Using social media to expand your fundraising horizons A Firstgiving.com webinar with David Karp February 11, 2009

Before we start… Thank you for coming today! For sound: Turn on your computer’s speakers or plug in headphones (you don’t need a microphone), or… Call 312-878-0211 and enter code 255-261-112 (may be a toll call) Slides and a recording of this session will be available on our website in a few days Ask your questions any time using the question tool; we will answer as many as we can today, and post the rest on a facebook group

Thank you for coming today!

For sound:

Turn on your computer’s speakers or plug in headphones (you don’t need a microphone), or…

Call 312-878-0211 and enter code 255-261-112 (may be a toll call)

Slides and a recording of this session will be available on our website in a few days

Ask your questions any time using the question tool; we will answer as many as we can today, and post the rest on a facebook group

A little about you According to our registration survey… 17% of your organizations have a blog 45% of your organizations have a Facebook presence 8% of your organizations use twitter 4% have all three 50% have none

According to our registration survey…

17% of your organizations have a blog

45% of your organizations have a Facebook presence

8% of your organizations use twitter

4% have all three

50% have none

Social media for fundraising What is social media? Can it help me raise more money? How? How do I get started? Q&A

What is social media?

Can it help me raise more money?

How?

How do I get started?

Q&A

What makes these media social? “ Social Media are primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, telecommunications and social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. … Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC)“ [Wikipedia]

“ Social Media are primarily Internet-based tools for sharing and discussing information among human beings. The term most often refers to activities that integrate technology, telecommunications and social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos and audio. … Businesses also refer to social media as user-generated content (UGC)“ [Wikipedia]

What makes these media social? Huh??

Huh??

What makes these media social? Conversations, not lectures Interactive, not passive Personal, not corporate Inherently sharable Enhanced, or created by their consumers Author Controlled User Augmented User Created Your Website?

Conversations, not lectures

Interactive, not passive

Personal, not corporate

Inherently sharable

Enhanced, or created by their consumers

Ok, that’s social media. Why? Conventional fundraising is about cultivating donors and asking them for contributions (and that’s not a bad thing) Think of social media as a form of cultivation first …and maybe a way to ask second

Conventional fundraising is about cultivating donors and asking them for contributions (and that’s not a bad thing)

Think of social media as a form of cultivation first

…and maybe a way to ask second

Social media cultivation People learn more about your organization People become part of the discussion about your cause People can easily share information about your organization with friends People become more involved with and more committed to your cause It’s like having a virtual open house

People learn more about your organization

People become part of the discussion about your cause

People can easily share information about your organization with friends

People become more involved with and more committed to your cause

It’s like having a virtual open house

Intro to 3 social platforms Blogs Facebook Twitter

Blogs

Facebook

Twitter

What is a blog ? A blog is a special kind of website that organizes articles or “posts” by date or subject, and allows readers to comment Blogs are usually less formal and more dynamic than a regular websites Good blogs invite comments and discussion and repeat visits Search engines like blogs!

A blog is a special kind of website that organizes articles or “posts” by date or subject, and allows readers to comment

Blogs are usually less formal and more dynamic than a regular websites

Good blogs invite comments and discussion and repeat visits

Search engines like blogs!

Blog anatomy Personal stories, donate button, RSS feeds, pictures… Lots of comments, responding to the articles and to other comments

Starting a blog Read some blogs first, then try a free blog tool for yourself www.blogger.com www.wordpress.com www.typepad.com The best blogs are honest, interesting, useful, and consistent – not an easy task Ask yourself: Do I have the resources to make a good blog? Is a bad blog worth it?

Read some blogs first, then try a free blog tool for yourself

www.blogger.com

www.wordpress.com

www.typepad.com

The best blogs are honest, interesting, useful, and consistent – not an easy task

Ask yourself: Do I have the resources to make a good blog? Is a bad blog worth it?

What is Facebook ? Facebook is a “Social utility” People “live” online there It’s not just for kids (half of you are there!) The average Facebook user views 45 pages during a session There are different kinds of FB pages: personal, groups, companies, etc.

Facebook is a “Social utility”

People “live” online there

It’s not just for kids (half of you are there!)

