2020 COOKIE SEASON SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKITWelcome to the 2020 Girl Scout Cookie Program! This Social Media Toolkit gives girls, parents, and troop leaders the tools to highlight the Cookie Program in creative ways and help girls meet their goals. From social media graphics to sample messaging, everyone will be ready to have the best Cookie Season ever!

Social media is a great way to promote your cookie business. We’ve included graphics so everyone can share their cookie experience while highlighting the program on their social pages. Share and pair your graphics with the sample messaging and best practice tips provided to generate engagement. Spark anticipation letting people know it’s almost cookie time—then keep the cookie momentum going until the last day of the program! Finish up the cookie season by thanking everyone for their support and celebrating a job well done!

All the graphics in this toolkit can be found on Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa’s Facebook Page in this album.

Sharing Cookies on Social Calendar

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Cookies are Coming: January 2020

Cookies are Here!: February 1 - March 29, 2020

Cookie Booth Phase: February 7 - March 29, 2020

National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend: February 28 - March 1, 2020

Program Wrap Up: March 30 - March 31, 2020 (and beyond!)

January February March

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa allows parents/guardians to make decisions with their girls about using social media to achieve their Cookie Program goals.

Cookies are Coming (January 2020)

Cookie season is right around the corner! Start sharing cookie buzz on your social media pages. You can post the following picture or make it your cover photo to let your friends know that cookies are coming.

Sample Messaging:

◌ Get ready to get your #GirlScoutCookie on–Cookie Season is coming! Order taking starts on February 1. Which flavor are you most looking forward to purchasing? Comment below!

◌ I am so excited to be selling Girl Scout Cookies this year! Mark your calendars, I can take your order starting February 1. What is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie? Comment below!

Cookies are Here (February 1 – March 29)

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is here! Start sharing your cookie content on the first day of the cookie program, February 1! Change your profile picture, cover photo, or post a picture to your timeline to let your friends know that it’s cookie time and you are ready to take their orders!

Sample Messaging:

◌ The day has finally come! Everyone’s favorite season is here. No, we don’t mean winter, summer, or fall. It’s #CookieSeason!”

◌ I am so excited, it’s cookie time! My goal is to sell XXX packages of cookies this year. Will you help me reach my goal? I’d love to take your order now!

◌ Get ‘em while you can! After 15 years, the Girl Scout Thanks-A-Lot Cookie is retiring. I can help you fill your freezer!

Messaging Pro Tips:

◌ Tell your friends what your goal is and update them with how you are doing throughout the season. If you are close to reaching it, they may order more!

◌ Along with sharing your goal, tell them what you and your troop plan to do with your cookie proceeds. Are you planning a big trip? Do you want to go to summer camp? What about a special service project? Knowing that you have something special in mind for your goal can help increase your sales.

◌ Include a link to your online Smart Cookies store so they can buy cookies right away.

◌ If you like making videos, film one to post on you and your parent’s social media pages. You can talk about your goals, what your favorite cookie is, or even do a fun song parody. The more creative, the better – maybe you’ll go viral!

◌ IMPORTANT: When you include your Smart Cookies link in your post, always post your message and a picture FIRST, before adding the link. If you post the link first, a generic picture will pre-populate, and you want to make your post as eye-catching as possible!

Cookie Booths

Share with your friends and family that you have an upcoming Cookie Booth!

Sample Messaging:

◌ My Girl Scout Troop is having a Cookie Booth on Saturday! Here is how you can find us: girlscoutsiowa.org/findcookies

Safety Tip:

◌ Make sure your posts don’t reveal your personal contact information (like your address, school, or last name) or your cookie booth location.

Parents

Share your enthusiasm for the Cookie Program and help your Girl Scout out! We have custom pictures for the cookie moms and dads.

Sample Messaging:

◌ As you know, my daughter ____ is selling Girl Scout Cookies this year. If you would like to help her meet her goal, let me know and we can set up a time for her to take your order.

◌ Here is a message from my Girl Scout. If you would like to buy cookies, here is the link to her online page!

Help your Girl Scout create a compelling video to share on social media. Many Girl Scouts have success with parody songs, skits, or even simple introduction videos.

Video Pro Tips:

◌ Keep the camera steady.

◌ Check the lighting so your audience can see you!

◌ For social media it’s best to shoot video with portrait (vertical) orientation rather than landscape (horizontal). This is different than if you were planning to make a video for YouTube or your TV!

◌ Keep it short and catch attention quickly! The first 30 seconds are the most important to get your audience’s attention.

◌ Many phones have video editing apps to help trim out any unnecessary parts.

◌ Have fun!

End of the Cookie Program

Congrats on a successful cookie season! Share a special thank you with your customers by posting on their Facebook or tagging them in your own posts.

Sample Messaging:

◌ Thank you for supporting my cookie business! You helped me reach my goal of _______ and you got delicious cookies, all while helping me raise funds for my next Girl Scout adventure.

Troop Leaders

Many troops use private Facebook groups as a way to communicate with the parents of their troop. Communication throughout the cookie program is crucial. We have created graphics for you to use to help get your troop’s attention for reminders, deadlines, and more!

Pro Tips:

◌ Use the graphics as a way to catch attention and put the details of your post in the text.

◌ Share the cookie booth graphics to call attention to booth times, volunteer needs or to share booth information. The graphics in your post help parents distinguish the topic of the post, and your post content can get into the details you want to share.

◌ Girls get excited about their Instant Rewards and will often ask when they will get their next item. We have graphics that you can share to update them on what the levels are and what their next item will be. Share at meetings or in your Facebook group to keep the excitement going!

◌ Share the cookie booth graphics to remind parents on booth times, pick up opportunities, or if a girl in your troop needs someone else to take her place for booth coverage.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAFETY GUIDANCE

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa allows parents/guardians to make decisions with their girls about using social media to achieve their Girl Scout Cookie Program goals. Social media can be a great tool, but the time-tested methods of booth sales, door-to-door, and online sales through Smart Cookies to friends and family have proven to be the highest-performing sales channels!

Social Media Best Practices:

◌ Social media or online posts should be signed with a girl’s first name only, troop number (optional), and council name (Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa). You may also include the community, as customers often prefer to support local troops!

◌ Personal emails or street addresses of girls should never be used.

◌ Girls should be involved in the process—for instance, she can share her goals, photos or artwork, and messages of thanks. Remember, customers are getting more than delicious cookies—they are supporting the development of female leaders!

◌ Be age-appropriate—most sites state that children should not have their own accounts until age 13.

◌ GSGI urges caution when families choose to utilize swap sites (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Community Pages, Ebay, etc.), after the February 1 start date.

◌ If your Girl Scout sales link is posted on a public facing site, be aware the link is now searchable by anyone and could potentially appear anywhere on the internet.

◌ Ultimately, families will make different choices about how their Girl Scouts can use social media to promote the Cookie Program. If you see something you disagree with, please be respectful and move along. Neither GSGI nor other parents/volunteers have the authority to remove posts or reprimand others.