This document provides best practices and strategies for nonprofits to build online community through social media. It recommends creating a social media committee to develop a plan that identifies super users, encourages engagement through questions, polls and guest posts, and evaluates progress over time. Regular posting and interaction helps cultivate supporters and donors while the team approach makes messaging more viral and sustainable.

1. Building Online Community Using Social Media to Get to Know Your Supporters

2. An Overview Best Practices Tried and true methods Nonprofit Network Builder Teaching & Growing Your Community User Engagement Ideas The Team Approach Creating a Social Media Committee

3. Best Practices Super Users Identify and encourage Create and sustain Simple actions and regular reminders showcasing growth Importance of a team Take enough time to be successful

4. Nonprofit Network Builder What is a nonprofit network builder? Similarity to major gifts fundraising Cultivating a fan-base A body of people acting like one person Types of conversation Facebook & Twitter: small talk or a networking event Blogging: grabbing a cup of coffee or lunch

5. Teaching & Growing Your Community User Engagement Teach your community how to engage with you Intentionally engage with them asking them specifically how you’d like them to respond Simple Techniques Post a follow-up comment to someone who reads your post & send them a thank you email Post a question and then follow it up with an email to your “Super Users” asking them to start the conversation Repetition & Consistency Run a campaign regularly (every 6 to 12 months)

6. User Engagement Ideas Say Something- Have An Opinion Ask Questions Interview Industry Experts Have Polls Feature Your Readers, Donors, Volunteers Guest Posts Themed Posts

7. The Team Approach Strength in Numbers Brainstorming, what did you miss? Easier to become viral Get Your Message Off the Ground Fun & excitement of getting started Difficulty getting out your initial message Monitor major conversation areas (i.e. Google…) Engages New Potential Donors

8. Creating a Social Media Committee Identify Volunteers Your Team Set a Timeframe Meet Together and Brainstorm Create a Plan with Individual Assignments Execute Your Plan Review and Evaluate Repeat: Execute Your Plan and Review/Evaluate