Best Practices for Social Media Posts

• Write in plain, everyday language
• Place the most important information near the beginning.
• Use correct sentence case (avoid ALL CAPS or all lowercase).
• Avoid replacing words with emojis.

• All images should include alternative text (alt text). Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn all offer a place to add it. 
  • If a platform generates alt text automatically, be sure to review and edit it so it accurately reflects what’s in the image and why it matters.
• When placing text on a color background, check the color contrast to ensure the text is readable for all audiences.
• If the image conveys important information using text, also include that information in the alt text and the caption. 

• All videos should include captions. 
• Captions may be closed (users can turn them on or off) or open (always visible). Either is fine—just make sure they’re accurate.
• Text that appears on screen should also meet contrast-accessibility standards.

• Capitalize the first letter of each word in a hashtag:
  • Correct: #BecauseKids
  • Incorrect: #becausekids
• This helps screen readers pronounce them correctly.

• Screen readers speak emojis by description (e.g., “clapping hands”). Avoid placing emojis within sentences, and use them in moderation.
• Put a space between each emoji for clearer reading.
• Emoticons like :) are read as punctuation (“colon parenthesis”) and should be used only when necessary.

• If you share a link, make sure: 
  • The linked page is accessible
  • You describe where the link goes ("View the performing arts calendar" instead of "Click here")

Remember- PDFs and scanned flyers are often not readable by screen readers.