The average Facebook user views 45 pages during a session

There are different kinds of FB pages: personal, groups, companies, etc.

Starting with Facebook Sign up for a personal account Find your friends, check out what they’re doing Join some groups Search with keywords related to your organization’s mission Start contributing and creating

Sign up for a personal account

Find your friends, check out what they’re doing

Join some groups

Search with keywords related to your organization’s mission

Start contributing and creating

Everything is on Facebook

What is Twitter ? www.twitter.com “Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? ” Yeah, I didn’t get it either – at first

www.twitter.com

“Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? ”

Yeah, I didn’t get it either – at first

Twitter is a lot of conversations

Why is Twitter popular? It’s like instant messaging or text messaging, but to a huge group Oddly enough, communication happens, and community forms in tiny bursts It’s somewhat addictive

It’s like instant messaging or text messaging, but to a huge group

Oddly enough, communication happens, and community forms in tiny bursts

It’s somewhat addictive

Starting with Twitter Sign up, it’s free At first, you’ll see almost nothing Start “following” people Participate – say something, ask a question, respond to others’ questions

Sign up, it’s free

At first, you’ll see almost nothing

Start “following” people

Participate – say something, ask a question, respond to others’ questions

Setting expectations Social media isn’t a miracle cure It may take a long time for your social media investment to pay off It might even never pay off

Social media isn’t a miracle cure

It may take a long time for your social media investment to pay off

It might even never pay off

Social media is one tool Don’t overinvest in social media Know your audiences (current and future) and court them appropriately If you neglect conventional media, you might leave out your core supporters Don’t underinvest in social media, either

Don’t overinvest in social media

Know your audiences (current and future) and court them appropriately

If you neglect conventional media, you might leave out your core supporters

Don’t underinvest in social media, either

Social media in perspective

Fundraising with social media Ok, we’ve been educated and we’ve been warned… …now, how can we raise some money with social media??

Ok, we’ve been educated and we’ve been warned…

…now, how can we raise some money with social media??

Fundraising with blogs Your blog probably shouldn’t be all about fundraising But you can add a donate button or fundraising widget Most importantly, use the your blog to show the world the great outcomes your organization produces and to encourage discussion

Your blog probably shouldn’t be all about fundraising

But you can add a donate button or fundraising widget

Most importantly, use the your blog to show the world the great outcomes your organization produces and to encourage discussion

Fundraising with Facebook Create a company page or a group or a fan page for your organization or event When people on Facebook join your group or become your fans, you can send them messages (but don’t overdo it) Use Facebook to seek volunteers, donors and fundraisers (who find other donors)

Create a company page or a group or a fan page for your organization or event

When people on Facebook join your group or become your fans, you can send them messages (but don’t overdo it)

Use Facebook to seek volunteers, donors and fundraisers (who find other donors)

Fundraising with Facebook Apps There are thousands of applications you can install on your Facebook page Some applications let people show their support for your organization on their Facebook pages Some applications let people make donations to their favorite charities too Try an off-the-shelf application or hire a developer to create one for you

There are thousands of applications you can install on your Facebook page

Some applications let people show their support for your organization on their Facebook pages

Some applications let people make donations to their favorite charities too

Try an off-the-shelf application or hire a developer to create one for you

“Fundraising” applications

Fundraising with Twitter This one’s tricky – even Twitter hasn’t figured out how they’re going to make money yet Use Twitter to reach and mobilize your most techie supporters Encourage donors and fundraisers to use Twitter to publicize their support and progress

This one’s tricky – even Twitter hasn’t figured out how they’re going to make money yet

Use Twitter to reach and mobilize your most techie supporters

Encourage donors and fundraisers to use Twitter to publicize their support and progress

Work the “retweet” In Twitter, if you see a message (a “tweet”) you like, you “re-tweet”it so all your followers can see it Encourage retweeting of your messages, and return the favor often This can be a quick way to spread the word about a campaign or an event

In Twitter, if you see a message (a “tweet”) you like, you “re-tweet”it so all your followers can see it

Encourage retweeting of your messages, and return the favor often

This can be a quick way to spread the word about a campaign or an event

One more warning In social media, you might be the topic of discussion, but you’re not always the center or the master of it. You will have to give up some control to gain more followers and influence. This is ok.

