How to hack it? On November 9 last year, the National Society of Genetic Counselors celebrated its first-ever Genetic Counselors Awareness Day to promote the profession in local communities across the United States. NSGC members were encouraged to spread the word near and far, armed with flyers, buttons, and even temporary tattoos. “We wanted members to have a day to tell their story, explain their job, and show the impact of the profession,” says Executive Director Meghan Carey.

Why does it work? Taking a day to raise awareness about what your members do is a fun and creative exercise. On Genetic Counselors Awareness Day, hospitals hosted speaker events, members hosted movie screenings about the profession, and one member even went as far to obtain billboard space for NSGC. “We knew our members would get behind it because they are very enthusiastic about the profession,” Carey says. “We were amazed by the uptake.”

So, one of our Columbus Genetic Counselors, Betsy Schmalz, somehow got this put on multiple billboards in Columbus, Ohio today! Pretty cool. @GeneticCouns #IAmAGeneticCounselor pic.twitter.com/aelm0FyL50

— Heather Hampel (@HHampel1) November 9, 2017

What’s the bonus? The Genetic Counselors Awareness Day effort included a Facebook feature telling the stories of individual members, similar to Humans of New York. That’s evergreen content that Carey says had high member-engagement value well beyond the one-day event.

(sorbetto/DigitalVision Vectors)