# Promoting Projects on Social Media **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [January 23, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853 "2025-01-23T21:39:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/1 "2025-01-23T21:39:29Z")
Hi All- I am trying to get my university to join the Campus Biodiversity Network, and I’m trying to figure out how to promote it online once we’ve got the project up and running. I haven’t found a quick and easy “share” button either for individual observations or for projects on INaturalist. I realize many people come to INaturalist to escape everything they dislike about social media. I do too! But in order to meet the university community, and especially students, where they are, I’d like to be able to share news, announcements etc. about the project on social media. I’d appreciate any guidance on how to make this happen. Thanks so much! R ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/2 "2025-01-23T21:42:04Z")
> [@raphael1c](#): > > I haven’t found a quick and easy “share” button either for individual observations or for projects on INaturalist. Let me know if I’m misinterpreting your question, but you can use the URL (the webpage link at the top of your browser) to share observations or project links. Or are you asking how to share from one of the mobile apps, and if so, which one? ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/3 "2025-01-23T21:57:07Z")
Sure. An example: I wanted to share a beautiful NYTimes article on coral, and clicked on the share button on the article, and it gave me a menu of places to share it: FB, X, Bluesky, etc. And when I did it, the article showed up, perfectly formatted with a picture and teaser line in my Facebook feed. See the screenshots below. It is of course possible to cut the URL, go to facebook, and paste, but it adds a couple steps and is harder when you are trying to do it from a phone. I wonder if a “share” button might make a difference in promoting projects, and attracting people to the platform. The NYTimes clearly thinks such buttons are worth having. Perhaps INat too? Just a thought. Thanks for the swift response ![Screenshot 2025-01-23 at 3.45.31 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/b/6/b6397d9cda7c5e18646b410a109568d35aa79833.png) ![Screenshot 2025-01-23 at 3.47.57 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/f/a/fa8208aa7a1a00c769e9764e3bb00b1b95d5647d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 11:14pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/4 "2025-01-23T23:14:05Z")
> [@raphael1c](#): > > And when I did it, the article showed up, perfectly formatted with a picture and teaser line in my Facebook feed. Can you share what it is about the current link previews that you would like to change? Here is what it looks like on Facebook for a few things if you just copy/paste the URL: An observation [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256166073](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/256166073) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/3/53bb44fa7a3b1144a460c01a65a5415a614a9056.png) A project [https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/norman-woods-bioblitz](https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/norman-woods-bioblitz) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/9/a/9a5ecf75a7b2c99fcdcb22b58a15dc4009614b25.png) and your 2024 Year In Review [https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2024/raphael1c](https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2024/raphael1c) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/5/1/51ffbebcc1a7a0bcab2c63c323213aaa07b6093c.jpeg) > [@raphael1c](#): > > I wonder if a “share” button might make a difference in promoting projects, and attracting people to the platform. If you have a proposed addition or change to iNat, you can post to the #Feature Requests category. Though this is what one staff member said a while ago: > [@Share observations with one click to other social media](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/share-observations-with-one-click-to-other-social-media/1214/11): > > For the web, I don’t see much of an advantage to having a button rather than copying and pasting the URL. ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/5 "2025-01-23T23:21:27Z")
Got it! You’re the experts. Thanks for responding! ---
**Author:** ![mo0nsgreenthumb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/mo0nsgreenthumb/32/52226_2.png) [@mo0nsgreenthumb](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mo0nsgreenthumb)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/6 "2025-01-23T23:26:15Z")
Do you have an apple or android? I have an android and when I click to share my phone gives me the option of sharing it on my FB feed or groups. Maybe there is an option on your phone? ![1000056229](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/a/3affadcdb1b7fb14de57cc8226c02d97726990fd.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/7 "2025-01-24T15:07:29Z")
Very cool! I have an Iphone and am using the latest version of the app. No share button do I find. Thanks so much! ---
**Author:** ![bouteloua](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/bouteloua/32/1180_2.png) [@bouteloua](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/bouteloua)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/8 "2025-01-24T15:12:26Z")
There is a share button in the new app that is currently under development, iNat Next (under Details, at the bottom). It’s a bit small but at least there! ---
