Social Networking:What is It?...and Why Should I Care?November 24, 2008

Kevin MartoneTechnology Program Manager, Grinspoon Institutekevin@hgf.org

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Introductions

Kevin Martone, Technology Program Manager, Grinspoon Institute Joe Ruotolo, Business Systems Analyst, Grinspoon Institute

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Agenda: Social Media – What Is It? Why We Care How To Utilize Social Media Social Media Tools For More Information Summary/Conclusion

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Social Media – What Is It?

Thoughts? What IS Social Media? Wikipedia Definition:

Primarily Internet- and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information

Relatively cheap tools that enable anyone (even private individuals) to publish or access information

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Social Media – Why We Care

Both a Challenge and an Opportunity Challenge – Campers, Alumni, etc. are already

online discussing camp, posting photos and videos. You can’t control the discussion.

Opportunity – Social Media tools can be used to build community, reconnect with constituents, learn about concerns, and continue to build and update your database. For free.

Lisa Simpson: “Do you know that the Chinese use the same word for crisis as they do for opportunity?”

Homer Simpson: “Yes – Crisitunity!”

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Social Media – How To Utilize The most important way to utilize Social Media… Listen!

Photo adapted from flickr.com – niclindh

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Social Media – How To Utilize (cont’d)

Once you are listening, you can also: Engage Move to Act

Leverage Volunteers/Alumni Committee

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Social Media – Important Consideration

These tools are free or low cost, but… …it takes time and resources to manage

effectively Camps must consider the use of these tools

strategically, as part of an overall outreach and fundraising plan

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Social Media Tools

And more…

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Social Media Tools – Facebook/MySpace

Popular, fast-growing social media sites People are grouping together on Facebook

under the name of your camp. Maybe MySpace, too.

Listen: Where are your constituents? What are they saying? Posting?

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Social Media Tools – Facebook/MySpace

Tamarack Camps

Do you use one of these Social Networking Sites? How?

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Social Media Tools – Ning.com

Create a free/low cost gated social networking site

Pros: Manage content, restrict access Cons: Must drive traffic there

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Social Media Tools – Ning.com

Pinemere Camp

Do you use Ning.com? How?

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Social Media Tools – YouTube Free video-sharing site Millions of videos uploaded and viewed every day Important: Videos and other multimedia show up high in

search engine results Simple to embed or link to videos on camp website, blog,

etc. Example – URJ Harold Grinspoon tribute video on the HGF website.

Can use sites like Animoto.com to create videos with just still digital photos and music. Easy to upload to YouTube.

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Social Media Tools – YouTube

Beber Camp

Do you use YouTube? How?

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Social Media Tools – Flickr

Popular photo sharing site Can share, download, utilize photos Can create groups on common theme Like YouTube videos, these photos can be

tagged and often show up in search engine results

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Social Media Tools – Flickr URJ Eisner Camp – 50th Anniversary Event Photos from attending alumni posted and tagged

on Flickr. Anyone can view, download, and comment on photos.

Do you use Flickr? How?

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Social Media Tools – Twitter

Users send 140 character “tweets” (messages) to their “followers” (friends)

Can discuss anything – what you are doing, links to articles of interest, requests for information/assistance, etc.

Many tools to manage and search the flow of information on twitter

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Social Media Tools – Twitter

URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp Microblogging

Do you use Twitter? How?

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Social Media Tools – Blogs/RSS Feeds

Blogs are a simple/low cost way to share news, stories, pictures, video, etc.

Easy to update Easy to disseminate

RSS Feeds (Real Simple Syndication) allow users to “subscribe” to a blog via a Feed Reader (Google Reader, MyYahoo!, others) or email

Don’t have to go to the blog every day to get updates.

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Social Media Tools – Blogs/RSS Feeds

Many Camps are Blogging

Are you blogging? Utilizing RSS Feeds?

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Social Media Tools – Podcasting

Sharing audio and/or video over the internet

Users can view one “episode” or subscribe to all (like an RSS feed) and listen/watch via iTunes, on their iPod, or with similar technology

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Social Media Tools – Podcasting

Ramah New England Radio Ramah – irregular posting of camper stories/interviews,

updates on programming, etc. Torat Ramah – weekly Torah readings/discussion

Are you podcasting? If so, what kind of content?

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Social Media Tools – Other

Many more popping up every day Key: Know where your constituents are

and LISTEN!!!

Are you using any other tools not on this list?

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For More Information

Tech Program Blog: www.gijptech.blogspot.com eNewsletter Archives: www.tinyurl.com/gijparchives GIJP Tech Program Website:

www.gijp.org/services/technology.php GIJP Tech Program Website Resources:

www.gijp.org/resources/technology.php CommonCraft “In Plain English” videos:

www.youtube.com/user/leelefever Note that this presentation will be available online soon

with links to each of the examples mentioned within (along with all other presentations at the conference)

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Summary/Conclusion

Q&A Evaluations