Social Media Submission Guidelines

What to Send & Due Dates

Applies to ALL members

Text on images is not permitted on Instagram. If you must add text it must be small in the lower right or left of the image so as not to take away from the image. Instagram is a visual platform so images must capture the viewer. If you send an image without text we can load the image with text as the second image in a slider or as a Story. Images with text are accepted for Facebook.

• Orange: 1 social post a month and 1 event added to the calendar each month. Partners email their caption and video/photos by the 25th for the upcoming month to customerservice@aboutredlands.com. Reels and collaborations are not included. Shared Stories count as a social post for the month.
• Bronze: 2 social posts a month & 2 events added to the calendar each month. Partners email their caption and reel/photos by the 25th for the upcoming month to customerservice@aboutredlands.com. Please provide the music title if music is used as we must re-load it to abide by Instagram policies. One Instagram collaboration is included each month as part of the two posts. Shared Stories count as a social post for the month, as well.
• Gold: 4 social posts and 4 events added to the calendar each month. Partners may email their social posts the week they want a post. Two Instagram collaboration posts are included each month. Shared Stories count as a social post for the month.
• Platinum partners: Unlimited social posts, events added to calendar, and unlimited collaboration posts plus same-day social postings available.
• Check your plan here

Important Information about Images Sent to Us

• No ads (image with text on it). If you want an image with text aka ad on Instagram a lead image needs to be sent as it will be turned into a slideshow. The lead image can not be an ad. The Ad will be the second image.

• If you have a branded hashtag, email that with the caption.

• You are welcome to add any organization or business name to your caption, but only About Redlands members are permitted to be tagged.

• If you use a branded logo please place it on the bottom right of the image.

• If you send a flier that will be added as the second image in a slider. So, please send a lead image.

• Facebook recommends uploading video with square (1:1) or vertical (4:5, 9:16 and 16:9) aspect ratios, to maximize compatibility on both desktop and mobile screens. The platform also recommends keeping videos short (15 seconds or less) and designing videos that work with and without sound (by enabling captions).

• The best dimensions to upload your Instagram video to your feed is 1080 pixels x 1350 pixels (4:5 aspect ratio).

Videos and Reels

• Email music credit so we can upload it. If the video has music we will mute it and upload your selection.

• Instagram Reels size in pixels: 1080 pixels x 1920 pixels.

• Instagram Reels are viewed in a vertical orientation, so videos and photos should be 1080 pixels wide and 1920 pixels tall (an aspect ratio 9:16)

• Reel allowed Duration: 4 seconds – 60 seconds

• Recommended video formats are .MP4 and .MOV

Click here for Network Policies

Social Media is a Visual Platform

Event flyers date back to pre-internet. The goal was to put every single detail on one paper so if someone sees it posted or gets in in their hand they don’t need to know anything else or have any other communication to attend. Turns out that’s not the case anymore. You emailed that flyer, the deets are on your FB page, and your website & is easily searchable.

The same is true with images with too much text.

The goal of your image should be to stop the scroll and have ppl decide that your post is worth pausing at. A flyer or post packed with text isn’t going to do that. If ppl have to zoom in order to see what it’s about they’re definitely not going to pause while they’re quickly scrolling past.

Of course, you want to promote your event so how can you do it in a way that fits the platform?

1. Forget trying to fit every detail in the square. What’s the headline? Is it catchy enough to stop the scroll? That’s what you want in your square. The rest of the details can do in the caption or use a carousel to share more once you’ve gained the attention of your followers.

2. Use your best photos from past events with engaging captions about your upcoming event.

3. Create creative content that relates to your event but adds general value at the same time. Ex: using a quote about volunteering before a volunteer event, sharing a unique story about the event.

4. Use stories. Stories are perfect for promoting events because you can talk about the event multiple times without it living on your feed forever. Use polls and ask questions to make sure you’re sharing what your audience actually wants to know.