In social media, you might be the topic of discussion, but you’re not always the center or the master of it.

You will have to give up some control to gain more followers and influence. This is ok.

Relaxing your grip It’s the nature of social media that not all information is exactly right , but the bulk of it is generally right (see wikipedia) Not all comments will be favorable How you react to unfavorable comments says a lot about you Pick your battles, and don’t be afraid to apologize when you’re wrong

It’s the nature of social media that not all information is exactly right , but the bulk of it is generally right (see wikipedia)

Not all comments will be favorable

How you react to unfavorable comments says a lot about you

Pick your battles, and don’t be afraid to apologize when you’re wrong

Keys to success Social media is just one piece of the puzzle, don’t neglect the rest One size doesn’t fit all, do what’s right for your organization and your people Keep experimenting and always test You will give up some control – learn to live with it, learn to love it

Social media is just one piece of the puzzle, don’t neglect the rest

One size doesn’t fit all, do what’s right for your organization and your people

Keep experimenting and always test

You will give up some control – learn to live with it, learn to love it

Slides and recording will posted to www.onlinefundraisingblog.com by Monday and a note will be emailed out Questions that we don’t get to now will be posted and discussed on our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2400743201 (don’t try to write that down, we’ll email it too) QUESTION TIME

To request a free live demo, call (617) 591-2121 x1005 or email james@firstgiving.com Learn more at www.firstgiving.com Thank you again! Next webinar: Tuesday, February 24: Using fundraising teams effectively

Appendix: top 5 starting points Unofficial and incomplete lists of good blogs to read, good facebook resources, and good twitter people Just to get you started, there’s millions more to check out Some are official Firstgiving outlets

Unofficial and incomplete lists of good blogs to read, good facebook resources, and good twitter people

Just to get you started, there’s millions more to check out

Some are official Firstgiving outlets

Top 5 blogs for NPOs Beth’s Blog: How NPOs can use social media http:// beth.typepad.com/beths_blog / Philanthropy 2173 http:// philanthropy.blogspot.com / Katya’s Non-profit marketing blog http:// www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com / Entry level living (esp for the millennials) http:// entrylevelliving.wordpress.com / The online fundraising blog http:// www.onlinefundraisingblog.com /

Beth’s Blog: How NPOs can use social media http:// beth.typepad.com/beths_blog /

Philanthropy 2173 http:// philanthropy.blogspot.com /

Katya’s Non-profit marketing blog http:// www.nonprofitmarketingblog.com /

Entry level living (esp for the millennials) http:// entrylevelliving.wordpress.com /

The online fundraising blog http:// www.onlinefundraisingblog.com /

Top 5 Facebook for NPOs Social Actions fan page http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Social-Actions/16741576137 Future Leaders in Philanthropy http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2223446458 Boston Marathon Charity Team Runners http:// www.facebook.com/group.php?gid =50072841215 NPO Web 2.0 http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11051480342 Firstgiving Fundraising Application http:// apps.facebook.com/firstgiving /

Social Actions fan page http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Social-Actions/16741576137

Future Leaders in Philanthropy http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2223446458

Boston Marathon Charity Team Runners http:// www.facebook.com/group.php?gid =50072841215

NPO Web 2.0 http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11051480342

Firstgiving Fundraising Application http:// apps.facebook.com/firstgiving /

Top 5 NPO tweeters Beth Kanter @kanter http://www.twitter.com/kanter Joe Solomon @engagejoe http://www.twitter.com/engagejoe Corey Pudhorodsky @coreypud http://www.twitter.com/coreypud Amy Sample Ward @amyrsward http://www.twitter.com/amyrsward Firstgiving @firstgiving http://www.twitter.com/firstgiving

Beth Kanter @kanter http://www.twitter.com/kanter

Joe Solomon @engagejoe http://www.twitter.com/engagejoe

Corey Pudhorodsky @coreypud http://www.twitter.com/coreypud

Amy Sample Ward @amyrsward http://www.twitter.com/amyrsward

Firstgiving @firstgiving http://www.twitter.com/firstgiving