**Author:** ![cthawley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cthawley/32/1445_2.png) [@cthawley](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cthawley)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/9 "2025-01-24T15:21:58Z")
I would also note that most sites (e.g., NYT) inclusion of their share buttons to various social media sites are not altruistic. They often create share links with unique ID and other information that allow them to track the activity of both the sharer and anyone who clicks on the link generated. I’m happy that iNat doesn’t have links that do this on observations. ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/10 "2025-01-24T15:24:53Z")
Found it! I’ve been using Next and liking it LOT. My vote would be to make the button a little easier to find. ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/11 "2025-01-24T15:26:05Z")
Interesting, if unsurprising. Seems like it should be possible to create an entirely altruistic share button. Or no? ---
**Author:** ![tiwane](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/tiwane/32/54612_2.png) [@tiwane](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/tiwane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/12 "2025-01-24T16:31:46Z")
> [@raphael1c](#): > > Found it! Not sure if you’re referring to iNat Next or the standard iOS iNat app, but for the latter it’s in the upper right-hand corner of an observation’s photo. Unfortunately it can be difficult to see if the background is dark or muddled. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/f/3faad1a401f980d88a711108bc7b9a0d4a535dcc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![cthawley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/cthawley/32/1445_2.png) [@cthawley](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/cthawley)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/13 "2025-01-24T17:00:05Z")
I’m not sure what “entirely altruistic” means in this sense, but: - From POV of the site hosting the button, they could create a bespoke share button that does not harvest any data for the hosting site. - However, any traffic directed to the social media site would allow that site to collect data about the user of course. - In fact, even _loading_ many social media buttons when users visit a website allows the users to be tracked (even if they don’t interact with the button at all). So I’d much rather just copy/paste a URL than have to see social media icon buttons on iNat or worry about tracking. ---
**Author:** ![mo0nsgreenthumb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/mo0nsgreenthumb/32/52226_2.png) [@mo0nsgreenthumb](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mo0nsgreenthumb)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/14 "2025-01-24T17:03:58Z")
I think what they mean by altruistic is sharing for the sake of sharing without tracking your shares and whatever other information they collect with the link they make you use to share. Ads might now start targeting you or whoever uses the link because of the information collected from clicking the link. Altruistic would be a link without any tracking, or targeted ads attached to it. ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/15 "2025-01-24T17:39:02Z")
You said it better than I ever could! Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![raphael1c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f14d63/32.png) [@raphael1c](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/raphael1c)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/16 "2025-01-24T17:39:45Z")
Interesting! I’ve been using INat Next. I’ll look for that button! -Edit: I see it is only in the other app. The upper corner of the pic would be a good place for it in Next. ---
**Author:** ![inaturalistnhuntorg](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/inaturalistnhuntorg/32/44789_2.png) [@inaturalistnhuntorg](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/inaturalistnhuntorg)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/17 "2025-01-29T17:28:57Z")
The NYT lives or dies by another 1,000 viewers of its ads. iNat lives or dies by the quality of it’s contributors, and passive viewers are not necessarily the goal! Just because the NYT does it doesn’t mean iNat should (or should not, for that matter). How should iNat promote itself amongst potential users who will contribute to the community? ---
**Author:** ![DianaStuder](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dianastuder/32/43358_2.png) [@DianaStuder](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/DianaStuder)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/18 "2025-01-29T19:36:26Z")
> [@inaturalistnhuntorg](#): > > passive viewers I haven’t found the post again - so approx numbers here. But Pareto Principle numbers for iNat. 1 observer. 9 who **visibly** engage. But there are another 90, who read, who don’t log in, or don’t have an iNat profile. The 90 are important to remember. ‘Just want to check what the fruit of … looks like, when it fruits, if that other sp is related, oh and what’s that bug on the fruit’. PS Pareto Principle is 80% of people read 20% of your content. Originally research on marketing a (for sale) product / service. **Which** bit of your content is engaging?? ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/19 "2025-01-29T21:54:50Z")
> [@DianaStuder](#): > > 1 observer. > 9 who **visibly** engage. And one-tenth of an identifier? ---
**Author:** ![hedaja](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/hedaja/32/20128_2.png) [@hedaja](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/hedaja)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853/20 "2025-01-29T22:33:13Z")
Not really for sharing on social media but I recently saw a national park website that had its iNaturalist project embedded as an iframe [https://nationalpark-gesaeuse.at/nationalpark-mitgestalten/beobachtung-melden/](https://nationalpark-gesaeuse.at/nationalpark-mitgestalten/beobachtung-melden/) (only works on desktop devices it seems) I think that’s a good way to promote a project and iNaturalist [Next page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/promoting-projects-on-social-media/60853.md?page=2)