How they recruit blood donors
The blood bank at Østfold Hospital uses social media to engage existing blood donors, and to inform about when there is a need for blood.
- We have been present on Facebook since 2013, and Instagram since 2019, says Renate Rogstad. She is a specialist bioengineer at the Section for Transfusion Medicine at Østfold Hospital.
- We have a few years of experience, and have a steady influx of new followers. She says that the Blood Bank advertises its social media to new donors, both when they respond to emails and with posters at all the collection stations.
Presence is important
- It is important to be present regularly, says Rogstad. We don't publish content too often, but not too infrequently either. By having a good variety in the type of information that is posted, it also does not become too boring.
- We focus on content that has a mix of a little humor, theory, blood donors being donated and general information.
Competitions provide activity
- What gives us the most activity are the competitions we hold.
- It gives us a lot of likes, comments and some new followers, and helps maintain visibility. Rogstad says that the Blood Bank has four competitions each year, and that these are added to Easter, Blood Donor Day, Halloween and Christmas.
Some of our donors follow us on social media, and we can take advantage of this if needed. We post information when we need blood, and then experience shows that many donors get in touch.
Specialist bioengineer Renate Rogstad
Still more to go on
- Although several of our donors follow us, there is still a lot to reach out to, she says. In a survey we conducted in the autumn of 2022, 67 percent of our donors answered that they do not follow us on social media, and about 80 percent of those who follow us are women.
- Our further focus is to get more blood donors, especially the male ones, to follow us. Social media is a great way to quickly reach out with information to many people when we need it," Rogstad concludes.
