So here's a question for the masses:
If you're here, you obviously are a rare breed because you're a niche participant in a niche of motorists. How are each of us participating in the dreaded social media?
I personally have had to avoid social media (Facebook, IG, Snap, TT, etc.) because it has a tendency to cause personality disruptions that my beloved finds disturbing (therefore, I find them disturbing, too?). For me, it's like alcohol to an alcoholic and it never ends well.
For those that do partake, are you willing to promote the USCA on our Facebook page? How about the BMW RA and MOA in which USCA is a chartered member?
We are in the process of sourcing USCA window decals, patches and other associated promotional materials. Would you use such things to promote the USCA if they were provided for a nominal fee as giveaways?
State Reps and Regional Directors are encouraged to share their thoughts.
Thanks for considering this request.
Thane Lewis - USCA President
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Had to read through couple of times.
Your looking to promote the site?
Via members Facebook pages etc?
That's assuming a level of literate social awareness that may not be supported by the facts.
I mean take Miles ferinstance.
It takes more than 3.1416
Sorry Miles I was lost for an example.
I brought up FB as an example because there is a USCA FB page and Kent Silk at Texas Sidecar is active and welcomes visitors and new users as do some others. It could be a benefit to direct social media users to the USCA site and for others to welcome visitors and the "Sidecar Curious" circus attendees.
And, yes. Many, many of our members here are social media phobic ("Hi, my name is Thane and I don't do social media".). But...for those that do engage in social media X-Sports, are there ways that we can help promote the visibility of USCA and what we have to offer?
What DO we have to offer?
KNOWLEDGE!!!! ADVICE!!!! Kind assistance that many other sites do not. Look through our posts when someone asks for advice, assistance or for technical knowledge. Our members run out like a volunteer fire department at a bake sale! How many challenges have been assisted by people like @brstar or @mgv8 and FM? Unfortunately, unless we get some young'uns trained up in the wacky world of sidecars, that knowledge base will evaporate and they'll have to start from scratch. Either that or sidecars will fade from existence which would be equally unthinkable.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
I do Social Media. In a somewhat/very limited fashion. Had to pare it down a bit with all the latest political rhetoric in both our countries lately. 
I only post fun stuff and try not to stir the pot so to speak. I do share any thing pertinent to USCA any time that I think it is appropriate. Mainly to our local Sidecar groups.. Never really ever had any feed back so not sure if people even read it
I have offered multiple times to showcase usca on my page on Facebook sidecarusa and help with that
It may be a stretch to ask people to post positive things about the USCA in other forums, as people may not want to appear as advertising or proselytising for the association. But a simple, small first step might be to just put a line in your signature block in other forums. Just a simple "United Sidecar Association, www.sidecar.com". Once done, it is effortless and every post will carry that subtle message for other newbies to occasionally pick up. Or, depending on whom you are emailing, add that signature line in some emails you send out.
Jerry
I fly (and ride) to free my mind from the tyranny of petty things. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I've been off FB and IG for ten months now. If you are looking for exposure with a younger audience, IG is the place. I focused mainly on the throngs of talented young custom bike builders, and the cottage industry supporting them. Of course sidecars were a tiny part of that, but not entirely absent. Like this custom chassis Daniel Heman offers (Heman Fabrication).
Perhaps partnering with someone like Staci Wilt (ridetofood.com) to promote on social media to a younger crowd might be an option. It won't be free promotion though, But it's what she does.
I've been off FB and IG for ten months now. If you are looking for exposure with a younger audience, IG is the place. I focused mainly on the throngs of talented young custom bike builders, and the cottage industry supporting them. Of course sidecars were a tiny part of that, but not entirely absent. Like this custom chassis Daniel Heman offers (Heman Fabrication).
Perhaps partnering with someone like Staci Wilt (ridetofood.com) to promote on social media to a younger crowd might be an option. It won't be free promotion though, But it's what she does.
Sorry, this is how I first read this: ". If you are looking for exposure with a younger audience, IG is the place. I focused mainly on the thongs of talented young custom bike builders, and the cottage industry supporting them"
It is probably best if I stay off social media!
Well, I am on Facebook. Because as my nieces and nephews remind me, "You're old, that's why you're on Facebook" I love them.
I promote the USCA every chance I get. We were in Georgia recently and a fellow from Ohio was at the campground and stopped to chat about our rig because he's "thinking about it" After a 30 minute Q&A he walked away with a copy of the Sidecarist and a flyer for the PenNy Hackers campout. Not sure if anything will come of it, but you never know!
I do promote our gathering on Facebook. It's an easy way to reach a whole bunch of folks.
At our event I promote the USCA by having copies of the magazine.
Just seems most folks go to Facebook for info. When I got my first rig 15 years ago, I searched for Sidecar info and found this great group. Got my questions answered by the fine folks and I'm still here. Not sure if there was that much of a sidecar presence at the time on social media.
It could be a good thing to have an official USCA page on Facebook and Instagram. You'd need moderators. There are always the bots and jagoffs (Pittsburghese for jerk) that you have to watch out for, but that's with any social media.
I don’t do social media at all, unless you count niche fora such as this. But I’d be happy to hand out stickers etc in person. I daily my rig and talk to people about sidecars constantly. I was actually disappointed to find there were no stickers available when I joined last year.
One thing though: I’m not interested in stickers designed by AI. I’d go so far as to say that I’d personally help the USCA pay an actual human artist to design some actual artistic stickers, if it came to that. I could even recommend a couple people.
I don’t do social media at all, unless you count niche fora such as this. But I’d be happy to hand out stickers etc in person. I daily my rig and talk to people about sidecars constantly. I was actually disappointed to find there were no stickers available when I joined last year.
One thing though: I’m not interested in stickers designed by AI. I’d go so far as to say that I’d personally help the USCA pay an actual human artist to design some actual artistic stickers, if it came to that. I could even recommend a couple people.
Based on what Cory @ckaseman said above, I present to you the funniest collection of sidecar pictures that could easily be made into USCA stickers, and these are from the Andrew Baker collection...he is a sidecarist on here, from Pennsylvania.
Several of us here have these images on T-shirts, and they are FUN to wear.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
I follow a couple of sidecar groups on facebook. Its getting harder to do. Facebook keeps tossing in a bunch of stuff I would rather not see. I just scroll past it. I have suggested people consult the sidecar classified on a number of occasions. I have also suggest folks contact Texas sidecars for mounting, etc. Thee main difference I see is that this group is doing it, while a lot of folks on facebook are thinking about it. So, if you see folks from facebook on this forum, maybe be nice to them.