The document discusses using social media to enhance a volunteer program. It recommends setting SMART goals for social media use, such as sharing 3,000 posts on Facebook by the end of the year. Understanding the demographics of social networks and volunteers is important. The document provides guidelines for using social media to recruit, recognize, and retain volunteers. Recruiting volunteers on sites like Facebook, blogs, and volunteer matching sites is suggested. Recognizing volunteers on social media helps make the experience social. Retaining volunteers involves understanding their motives, providing transparency, convenience, appreciation, and follow up.

1. Enhancing your volunteer
program through social media
Margot Brenna

2. Goals and outcomes
 Why are you using social media for your volunteer program?
 What do you hope to gain?
 How will you know if you’re successful?
Social media is a means
to an end. It’s not the
end goal.

3. Are your goals smart?
 Specific
 We want to have 3,000 Facebook post shares total
 Measureable
 We’ll use Facebook insights to track on a monthly basis
 Achievable
 Last year, we had 2,500 and this year and 2,000 the year before, so this year: the goal should be
achievable.
 Relevant
 This will help us achieve the overall communications goal (outlined in our strategic plan) of having
more individuals talking about our organization
 Timely
 We want to reach our goal by the end o the year

4. Understanding social audience
 Demographics of social media networks (source: PEW Research Center study
2012)

11. Demographics
 Demographics of organization’s social networks
 Facebook: insights & graph search
 Twitter: free reports www.simplymeasured.com

12. 4 easy guidelines
 Strategy
 Cross promotion
 Stick to the plan – make changes when necessary (and when in alignment with
strategy)
 Approach/voice (friend, informer, reference)

13. Recruiting
 Where to post volunteer opportunities?
 What type of content?/How to post?
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Other
social
media
sites
FirstLink
volunteer
website
Volunteer-
match
.com

18. Recognition
 Social media is meant to be social
 Include volunteer recognition on organization’s social platforms = perfect outlet!

21. Retaining
 Tap into volunteer’s motives: why do they volunteer? Are they happy with their
“job”?
 Tell volunteers what to expect (job descriptions): transparency
 Make volunteering convenient
 Make volunteering fun
 Show appreciation
 Get to know them
 Contact non-recurring volunteers

22. Discussion
 Tell how you’ve used social media to either recruit, recognize, or retain volunteers
 How do you know if it’s been successful?
 How will today change how you use social media for your volunteer program?

23. Follow/like me, please!
 www.Facebook.com/BelugaSocial
 www.Twitter.com/BelugaSocial
 www.Pinterest.com/BelugaSocial
 www.Facebook.com/HEROFargo
 www.Twitter.com/HEROFargo
 www.Pinterest.com/HEROFargo