introduction to social media vista training
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Introduction to Social Media & trends for AmeriCorps*VISTA membersTRANSCRIPT
Introduction to Social Media
Allison TreppaDirector of Marketing & Member ServicesMichigan Nonprofit [email protected]
About Me
Allison TreppaDirector of Marketing & Member
ServicesMichigan Nonprofit Association [email protected]
• Website: www.MNAonline.org• Blog: http://MNAonline.wordpress.com• Twitter: @MNAOnline
Goals for Today
• Explore tools that relate to your nonprofit mission
• Prepare for new generation of communication tools
• Discover how trends impact communication planning
What is Social Media?
• Definition: “the use of electronic and Internet tools for the purpose of sharing and discussing information and experiences with other human beings.”
- Ben Parr http://www.benparr.com/2008/08/its-time-we-defined-social-media-no-more-arguing-heres-the-definition
• In other words, social media describes the tools people use and the ways people share ideas online.
• Relationship building!
Current Tools
• Social Bookmarking
• Photo Sharing
• Podcasting and Video
• Blogging
• Feed Reading & Sharing
• Social Networking
What About You?
• What tools are you currently using? • How do these tools advance your mission
or support your strategic plan?
Many Things Won’t Change…
• Listening• Telling Your Story• Speed of Communication
The Tools Will Likely Change…
• Photo Sharing (Flickr)• Video Sharing (YouTube)• Social Networks (MySpace, Facebook,
LinkedIn)
Waiting is NOT the Answer
• Waiting for new communication “fads” to settle will not make it happen.
• There is an increasing need to be adaptable and flexible with these tools.
• Be committed to the tools that advance your mission until they no longer do that.
• By the time you learn and adapt to one tool, another one emerges. (e.g. MySpace)
What’s Next?
Communication tools that are:• Mobile• Easily Integrate/Cross Platforms
Human Resource Policies/Guidelines
How Do You Prepare?
• Don’t be afraid!• Know the purpose of the available tools.• Utilize popular tools based on mission
advancement and available staff/volunteer time.
• Research social media policies and your own employee handbook.– IBM http://www.ibm.com/blogs/zz/en/guidelines.html
Example
Tool: Twitter (http://twitter.com/MNAonline)
Purpose: To build relationships, share information with, and listen to others in the sector/with an interest in the sector; members, nonprofit professionals in Michigan, nonprofit professionals across the country, Michigan residents.
General Strategy: To listen to and share relevant information in real time with nonprofits and establish MNA as a thought leader in the nonprofit sector about social media.
Strategic Plan Support: Goal B, Objective 6 – Increase awareness of MNA and affiliate organization membership, benefits, resources and programs.
Results/Expected Results: Have over 1,000 followers on Twitter, in addition to numerous mentions, retweets, and conversations with other Twitter users. Anticipate growing the conversation with our national peers in addition to state nonprofits, MNA members, and individuals in Michigan.
Thank you!
Questions?
SERVE STRENGTHEN
TRANSFORM COMMUNITIEShttp://www.commoncraft.com
A Great Resource for Basic Videos:
Social Media in Plain English
http://commoncraft.com/socialmedia or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE
The Importance of Listening
• Good first step in listening: set up Google alerts with your organization name, key words, event names, figureheads, etc.
• Little time on the front end = big payoffs in the long run
• Food Stamp Challenge example – Michigan Nonprofit Association Blog
The Importance of Storytelling
• The best storytelling shows the story – various types of media including photos, videos, audio and text can each play a part
• Can appeal to staff, volunteers, donors, and people who could potentially fill these roles
• Sharing with the community• Relationship building!
SERVE STRENGTHEN
TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES
http://www.flickr.com/MNAOnline
Photo Sharing
Photo Sharing
• Photos can be uploaded to sites like Flickr, tagged, grouped, and shared
• Tagging allows photos to be organized by subject matter
• Groups allow multiple users to upload photos that share a common theme
http://www.youtube.com/nonprofits
YouTube Nonprofit Channel Program
• A blog is a contraction of the term “web log,” meaning an online journal or log comprised of multiple entries posted by the user. The entries are generally displayed in reverse chronological order
• A blog can contain thoughts, ideas, photos, video, audio, links to other web sites, and forums in which discussion can take place through comments
• A blog can easily act as a hub of an organization’s accounts/presences and facilitate relationship building MNA Blog
• A blog can also contain a fundraising widget for raising money
What is a blog? What is blogging?
Blogs in Plain English
http://commoncraft.com/blogs or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI
Nuts About Southwest Blog
http://www.blogsouthwest.com/
Video/YouTube
Photos/Flickr
Blog
Poll
News Feed
What is microblogging?
• A form of blogging comprised of user-created brief updates ~ 140 characters
• The truncated nature of the updates allows for less sifting and faster, more direct transmission of information
• Can be used as a sounding board, peer forum, news feed, etc. Must be interactive!
• http://twitter.com/MNAonline • Relationship building!
Twitter in Plain English
http://commoncraft.com/twitteror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o
How Can Twitter Be Used?
• MNA has a Twitter account – use this to tweet (“tweet” = verb form of update) and to listen
• We post links, reminders, and important information that we want our followers to see
• We also use our account to post questions and listen to what other Twitter users are tweeting
• We follow other nonprofits, MI residents, social media folks, etc…
• Some past MNA tweets: • Reminder to MI nonprofits: Crain's Best Managed Nonprofit Contest
Apps due 09/17/08 by 5:00pm -check this post for info: http://is.gd/2gvh• Welcome to @Brandon_at_MNA , who heads up MNA's membership
department. He is the source for MI nonprofit job postings and MNA member info!
• MNA is participating in Blog Action Day 2008, http://is.gd/1v09 - join us 10/15 to find out how our members are fighting poverty in MI!
What Is Social Bookmarking?
vs.
+ +
Traditional bookmarking
Social bookmarking
SERVE STRENGTHEN
TRANSFORM COMMUNITIEShttp://delicious.com/MNAOnline
Social Bookmarking – How Can It Be Used?
Social Bookmarking in Plain English
http://commoncraft.com/bookmarking-plain-english
orhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66lV7GOcNU
What is Social Networking?
• People using the internet to connect with others online
• Individuals often connect with friends, family, colleagues, and other internet users with similar interests and hobbies
• Four major social networking sites are: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and Ning
• Relationship building, donor cultivation, volunteer cultivation, etc!
Facebook Search Results: All
Facebook Best Practices
http://www.diosacommunications.com/facebookbestpractices.htm
http://www.linkedin.com/
LinkedIn is a business oriented social networking site aimed at
professionals.
What People Do On The Internet (By Age)
http://images.businessweek.com/mz/07/24/0724_6insiid_a.gif