Social Networking: What is It?...and Why Should I Care? November 24, 2008 Kevin Martone Technology Program Manager, Grinspoon Institute [email_address]

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

Kevin Martone, Technology Program Manager, Grinspoon Institute

Joe Ruotolo, Business Systems Analyst, Grinspoon Institute

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

Social Media – What Is It?

Why We Care

How To Utilize Social Media

Social Media Tools

For More Information

Summary/Conclusion

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

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

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!”

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 .

Social Media – How To Utilize The most important way to utilize Social Media… Listen! Photo adapted from flickr.com – niclindh

The most important way to utilize Social Media…

Listen!

Social Media – How To Utilize (cont’d) Once you are listening, you can also: Engage Move to Act Leverage Volunteers/Alumni Committee

Once you are listening, you can also:

Engage

Move to Act

Leverage Volunteers/Alumni Committee

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

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

Social Media Tools And more…

And more…

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?

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?

Social Media Tools – Facebook/MySpace Tamarack Camps Do you use one of these Social Networking Sites? How?

Tamarack Camps

Social Media Tools – Ning.com Create a free/low cost gated social networking site Pros: Manage content, restrict access Cons: Must drive traffic there

Create a free/low cost gated social networking site

Pros: Manage content, restrict access

Cons: Must drive traffic there

Social Media Tools – Ning.com Pinemere Camp Do you use Ning.com? How?

Pinemere Camp

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.

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.

Social Media Tools – YouTube Beber Camp Do you use YouTube? How?

Beber Camp

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

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

Social Media Tools – Flickr URJ Eisner Camp – 50 th Anniversary Event Photos from attending alumni posted and tagged on Flickr. Anyone can view, download, and comment on photos. Do you use Flickr? How?

URJ Eisner Camp – 50 th Anniversary Event

Photos from attending alumni posted and tagged on Flickr. Anyone can view, download, and comment on photos.

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

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

Social Media Tools – Twitter URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp Microblogging Do you use Twitter? How?

URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp

Microblogging

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.

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.

Social Media Tools – Blogs/RSS Feeds Many Camps are Blogging Are you blogging? Utilizing RSS Feeds?

Many Camps are Blogging

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

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

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?

Ramah New England

Radio Ramah – irregular posting of camper stories/interviews, updates on programming, etc.

Torat Ramah – weekly Torah readings/discussion

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?

Many more popping up every day

Key: Know where your constituents are and LISTEN!!!

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)

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)

Summary/Conclusion Q&A Evaluations

Q&A

Evaluations