Many marketers use social media for the launch of new products. But you don’t need to have a product to do a launch on social. Museums and attractions should consider using social media to announce new exhibits – live. Especially if they have a large number of engaged followers.

Let’s take a look at which social media platforms museums you can use for live exhibit announcements:

1. Instagram Stories: A great way to connect to an audience on Instagram is via Instagram stories. 100 million active daily users engage with the Instagram Stories feature. Museums can use this feature to get people excited about the new exhibit. One way to do this is by posting behind-the-scenes photos and videos of how the exhibit was created. The inside look makes more people want to come and see the finished exhibit.
2. Facebook Live: Facebook Live lets businesses connect to their audiences with the push of a button. Museums can use this feature to give a brief tour of a new exhibit. Announcing a new exhibit via Facebook Live gives viewers a glimpse at what to expect. Museums can use it as a teaser, creating the desire to have the full experience in person. One of the benefits of using Facebook Live is that the video does not disappear. On Instagram Stories and Snapchat Stories, the video disappears after 24 hours. After a video has been recorded live, the video will be saved to the page. This is a great feature because a Facebook follower can easily miss the initial live posting of the video, but will still have the chance to view it. However, live videos get the majority of views when they are actually live.
3. Snapchat Stories: Similar to Instagram Stories, Snapchat Stories can display 10-second tours and announcements of new exhibits. Museum can also advertise discount codes for new exhibits that are only available through Snapchat. For example, you can offer $5 off the exhibit price by using a code that has been announced in a Snapchat story. You can also attract a following on Snapchat by offering exclusive videos, like sneak-peak videos to new exhibits.

All of these live social platforms can help spark curiosity about a new exhibit launch. Instagram Stories, Facebook Live, and Snapchat Stories can also be used leading up to a launch, using teaser photos and videos leading up to the big announcement. This can help to build interest and create buzz for your big announcement.

The best part is that you can easily experiment with these platforms to see what works best for your particular audience. Try a smaller exhibit first. Then use the most effective platforms and tactics when you’re ready for the big launch.