CharityComms seminar23rd July 2009Using blogging to build supporter engagementJonathan Waddinghamjonathan@justgiving.comtwitter.com/jon_bedford

66%UK Internet usersBlogs17.8 millionIn UKHow many read them?http://icanhaz.com/universal

Blogs – how to get started http://icanhaz.com/blogplatform

Blogs - strategyPlan the topics you will cover – your categoriesYou need commitment – once you start, you can’t stop!Set yourself an ambitious target for frequency of posting & get into a routineWrite about things you’re passionate aboutDon’t forget to read other people’s blogs too

Examples - anetwork of blogshttp://blogs.oxfam.org

Examples - anetwork of blogswww.msf.org.uk/blogs.aspx

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

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

Comments allow people to get involved

Comments also allow people to have their say

Dealing with commentsWhat is your comment policy? What will you allow?Arguing with commenters can make things worseTry and find ‘evangelists’ to support youTry and email everyone who commentsGet people to focus on reading, approving & replying to comments

CommentPR - ask to be on someone else’s blogSearch on Google blog search or Technoratifor a relevant topichttp://blogsearch.google.comhttp://technorati.comRead

Bloggers/online PR– how *not* to pitch themDon't have your office intern haphazardly send out a canned pitches, get to know the bloggers firstDon't have your first point of interaction be a request to blog about your programDon't overwhelm the blogger with requests and informationDo mention a post the blogger has previously writtenDo comment on posts before making the ask – plan aheadEmail the right person, spell their name correctlyhttp://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 Bloghttp://prwin.tumblr.com/

One last (great) examplehttp://blogs.amnesty.org.uk

The ultimate engagement

Contact meJonathan Waddinghamjonathan@justgiving.comtwitter.com/jon_bedfordcharities.justgiving.comhttp://icanhaz.com/PFJW