A presentation for Media Trust, as part of event entitled 'Twitter for Charities', on 9 July 2009.

1. Twitter for charities
9 July, 2009
Ra ch e l Be e r, b e au t if u l wo r ld

2. What is Twitter?
... and so much more!
‘What are you doing?’ doesn’t begin to cover it

3. What is Twitter?
‘A combination of messaging and
social networking’
Jack Schofield, The Guardian

4. It’s simple
You’re simply typing and ‘posting’ a message of
140 characters
Each message is called a ‘tweet’
When you’re sending messages, you’re ‘tweeting’

5. It’s public
Anyone, anywhere in the world, can
see your tweets - provided they have
a PC or mobile with Internet access

6. People use Twitter to...
Share
ideas
news and opinions
thoughts about things they are interested in
feelings about things they care about
and - sometimes - what they are doing!

7. But most of all to...
Connect
with people they have something
in common with
with brands they share values with
with causes and issues they care about

8. Follow and be followed
Follow people and organisations you share
interests, missions or values with
They will follow you back
It could be the start of a beautiful friendship!

9. Twitter is...
Like being at huge party
where there are some people you already know
and all sorts of people you’ve haven’t met yet

10. Twitter is...
Social
Personal
Fast
Flexible
Something different to everyone

11. Twitter isn’t...
A marketing channel
Somewhere to broadcast
Somewhere to press release to
A ‘cold list’
All about you

12. Benefits of Twitter
Are entirely what you make them!
You ‘get what you give’ - the more you engage
and share, the more you’ll benefit
Huge potential to engage with people that care
about your cause across the UK - and the world

13. Benefits of Twitter
The ability to
influence journalists, politicians, policy
makers, funders and celebrities
engage with stakeholders, donors,
campaigners, members, volunteers &
advocates

14. Unbelievably...
You can do all of this
without paying a thing!

15. Who is using it well?
Most charities you might expect
And many you might not!

16. Bullying UK

17. Mara Triangle

18. RSPB

19. Top tips from
t weeting charities
Crowdsourced from charities,
specialist consultants and agency
people at the last NFPtweetup...

20. Your Twitter profile
If you don’t already have one, reserve your user name
on Twitter now! (and on any new services as soon as
you become aware of them).
Include who's tweeting, mission statement, good URL,
take some time to craft the message.
Make it easy for interested people to find you by making
your bio clear and including searchable keywords.
Utilise your profile background - add a photo and
further info.

21. Tools & applications
Try them out and keep experimenting with new ones.
Use Twitpic - maybe post a 'pic of the day'.
Try with Audioboo and video for immediate and authentic voice.
Use URL shorterners - e.g. bit.ly.
Use a Twitter client - e.g. Tweetdeck.
Monitor who’s talking about you - samepoint.com, monitter.com.
Try Twollars - for turning social capital into real currency.
Twitter can lead to your blog... and teach you to blog more
succinctly!

22. Who to follow?
Other charities, companies and people that use
Twitter well - and steal their ideas!
People with an interest in your cause - find them
using Twitter Search, Monitter, TweetDeck etc.
Famous people - you get interesting information
and subjects.
Aim for quality not quantity.

23. Developing your ‘voice’
Try tweeting as yourself before you tweet as/ for your charity.
Constantly drip your charity’s mission into your tweets.
It is marketing - of sorts - but do it in a more personal, engaging way.
Talk to colleagues to about what they want to use Twitter for.
Is what you're tweeting about really engaging and interesting?
Take a step back, be critical and ask yourself whether you would really
want to follow your Twitterstream.
Bend other people's ideas to the needs of your brands.
Learn by using. If something doesn't work, it's not the end of the world.
Tweets are quite transitory and will pass a lot of people by without
them noticing. If you muck something up, don't be afraid to say so.

24. Buy-in and management
Overcome resistance to getting internal buy-in by
collecting and sharing evidence and success
stories - including anecdotal.
Someone at your charity to that’s interested in
the medium and already uses it personally
should manage your Twitter account.
Become a 'mini expert' within your organisation
and be prepared to make, and prove, the case.

25. Building social capital
Be where other people are - check buzzing/ trending topics and memes
Twitter does not stand alone - use it in conjunction with other social
media and your website/ s
Search for relevant brands, organisations and conversations, join in
and make friends!
Look at dwell time on your website for people coming from Twitter
(quality of traffic) and see how this relates to your activity
Map your retweeting reach and the spread of information
Find ambassadors/ cheerleaders for your brand
Championing change - mobilising very keen supporters. Use their
network and encourage them to take actions (e.g. pass this on)

26. And remember...
Be genuine and authentic
Tweet about things that are important to your charity, and
that you're excited about
Your tweets are likely to be seen across to the world -
not just the UK
You can't see and tweet everything or be on Twitter all the
time
It's all just communication. We've all been doing that for
years! It's not really different just because you're using
social media

27. Meet other charities using Twitter
Share knowledge, experiences and tips
FREE to attend
Come along in person, or take part online -
or both!
Next event: 5.30pm on 24 September,
Breast Cancer Care, Southwark

28. Keep up to date by:
following @NFPtweetup on Twitter
checking and subscribing to updates:
www.nfptweetup.org.uk
becoming a fan on Facebook
joining the group on LinkedIn

29. twitter.com/rachelbeer
twitter.com/beautifulw
rachel@hellobeautifulworld.com
www.hellobeautifulworld.com
Fo ll o w me o n Tw it te r !