ctstategrange, #nationalgrange
Event Promotion: Hashtags are frequently used to promote events, whether they are meetings, conferences, or programs and activities. Using a specific hashtag can help organize conversations about the event, making it easier for attendees to follow along and engage with the content. For example, if your Grange is hosting Degree Day, your hashtags could be #yourgrangename, #degreeday, #joinus #ritualiscool
Engagement Tracking: Hashtags enable Granges to track engagement and analyze the impact of their posts. Monitoring the performance of particular hashtags can provide insights into audience participation and trends, guiding future content strategies.
In conclusion, hashtags are more than just a trend; they are a powerful marketing tool that enhances discoverability, increases engagement, and fosters community on social media. By utilizing hashtags effectively, Granges can significantly enhance their online presence and connectivity.
Need more information? Send an email to Bob at publicrelations@ctstategrange.org or Terri at information@ctstategrange.org.
NEW FACEBOOK PHISHING SCAM
A widespread phishing campaign is once again targeting Facebook accounts with a new round of counterfeit copyright infringement notices. This latest wave of phishing began at the end of last year and has sparked concern worldwide. These notifications are reaching various types of Facebook Pages, from non-profits to popular celebrities, and are sent via Facebook’s messaging system. Depending on your Facebook preferences, you
may receive both notifications and emails about these alerts. The intention behind this phishing scheme is for cybercriminals to steal your Facebook login credentials.
Initially, victims receive a message stating that their Facebook page has violated copyright laws. This scam is particularly believable because the email or notification appears to originate from a legitimate source, often featuring Facebook logos, and comes through Facebook Messenger.
The message urges you to log in to Facebook to contest the decision immediately, threatening that failure to do so will result in losing access to your account features.
It warns recipients that “your recent activity might be a copyright violation” and attempts to create a sense of urgency — a common red flag for scams — pressuring users to act quickly. In truth, the Facebook page in question has not violated any copyright laws.
Users are directed to click a link in the message, which leads to a webpage that seems to be a Facebook support page. This page will request login information for an “account review.” However, this support page is fake and operated by cybercriminals. If you enter your Facebook credentials, they will be stolen, granting the scammers access to your account.
Cybersecurity experts note that there’s little recourse once an account is compromised. While users may attempt the account recovery process, any data deleted or manipulated by the scammers could be irretrievably lost.
To protect yourself from Facebook phishing scams, follow these guidelines:
-- Be wary of unexpected messages, even if they seem authentic. Facebook does not send emails threatening immediate action. If a real issue arises, Facebook will disable the relevant page, and you will then need to work to restore it.
-- Access Facebook directly through its official website or mobile app to verify your account
status. Avoid clicking any links in messages that appear to be from Facebook.
-- Always scrutinize logos and language in messages purporting to be from Facebook. Many contain fraudulent logos and often feature poor grammar and misspellings.
-- Set-up two-factor authentication (2FA) on Facebook to protect your account from hackers and unauthorized access. Once set-up, when logging in from an unrecognized device, Facebook will send a verification code or ask for confirmation of the login, either via text message, or through an authentication app.
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