Maryland Social Media

Social Media Monday (Vol. 6, No. 9)

December 21, 2015

Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store. ~ Dr. Seuss

This time of year we are all running from one party or obligation to the next. We are worried about the end of the year, a better next year, and going out on New Years. We are searching for the best gift, the best card, and the best Pinterest recipe for dinner with the in-laws. I think we should all pause for a moment and remember why we are here. We are here to make Maryland better for the citizens, businesses, and visitors of our great state. We are here to help improve Maryland to a level that makes all of us proud to live and work in the best state in the Union. So when you are running around thinking about all that you need to do remember to be happy. Be happy we live in Maryland, be happy we are making Maryland better, and be happy we are making a difference.

The Department of Information Technology wishes you and your families a happy and better new year!

Top Story

Here are some interesting facts to carry you through to 2016.

Fun Facts:

Fun Facts
1. The U.S. Postal Service delivers 20 billion cards and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
2. Rudolph first brightened the holiday scene in 1939, when Montgomery Ward distributed 2.4 million copies of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.
3. The first candy cane dates back to 1670 in Germany.
4. The original name “Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was vetoed by executives when the writer’s daughter suggested Rudolph.
5. An average of 5,800 people end up in the ER after suffering injuries from holiday decorating.
6. In the United States, trash from wrapping paper and shopping bags totals 4 million tons.
7. The Löschner family of Neuhausen, Germany, owns the biggest nutcracker collection: 4,334.
8. Charles Dickens wrote “A Christmas Carol” between October and November of 1843. The story was a hit, selling 6,000 copies by Christmas Day.
9. Poinsettias aren’t deadly. Latex in the stems and leaves can be irritating, but not much more, to humans and animals.
10. The largest gingerbread man in the world weighs in at a whopping 466 pounds, six ounces.

Research from realsimple.com

Tips for Leveraging Social Media

Holiday or Winter Theme Cover Photos

This is an easy change that can increase interest and engagement from your followers. If you aren’t going to change your cover images for every holiday then at least change it for the seasons. Your followers will visit your page and comment if the image is relevant to your Department and your mission. During the holiday season many businesses will add pictures of their staff or customers to the cover image for a more personal touch.

How often do you change your cover image?