SOCIAL MEDIA strategies
Social Media Strategies allows members to develop and present a comprehensive marketing campaign using multiple social media platforms. Members demonstrate their ability to engage audiences, create cohesive content, and analyze platform performance through a strategic and creative presentation.
Event Overview
Division: High School
Event Type: Team of 1, 2 or 3 members
Event Category: Presentation
Event Elements: Presentation with a Topic
Presentation Time: 3-minute set-up, 7-minute presentation time, 3-minute question & answer time
Career Cluster Framework Connection: Marketing & Sales
NACE Competency Alignment: Career & Self-Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Leadership, Professionalism, Technology
Items Competitor Must Provide: Sharpened pencil, Photo Identification, Conference-provided nametag, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code, Technology and presentation items for the preliminary round, Technology and presentation items, including any adapter or cord needed beyond an HDMI connection for the final round
Items Provided by FBLA: Internet access and table for the preliminary round; internet access, table, power, projector with HDMI cord, & screen for preliminary and final round presentations
2025-2026 Topic
#TaxSeasonReady – Helping Students Understand Taxes
You’ve been hired by a tax preparation business to design a social media campaign that helps students and young adults get ready for tax season. Create engaging posts across multiple social media platforms that offer tips, helpful advice, or real-life stories to inform and prepare your audience.
How can your campaign make tax prep simple, relatable, and less intimidating for your peers?
Do not create live accounts.
District
Check with your District leadership for District-specific competition information.
State
Eligibility
· FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 1 (or earlier date specified by District Director) of the current program year.
· Members may compete in an event at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) more than once if they have not previously placed in the top ten of that event at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). If a member places in the top ten of an event at NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event.
· Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the national conference registration fee in order to participate in competitive events.
· Members must stay within the official FBLA housing block of the official FBLA hotel in order to compete.
· Each district may be represented by participant(s) based on the Florida FBLA scaled quota system found on the Florida FBLA website.
· Each member can only compete in one individual/team event and one chapter event (Community Service Project, Local Chapter Annual Business Report).
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· Identification: Competitors must present valid photo identification (physical) that matches the name on their conference name badge. Acceptable forms include a driver’s license, passport, state-issued ID, or school ID.
· Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.
· Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.
· All members of a team must consist of individuals from the same chapter.
· If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule. The decision is solely up to the judges.
· Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.
Recognition
· The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 5.
Event Administration
· This event has two parts: preliminary presentation and final presentation
· Preliminary Presentation Information
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Important: Time allocations are exclusive. The presentation must begin immediately after the 3-minute set-up time concludes. Time may not be shifted between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.
o The presentation is judged at the SLC. Presentations may be open to conference attendees, space permitting.
o Competitors/teams are randomly assigned to sections.
o Technology
· Internet Access: Provided (Please be aware that internet access at conference venues may be unreliable. Always prepare a backup plan in case the connection is lost or does not work with your device.)
· Presentations must be delivered using one or two personal devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, or monitor approximately laptop-sized).
· If using two devices, one must face the judges and the other must face the presenters.
· Projectors and projector screens are not permitted, and competitors may not bring their own.
· Wireless slide advancers (e.g., presentation clickers or mice) are allowed.
· External speakers are not allowed; audio must come directly from the presenting device(s).
· Electricity will not be available.
o Visual aids, samples, notes, and other physical materials related to the project may be used.
o Items may be placed on the provided table or on the judges table, if space allows.
o No items may be left with the judges following the presentation.
o Restricted Items: Animals (except authorized service animals), Food (for display only; may not be consumed by judges during the presentation), Links and QR codes (for display only; cannot be clicked or scanned by judges at any time)
o Information must be supported by credible, well-documented sources.
o Any use of copyrighted material, images, logos, or trademarks must be properly documented.
o If performing as a team, all team members are expected to actively participate in the presentation.
o Event Specific Information: Competitors should incorporate the following aspects in response to the topic
· Develop a marketing strategy, utilizing social media, to effectively address an opportunity and a strategic approach to a target audience.
· Demonstrate knowledge of social media marketing beyond community management, including but not limited to developing unique content, effectively utilizing existing content, optimizing content for search, and distributing content across as many platforms as possible within a limited budget.
· Describe any applicable insight/research methodology as to why you have chosen specific platforms, messaging, content, engagement, and outreach strategies.
· Overall campaign – images, videos, copywriting, graphic design (if applicable) – is creative and appealing.
· Planned metrics to measure on the campaign.
· Final product indicates a clear thought process, a well-formulated campaign, and execution of a firm idea.
· Effectively communicate required information and drive the campaign toward a clear call-to-action.
· Final Presentation Information
o Equipment Set-up Time: 3 minutes
o Presentation Time: 7 minutes (one-minute warning)
o Question & Answer Time: 3 minutes
o Note: Each time segment is exclusive. Once the 3-minute set-up period ends, the 7-minute presentation time begins automatically. Competitors may not shift time between segments. Competitors will not interact with judges during the set-up period.
o An equal number of competitors/teams from each section in the preliminary round will advance to the final round.
o Final presentations may be open to conference attendees, space permitting. Finalists may not view other competitors’ presentation in their event.
o The following will be provided: internet access, screen, power, table, and projector with HDMI. Competitors using laptops or other devices that do not have an HDMI port will need to provide their own adapters. It is up to final-round competitors to determine if they wish to use the technology provided.
o Materials, notecards, visual aids and samples related to the project may be used during the presentation; however, no items may be left with the judges or audience.
o All other guidelines from the preliminary presentation apply.
Scoring
· The preliminary presentation score will determine the finalists.
· The final presentation score will determine the winners.
· Judges must break ties. All judges’ decisions are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
· FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.
Recording of Presentations
· No unauthorized audio or video recording devices will be allowed in any competitive event.
· Competitors in the events should be aware FBLA reserves the right to record any presentation for use in study or training materials.
Penalty Points
· Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.
National
If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/divisions/fbla/fbla-competitive-events/