Introduction to Social MediaAllison TreppaDirector of Marketing & Member ServicesMichigan Nonprofit Associationatreppa@MNAonline.orgwww.MNAonline.org

About MeAllison TreppaDirector of Marketing & Member ServicesMichigan Nonprofit Association atreppa@MNAonline.orgWebsite: www.MNAonline.orgBlog: http://MNAonline.wordpress.comTwitter: @MNAOnline

Goals for TodayExplore tools that relate to your nonprofit missionPrepare for new generation of communication toolsDiscover how trends impact communication planning

What is Social Media?Definition: “the use of electronic and Internet tools for the purpose of sharingand 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-definitionIn other words, social media describes the tools people use and the ways people share ideas online.Relationship building!

Definition: “the use of electronic and Internet tools for the purpose of sharingand discussing information and experiences with other human beings.”

In other words, social media describes the tools people use and the ways people share ideas online.

Relationship building!

Current ToolsSocial Bookmarking Photo SharingPodcasting and Video BloggingFeed Reading & SharingSocial 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…ListeningTelling Your StorySpeed of Communication

The Tools Will Likely Change…Photo Sharing (Flickr)Video Sharing (YouTube)Social Networks (MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn)

Waiting is NOT the AnswerWaiting 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:MobileEasily Integrate/Cross PlatformsHuman 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

ExampleTool: 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?

A Great Resource for Basic Videos:SERVESTRENGTHENTRANSFORM COMMUNITIEShttp://www.commoncraft.com

Social Media in Plain Englishhttp://commoncraft.com/socialmedia orhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpIOClX1jPE

The Importance of ListeningGood 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 runFood Stamp Challenge example – Michigan Nonprofit Association Blog

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 StorytellingThe best storytelling shows the story – various types of media including photos, videos, audio and text can each play a partCan appeal to staff, volunteers, donors, and people who could potentially fill these rolesSharing with the communityRelationship building!

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!

Photo SharingSERVESTRENGTHENTRANSFORM COMMUNITIEShttp://www.flickr.com/MNAOnline

Photo SharingPhotos can be uploaded to sites like Flickr, tagged, grouped, and sharedTagging allows photos to be organized by subject matterGroups allow multiple users to upload photos that share a common theme

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

YouTube Nonprofit Channel Programhttp://www.youtube.com/nonprofits

What is a blog? What is blogging?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 orderA blog can contain thoughts, ideas, photos, video, audio, links to other web sites, and forums in which discussion can take place through commentsA blog can easily act as a hub of an organization’s accounts/presences and facilitate relationship building MNA BlogA blog can also contain a fundraising widget for raising money

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

Blogs in Plain Englishhttp://commoncraft.com/blogs orhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI

Nuts About Southwest BlogPhotos/FlickrBlogVideo/YouTubeNews FeedPollhttp://www.blogsouthwest.com/

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!

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 Englishhttp://commoncraft.com/twitter orhttp://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 listenWe post links, reminders, and important information that we want our followers to seeWe also use our account to post questions and listen to what other Twitter users are tweetingWe 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/2gvhWelcome 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!

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?Traditional bookmarkingvs.Social bookmarking++

SERVESTRENGTHENTRANSFORM COMMUNITIEShttp://delicious.com/MNAOnline

Social Bookmarking – How Can It Be Used?

Social Bookmarking in Plain Englishhttp://commoncraft.com/bookmarking-plain-english orhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66lV7GOcNU

What is Social Networking?People using the internet to connect with others onlineIndividuals often connect with friends, family, colleagues, and other internet users with similar interests and hobbiesFour major social networking sites are: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and NingRelationship building, donor cultivation, volunteer cultivation, etc!

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

LinkedInLinkedIn is a business oriented social networking site aimed at professionals. http://www.linkedin.com/

What People Do On The Internet (By Age) http://images.businessweek.com/mz/07/24/0724_6insiid_a.gif