Our ongoing reflection on 2024 investments toward strengthening our communication strategies and improving our reach fit within the development and capacity-building most aligned with Priority 3 of our 2024-2027 strategic roadmap. The latter includes a component on optimizing technology for programs and administration.
One of the most significant milestones was the relaunch of our modernized website in February 2024. The updated platform reflects our evolving vision, presents our privacy policy and provides a more accessible and user-friendly experience for all visitors.
Website traffic has increased significantly, with monthly users growing from just 19 users per month in February-March to 80 users in November-December 2024. Similarly, our active user base (defined as users who have visited the ESCC website previously) rose from 42 users per month to 183 users by the end of the year. These milestones, along with our ongoing social media promotional efforts, are instrumental in building a more cohesive and recognizable brand for ESCC, ensuring we can better connect with a diverse range of audiences and keep our community informed and engaged.
Our Facebook presence also saw considerable growth in 2024. We posted about various events, progress and milestones a total of 31 times in 2024, compared to just 7 posts in 2023 and 8 posts in 2022. This increased activity has not only fostered deeper connections with our followers but has also contributed to the expansion of our Facebook community. In April 2024, we had 144 followers on Facebook, and by December, that number had grown to 208 followers, marking a significant increase of 44% in followers over the course of the year.
In the summer of 2024, we took another significant step in expanding our digital presence with the support of our Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) intern by launching an Instagram account. Within the first six months, we gained 18 followers and have on average, been posting once per month. Our presence on Instagram enables us to share updates in a more visually dynamic and engaging manner.
The summer 2024 structural change leading to the creation of the position of Communications and Project Coordinator, has been instrumental in helping us take ownership of various communication platforms, including social media management and website updates etc. The planned implementation of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, an essential resource designed to enhance our outreach efforts and ensure that our interactions are more harmonized, structured and coordinated will be another milestone.
To prepare for this transition, our Communications and Project Coordinator participated in coaching sessions with a generous pro bono industry-experienced mentor during January and February 2025. Our mentor provided four one-hour sessions, offering valuable insights and guidance to ensure our team is fully equipped to adopt and utilize the CRM tool effectively. Additionally, our webmaster has played a crucial role by offering training in website management, empowering our staff to update news and events independently starting in February 2025.
In our efforts to expand our reach, we have also engaged Parish Secretaries and other key contacts in our network, inviting them to become active partners in promoting our upcoming events. We are pleased to report a positive response to this initiative.
We deeply appreciate your loyalty and ongoing support as we continue to evolve and refine our communications strategy. Stay tuned for more updates!
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio