Leveraging the Power of Social Media to Catalyze Sustainability

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Sustainability is a hot topic online. Researchers have observed a 450% percentage jump in searches for sustainable products online and a 16% increase in posts related to biodiversity and nature loss. 

You can use your digital presence to maximize your impact and spread the word about sustainability, too. Social sites like Instagram and Reddit provide a perfect platform for eco-friendly activism as you will find plenty of like-minded folks online. 

You can also use your profile to increase interest in eco-friendly events. This is particularly helpful if you want to protect your local environment, raise funds for climate-aware causes, or ignite conversation about upcoming developments. 

Sustainable Influencers

As mentioned, interest in sustainability is on the rise. You can tap into this by following in the footsteps of popular sustainable influencers. Folks like Leah Thomas and Elizabeth Teo teach their followers about key concepts like eco-friendly intersectionality and zero-waste living. 

These high-performing influencers also use their platform to encourage environmental well-being. They use their profiles to foreground things like plant-based living, environmental mindfulness, and conscious consumerism. By doing so, they amplify their impact and empower their followers to make meaningful changes to their daily lives. 

You can become a sustainable content creator by learning the basics of social media. Start by developing your skills and learn more about photo editing, videography, and public speaking. This will improve the quality of your offering and help you create a recognizable brand identity. 

As your platform grows, learn more about your followers. You already know they are interested in eco-friendly causes, but what else can you learn? How old is your average follower? Where in the world are they from? What are their hopes and aspirations? Gather analytic data, encourage comments, and run surveys to better understand your followers and create a meaningful community. 

Creating Community

A flourishing community on social media is a sure sign that you are posting sustainability-oriented content that resonates with your audience. Sites like Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram are particularly well-positioned to help you build a sense of eco-friendly community, as the platforms actively encourage comments, replies, and discussion. 

If you are struggling to build community, consider using analytics to better understand your audience. For example, if you primarily post visual content, use Instagram analytics to grow your community. Start by measuring simple metrics like: 

• Engagement rate;
• The best time to post;
• Reach rate;
• Follower count.

These insights will help you identify the types of posts that build the most engagement online. Try to replicate high-performing posts as often as possible, as these will encourage the most community engagement on your page.

As your community builds, you may need to take a more active role in moderation. Unfortunately, online trolls will find your profile and post content designed to harm your community. Take a direct role in stopping online harassment by deleting comments that are clearly meant to disparage your followers or undermine your calls for sustainability. 

Sparking Change

A recent Unilever poll confirms that social media encourages sustainable living. Researchers found that folks who follow sustainable accounts are 75% more likely to undertake eco-friendly behaviors after seeing sustainable content on their social feed and 83% say TikTok and Instagram help them learn more about sustainable living. 

You do not need to change the entire world with your social posts, either. Convincing just one follower to recycle more, waste less, and reduce their carbon footprint is a meaningful win for your digital brand. 

Get the ball rolling by posting content that convinces folks to take up green initiatives in their area or on their campus. Eco-friendly events, like unplug challenges, community clean-ups, and climate-change fundraisers, are sure to gain traction online as everyone wants to do good in their community. 

Once you have built a loyal following, consider adding your influence to larger events like: 

• Marine Conservation Society beach clean-ups;
• Animal advocacy events like the ASPCA’s factory farm detox;
• Amplify Greenpeace initiatives to ban new oil and gas permits on public land.

These charitable causes are worthy of your follower’s time and can make a meaningful difference in the fight against climate change. Be sure to celebrate any followers who sign up for events, as folks are sure to appreciate recognition for their hard work. 

Conclusion 

Social media is the perfect platform for eco-friendly advocacy. You can build your profile and raise important issues by following in the footsteps of existing sustainable content creators. Focus on posting educational content that helps your followers understand big issues like low-waste living, climate policies, and the perils of fast fashion. 

As your profile grows, focus on supporting your community by moderating your page and posting information about upcoming events. This will help folks feel supported on your page and act as a catalyst for meaningful change in the fight against climate change

Over to you

Helping the planet isn’t just good for all of us—it’s good for your business too! Remember, being green is a journey, not a quick fix. Make it part of everything you do, just like breathing. If you need help, our team is ready to guide you. Get in touch for a free strategy brainstorming session on how you can succeed while making Mother Earth smile. 🌍

Plant Trees Now