No flies on you … you’ve invested time and organizational resources on your social networking sites. You can now be found on all the biggies … Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Flickr, and YouTube. But is all this effort really paying off?
I have always viewed social media sites as marketing tools … a way to share information about organizations, causes and programs. It was simply a bonus when sites created opportunities to support nonprofits through such programs as TwitCause, Twitgiftly, Facebook Causes, and YouTube Nonprofit.
According to a recent article in eMarketer, … enhanced relationships, building a brand and lead generation are also benefits of investing in social networking. Even though the article is focused on commercial use … it is not hard to see how these same tactics and strategies can be used to promote nonprofits.
So - is it all paying off? Well let’s check some numbers … Twitter is estimated to currently have 18 million users in the USA (a 200% increase from 2008), and Facebook now reaches over 300 million world wide. Yeah, I would say that that kind of outreach could really pay off.
Regards,
Sue
I have been an avid reader of Seth Godin’s (author of Permission Marketing) blog ever since I first heard him speak at a Get Active Conference several years ago. Ideas such as “Small is the new big because big has gone from a huge advantage to a liability” and “The ability to change fast is the single best asset for any person or organization” really resonated.
In Seth’s latest blog he chides nonprofits for not being the top 100 followers on Twitter. Is the work you’re doing not important enough to follow, or is it (and I’m betting it is) paralysis in decision making in the face of change?
I have to admit that I can’t buy in 100% to his theory that nonprofits are paralyzed by fear … oh yes there is resistance at some nonprofits when the word CHANGE is mentioned … but that is also true in many commercial businesses? (Need I mention the term bailout?)
So I decided to look at the top 10 charities listed in the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Leaving out two which are gift funds, of the remaining eight – four have prominent social network links on their homepages, one you have to click through to join our community which then has links, leaving three with no social media mentions. (Two of these are affiliate-based, and many their local chapters use a variety of social networking tools.)
The top 100 Twitter followers – well let’s see. There are numerous celebrities, political bloggers, national media outlets and, oh yeah … “The World Economic Forum” ranked at #76, a Swiss international not-for-profit foundation. We progress!
Regards,
Sue
Get your Twitter accounts ready … Twestival begins today! Folks in over 40 US communities and 90 other cities worldwide are using their Twitter accounts to invite their friends and family to attend events and support local charities.
Are you surprised? A very clever idea that taps into one of the top four reasons people give, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive and Virilion. 1- Personal connection to an issue, 2- good reputation, 3- national disaster and 4- attending a benefit or event.
Hats off to Amanda Rose from England who thought of the concept that raised about a thousand UK Pounds in 2008 for one charity - to numerous events around the globe that raised over $250,000 in February 09 and is anticipating well over $400,000 this time round. To find out about Twestival venues, simply go to www.twestival.com. Enjoy your weekend tweeting!
Regards,
Sue
Recently while listening to one of my favorite TV talk shows … a guest possed the question ”Why would anybody blog - it’s so yesterday!” The speaker seemed to feel that everyone should communicate in 140 characters or less.
I will admit that sometimes folks do drone on … I mean “Why use 4 to 5 words when 10 will do? Where can one go to share thoughts and ideas with oodles more characters?
You could try Woofer. It is a micro-blogging site set up initially as a gag by a couple of friends (Peter Martin and Portman Wills) in around three hours. The main difference? Woofer requires a minimum of 1,400 characters. So much for the gag … the site has over 11,000 users and 13,000 woofs. We will have to wait to see if it really does become a Twitter competitor.
For those real Twitter fans who simply don’t have time to go through all the palaver of finding just the right Tweet or multiple Tweets to stay current … then Tweetmix just might be for you. Tweetmixx will match your interests, while ensuring that you don’t receive multiple Tweets on a common subject. Very clever software - just tell them your pursuits and specially selected Tweets will soon be coming your way!
How does this relate to your constituents? Social net-workers are like donors … some Tweet, some use Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and, yes, even good old blogs. They have a preferred channel … just like donors prefer to give through mail, online, phone, face to face, or participating in an event.
Don’t try and make the choice for them … use every channel available. Your donors will use their preferred way, so make sure your message is there.
Lastly - this business changes constantly. Stay awake, learn about any new channels and make sure you appear on the new ones that last, say, a couple of months - they could be the next New Big Thing.
Regards,
Sue
Imagine that you are in a foreign country … you want to go for a bike ride … you send out a Twitter saying where you will be in around 6 hours and hope some folks can join you. You figure around 50 - 60 people will show up. You get there and there are over 1,000 people waiting to ride with you!
That is what happened to Lance Armstrong recently in Dublin, Ireland. Yeah okay I hear you … that was Lance Armstrong … but it shows how quickly a Twitter message can spread … especially from the right messenger.
To Tweet or not to Tweet … it has to be the easiest decision for a nonprofit to make if you are wanting to either get into the social network space or add to your tool kit. Unlike other social networks that require significant time and resource to update pages and pictures … Twitter can provide a quick snapshot on programs, promote an event, ask for support or provide 3rd party endorsement in less then 140 characters.
You can: Share images (Flickr2Twitter), Share video (Tweetube), Raise Money (Twitpay), Lobby (Tweet your Senator), Start a petition (Twitition) … there is also TwitCause and Twitgiftly just to name a few possible uses.
Why are so many Twittering? Simplicity.
If you aren’t already doing so … why not start Twittering … and if you are … keep up the outreach … who knows - your 50 - 60 followers may also turn into thousands!
Regards,
Sue
I have been searching for several months to find something that would excite, entice and entreat me to start up Sue’s Muse again. I found it yesterday!
Years ago, in a session at some fundraising conference … the speaker shared a piece of information that I have never forgotten - even if I have forgotten many other details!
” A key indicator as to how well you will do with your organizational fundraising efforts is the S & P 500.”
Today, however, according to Ylan Q. Mui of the Washington Post , you can kiss the S & P 500 goodbye and instead, start watching the sales of men’s underwear. Yes, you read that correctly … men’s underwear sales are a key indicator of how quickly the economy will bounce back.
Why?
According to the article … it is one of those necessities that normally have stable sales … except during a downturn economy … when men will buy less and/or try and stretch the time between purchases. It appears that men’s singular underwear sales have increased between 2004 and 2008 while purchases of multi-packs have decreased over the same period. Are you are beginning to see the correlation?
I certainly don’t find this hard to believe … as a woman who has worn pantyhose over the years … making numerous annual purchases of said torture garments … I could pretty well rely on the fact that many of my male colleagues were still wearing socks from their high school days.
So, as you get together with your boards, volunteers or CEO … check before your meeting … and if men’s underwear sales are up, or at least stabilizing … you can report that you just might be headed for a banner year!
Regards,
Sue
As many of you might have noticed it has been quiet on Sue’s Muse for the past week. With the best intentions in the world I simply have not been able to make time to post to the blog.
I will be taking a wee break … collect my thoughts about the current status of the fundraising climate … and will return in early April!
All the best!
Regards,
Sue
I am a big fan of FREE!
Of course, there are those that look at that word more sceptically … and relate that if it is free, it can’t possibly be any good! I totally disagree … especially when we are talking about sharing FREE ideas, lessons learned and fundraising advice!
This is why whenever I present at a conference … I list a number of publications such as Fundraising Success Magazine and eMarketer as great FREE resources for attendees.
Another is the Online Discussion held by Chronicle of Philanthropy. This is one FREE discussion that just might be worth your time.
Regards,
Sue
Chronicle of Philanthropy - Online Discussion Tuesday: Social Networking Tools
Join us Tuesday, February 17, at noon Eastern time for an online discussion about the difference among sites like Digg, Facebook, and Twitter — and how charities can use these tools to connect with potential supporters.
The guests:
Chris Garrett, an Internet marketing and new-media consultant in Yorkshire, England, and author of ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income. He founded OMIQ, a company that helps businesses with their online media.
John Haydon, a sales consultant in Boston and the publisher and founder of the Web site corporatedollar.org, which offers marketing advice to small nonprofit groups. Mr. Haydon is also the author of a recently released electronic book, Twitter Jump Start: The Complete Guide for Small Nonprofits.
The Chronicle’s online discussions are free and open to everyone. People who ask questions in advance have a better chance of getting answers.
Organizations and nonprofits nationwide are scrambling to raise their budgets, continue providing programs and simply trying to keep their heads above water during the current economical crisis.
Yet with all of this going on … The Kennedy Center is looking beyond its own four walls and offering a new program that shares its years of management experience with arts groups across the country.
According to a recent article by Washington Post writer, Jacqueline Trescott – The Kennedy Center is launching the “Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative.” The “Initiative” provides an opportunity for arts administrators to talk with the center’s staff about the challenges they are facing including decreasing income and audience attendance.
Although this might not avert the continuing drop in arts offerings, staff cuts and, in a number of cases, bankruptcy … it is refreshing to see an organization reach out to provide ideas and support and be a true mentor to others.
Groups can go to the “Arts in Crisis” website to register to get advice or become a mentor. Congratulations to The Kennedy Center’s president, Michael Kaiser and two of its far-sighted board members … who had the vision to see how this type of investment will payoff in the long run.
Regards,
Sue
Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing, died yesterday.
What can you say about a man who gave away his wealth to fundraise for a small church-funded African American school in Mississippi, spent time in Africa on behalf of the Church of Christ and then returned to the USA with a concept of building no-interest housing for the poor - a concept that he made into reality?
Who today has not heard of Habitat for Humanity International? From this simple concept begun in 1976, a number of other nonprofit organizations, such as Rebuilding Together and Brad Pitt’s New Orleans Make It Right project, are now working towards the same dream … to rid this country of substandard housing and homelessness.
“Millard Fuller’s drive and relentless commitment to affordable housing captured people’s imagination and changed lives around the world,” said J. Ronald Terwilliger, chair of Habitat for Humanity’s International Board of Directors.
In an earlier interview with the Chicago Tribune Mr. Fuller stated, “We want to make shelter a matter of conscience.”
Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people with safe, decent and affordable housing. I think we can all agree that he succeeded.
