8 Social Media Tips for Small Business Owners on Global Handwashing Day 2024
Updated: Nov 22
Photo by Maridav via Canva
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Bonus Tip 💡: Schedule Your Posts on Global Handwashing Day Today!
Global Handwashing Day, celebrated annually on October 15th, aims to raise awareness about the importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of diseases.
According to the Global Handwashing Partnership, handwashing with soap can reduce diarrheal diseases by up to 30% and respiratory infections by 20%. While this day is often associated with health, food, restaurant and hygiene industries, it can be utilized by any business.
Promoting clean hands and public health aligns with broader social responsibility, making it a valuable opportunity for businesses in all sectors to engage their audience and demonstrate care for their community.
1. Create an Informative Post
Video by rushmedical on TikTok
Share a post educating your audience on the importance of handwashing. You don’t have to be in the hygiene industry to discuss cleanliness - every business benefits from healthy employees and customers. You can create a post with key statistics about handwashing or share a simple infographic showing the proper handwashing technique.
Actionable Tip: Use a reliable source for your facts, like the World Health Organization (WHO), to add credibility to your post. Include a call-to-action encouraging your audience to participate by washing their hands and sharing the post with others.
2. Link the Day to Your Business or Product
Video by pennvetschool on Instagram
Show how Global Handwashing Day connects to your business by sharing relevant content. For instance, a veterinary clinic posted this video on Instagram of a vet preparing for surgery by washing their hands, tying it to the importance of hygiene and Global Handwashing Day.
Show how Global Handwashing Day connects to your business
You can follow a similar approach by linking your business practices to the day’s theme, whether you run a restaurant, retail shop, or service-based company. This not only highlights your professionalism but also promotes health-consciousness to your audience.
3. Run a Handwashing Challenge
Video by julideturkerofficial on Instagram
Challenges are a great way to boost engagement. Create a social media challenge asking your followers to post photos or videos of themselves washing their hands, adding a creative twist, like doing it in unique places (home, office, park) or with fun music playing. Alternatively, you can keep it simple by challenging your audience to share your educational content, such as the image above.
Challenges are a great way to boost engagement
Actionable Tip: Offer a reward for the best submission, such as a discount on your services or a small freebie. Use hashtags such as #CleanHandsChallenge or #HandwashingDay2024 to track participation and build momentum.
4. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content
Post by brgs_indirapuram on Instagram
The Bharat Ram Global School in India shared a great carousel post highlighting what they’re teaching kids behind the scenes about handwashing. Similarly, you can showcase your staff or business practicing good hygiene. A behind-the-scenes post of your team washing their hands not only humanizes your brand but also demonstrates that you care about health and safety.
Actionable Tip: Keep the tone light and fun. You could set up a ‘handwashing station’ in your office or shop and give followers a virtual tour. Alternatively, start a ‘handwashing selfie’ trend where your team or customers can participate by sharing their photos.
5. Use Polls and Quizzes for Engagement
Use Instagram or Facebook stories to post a poll or quiz related to Global Handwashing Day. For example, you could ask, “How long should you wash your hands?” or “What often people wash their hands daily?”
Actionable Tip: Follow up with the correct answer and a short explanation of why it’s important. Not only does this educate your audience, but it also keeps them engaged with your content. Consider offering a small prize or discount for quiz participants.
6. Create Fun Handwashing Content
Video by aguyandagolden on TikTok
Make your handwashing campaign more engaging by sharing fun and creative content. For example, the TikToker above posted a humorous video showing a golden retriever "washing hands" from a human’s perspective, which gained massive attention and got viral.
Incorporating lighthearted and playful content like this helps your brand stand out while still promoting important health messages. Encourage your followers to share similar videos or try it out themselves, making hygiene education entertaining and memorable for your audience.
7. Share Educational Posts Done by Professionals
Post by CDC on Facebook
Leverage the credibility of trusted organizations by sharing educational posts from sources like the CDC. For example, the CDC regularly posts content on Facebook, such as an image explaining the proper 20-second handwashing technique above.
Sharing professional content educates your audience and adds value to your social media
Sharing this type of professional content not only educates your audience but also adds value to your social media by providing accurate, relevant information. It’s an easy way to align your brand with health and safety awareness, while saving time on content creation.
8. Use Visual Storytelling
Video by brilliant_school_001 on Instagram
Tell a story through visuals. Create a short video or a carousel of images that shows a day in the life of your business or organization with a focus on hygiene and handwashing practices. You could feature employees washing their hands before handling products or after interacting with customers.
Actionable Tip: Keep your video short, around 30 seconds to a minute. Include a strong call-to-action at the end, encouraging viewers to visit your website or store, and mention your commitment to cleanliness and customer safety.
Schedule Your Posts on Global Handwashing Day Today!
Planning ahead is essential for small businesses, especially when it comes to social media. By scheduling your posts in advance, you ensure you won’t miss important dates like Global Handwashing Day.
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Scheduling tools like AI-powered Hookle make it simple to plan, design, and post across multiple platforms from one place, saving you time while keeping your social media active and relevant.
But don’t just take our word for it - try it yourself! Try out Hookle free today to start scheduling your Global Handwashing Day posts and keep your social media strategy running smoothly year-round!