jg bitesize blogging

Blogging

Using blogging to build supporter engagement

What is a blog

A blog is a  type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. With the newest stuff on top.

They are great for small charities, because any one can do it, you don’t need to build a website or need lots of tech support!

How many read them? 66%UK Internet

users

17.8 millionIn UK

http://icanhaz.com/universal

Blogs – how to get started

http://icanhaz.com/blogplatform

http://wordpress.com/

http://www.blogger.com

Blogs – Your charities strategy

Plan the topics you will cover – your categories

You need commitment – once you start, you can’t stop!

Set yourself an ambitious target for frequency of posting & get into a routine

Write about things you’re passionate about

Don’t forget to read other people’s blogs too

You don’t have to be big http://www.youthnet.org/blog

It’s about telling a story http://blog.childsifoundation.org

Comments allow people to get involved

Search on Google blog search or Technorati for a relevant topic

http://blogsearch.google.com

http://technorati.com

Read

Comment

PR - ask for your charity to be on someone else’s blog

how *not* to ask a fellow blogger to feature your charityDon't have your office intern haphazardly send out a canned pitches, get to know the bloggers first

Don't have your first point of interaction be a request to blog about your charity

Don't overwhelm the blogger with requests and information

Do mention a post the blogger has previously written

Do comment on posts before making the ask – plan ahead

Email the right person, spell their name correctly

http://icanhaz.com/bethk

When online PR goes bad

“Unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with non-traditional media outlets,” a public relations person wrote to ShapingYouth.

http://icanhaz.com/targetPR

Learn from others’ success - PR WIN Blog

http://prwin.tumblr.com/

http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk

One last (great) example

The ultimate engagement

Things to do

Start a blog for your charity, write about your recent achievements or appeals

Email all of your supporters and tell them about it, ask them to get involved, suggest stories or appeals

Maintain the blog, keep it fresh,

Link it to all your charity website(s), Facebook, etc

Ask your supporters to write you stories! Or even start their own blog!