National Geographic uses social media to share the organization's mission of inspiring people to care about the planet. They have over 1.5 million Facebook fans and 250,000 Twitter followers. National Geographic also encourages user-generated content through programs like MyShot, where members have submitted over 600,000 photos. The organization aims to build a digital ecosystem to engage wider audiences around the world in science, exploration, and conservation.

1. National Geographic + Social Media Robert Michael Murray, Vice President Social Media SMASH Summit, San Francisco May 12, 2010

3. Clownfish and Bubble-Tipped Anemone Photograph by David Doubilet

4. The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. Throughout its 122-year history, the Society has encouraged conservation of natural resources and raised public awareness of the importance of natural places, the plants and wildlife that inhabit them, and the environmental problems that threaten them. National Geographic’s explorers, writers and photographers have traveled the Earth, sharing its amazing stories with each new generation. The Society has funded more than 9,200 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects around the globe, and grantees make exciting new discoveries every day in both traditional and emerging fields.

5. Digital Media 12M+ unique visitors Local language websites (China, UK, Italy, Spain, etc.) 2.5M+ fans, followers, subscribers Mobile/Interactive Apps 1.2m Facebook fans 250k Twitter followers Education Outreach Classroom magazines Outreach to teachers (all 50 states) Annual GeoBee (5M kids/year) Classroom lesson plans and curriculum Books Widespread bookstore presence and multi-language publishing 100+ books published annually Expeditions 54 unique trips to 39 countries with NGS experts Live Events NG Live! speaker series BioBlitz and photo camps Traveling exhibits Music and Radio NG Record label, publishing catalog and library Nat Geo Music Channel Music site with +25k songs, +1,500 artists Mission Programs NGS Explorers Public programs Research, conservation and exploration grants Gaming Console, PC, mobile and online games Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft partnerships Image Collection 10M+ photos and pieces of original art Licensing 2,500 licensed products in 5k+ retail stores Catalog and online sales Films Award-winning 2D, 3D, 4D films in theaters, IMAX, DVD and VOD All Roads Film Festival Magazines 4 consumer magazines 58M+ readers worldwide 31 local language editions Cartography/Maps Atlases, driving and hiking guides, trail maps, destination guides, and interactive mapping products topos.com community Channels/Television NatGeo Channel, NatGeo Wild (domestic and international channels) NG Television partnerships with major outlets (PBS, TNT, HBO) More than 375 Million consumers a month

6. Tuareg Tribesman, Libya Photograph by Bobby Model

7. "The vast membership of the National Geographic Society, not only in the United States but in every civilized country of the world, has been built up through the years solely by the enthusiastic interest of the members themselves who take their time and give their effort to interesting their friends and acquaintances in joining, and in nominating them with no return for their trouble beyond the satisfaction of helping a world-wide educational project." ***** "It must be remembered that the member in Australia, in the Fiji Islands, or in Greenland is as much of The National Geographic Society and its Magazine as does any officer or Washington member." ~ Oliver LaGorce, 1932

8. NGS social media efforts 40+ Facebook pages across 15 categories with more than 1.5M fans. 15+ Twitter accounts with more than 250k followers. YouTube page with more than 30k fans; more than 272k channel subscribers; and more than 6.5M channel views (top 25 channel). NGS sold more than 2,500 subscriptions to National Geographic Magazine in one day. MyShot/YourShot has more than 70,000 members who have submitted more than 600,000 photos. Several photos have become viral sensations.

11. