Overview

Social media sites continue to be extremely popular and provide robust communications tools that can have a tremendous impact on an organization’s reputation and brand awareness. There are several benefits to utilizing social media for and within the Synthetic Turf Council (STC). Social media allows an organization to build and strengthen community by driving engagement and to set measurable communication and marketing goals through analytics.

As an organization, the STC can see who in the industry it is reaching with its messages and how those messages are received. It gives multiple channels through which to distribute targeted information regarding programs, initiatives, and activities to further its mission. In addition, it allows members and potential members to interact, share ideas, and promote cooperation within the industry.

While there are a growing and revolving number of social media platforms, the STC actively uses three for targeting messages to members and potential members.

Social Media Sites

Through several years of analysis, the STC has determined that it reaches members of the industry most effectively through three social media platforms: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. In addition, the STC has found that there are specific industry groups found on each platform.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is geared toward communication between professionals within the industry. Most of our member interaction tends to happen through LinkedIn, allowing industry professionals to exchange ideas, highlight current trends or activities, monitor communications with end users and specifiers, and track professional development.

Follow STC on LinkedIn

Twitter

Twitter has been valuable in giving members and non-members reminders of upcoming programs and events, opportunities to contribute industry initiatives, interactions during member meetings, and recognition of new members and member milestones.

Follow STC on Twitter

Facebook

Facebook allows communication for messaging to potential members and industry end users. It is a place where the STC can interact with buyers and others simply wanting to learn more about what the organization does.

Follow STC on Facebook

Other Platforms

STC members utilize other media platforms, including company blogs, Instagram, Pinterest, Houzz, TikTok, and others that rise and fall in popularity. Whichever platform members choose, it always serves the STC well when there are links, tags, follows, likes, and shares. However, there are best practices that increase the benefits of social media for both the STC and its members.

Member Engagement

Remember that the STC's network of industry leaders and professionals is wider because of YOU as a member!

✔️ FOLLOW: It's important that all members follow the STC on the above social media platforms as we regularly promote new members, association benefits and services, and timely industry updates.

✔️ ENGAGE: As we get closer to promoting the Annual Conference, Exhibitor Showcase and Awards Ceremony, please consider:

• Liking the post 👍❤️👏
  
• Leaving a comment with a short member testimony or about what you're looking forward to at the Annual Membership Meeting
• Tagging a prospective member who should consider joining or attending the event
• Sharing the post with your network of industry leaders and professionals
  

✔️ PROMOTE: Looking for a fresh social media post to promote your company's professionalism in the synthetic turf industry? Promote your STC Membership and/or Certification status!

• Download the STC Member Logo and branding guidelines, located in the Members Only site
• Post to your company social media images, website, email signatures and other marketing collateral
• Tag @SynTurfCouncil and link the STC Member Logo back to www.syntheticturfcouncil.org
  

Promote Your STC MEMBERSHIP or certification Status

The following are example posts to better promote your STC membership or certification status from your company social media platform(s):

STC Member Company - Sample Post

We are proud to be a Full Member of the @SynTurfCouncil. Looking forward to reuniting with members and making new connections at this year's STC Annual Conference!

#yourcompanyhashtag #stc #stcmember #stctogetherwesucceed #stc2024 #syntheticturf

STC Certified Company - Sample Post

We are proud to be a Certified Member of the @SynTurfCouncil and voluntarily commit to delivering products or services that meet or exceed customer specifications, and conduct business in a responsible manner.

#yourcompanyhashtag #stc #stccertified #syntheticturf

CSTI - Sample Post

We are proud to announce that @JaneDoe has earned the Certified Synthetic Turf Installer (CSTI) credential from the @SynTurfCouncil. She brings experience and professionalism to both our organization and the STC. Congratulations, Jane!

#stc #csti #certification #yourcompanyhashtag

download STC's Social Media Artwork Guidelines (PDF)

#Hashtags

The following is a list of STC hashtags currently used on our three social media platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook):

• #stc
• #csti
• #stcmember
• #syntheticturf
• #stc2024

EtiQuette reminders

• Be respectful. Respect your audience and your colleagues. Engage in conduct that would be acceptable in the workplace.
• Be truthful/factual. Provide accurate information so as not to misrepresent the organization or its members.
• Be mindful of public image
• Be aware – consequences for poor judgment

Standards for Appropriate Conversation

Content will be deleted for the following:

• Advertisement for an individual business
• Libelous, slanderous, inflammatory or defamatory comments
• Vulgar, racist or sexist slurs
• Obscenities
• Comments pertaining to violence
• Incorrect information
• Information that violates privacy
• Comments that are not respectful
• Comments that are not relevant to the topic
• A commenter who is misrepresenting himself/herself

Image Guidelines

Social media posts with images get better engagement. You can always go out and take pictures, hire a professional photographer or buy stock photos online.

Remember - Photographers WANT you to share your photos on social media, which is how they get new clients! Please do not remove watermarks and always be aware of the copyright infringement laws of photography (see points to remember below).

When using other people's photos on social media, you should always give credit to the original photo source. If an individual's account is set to "private", then you should not share any of their photos and it's always best to ask for permission. When reposting an image or video, be sure to include "#Repost from @username" to give the original source credit.

Things to remember about copyright (from www.ppa.com):

• Copyright is a property right.
• Just because you buy a print [or buy digitals] does not mean you have purchased the copyright.
• Photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of creation.
• Unless you have permission from the photographer, you can’t copy, distribute (no scanning and sending them to others), publicly display (no putting them online), or create derivative works from photographs.
• Even small levels of infringement—copying a photo without permission—can have a devastating impact on a photographer’s ability to make a living.
• Copyright infringements—reproducing photos without permission—can result in civil and criminal penalties.

Code of Ethics + Conduct

Maintaining the highest professional standards is critical in our fast-growing industry. Developed by our members, the STC’s ethics and conduct standards promote high quality, professionalism, and integrity.

STC Code of Ethics + Conduct

Questions?

Questions about social media guidelines should be sent to office@syntheticturfcouncil.org.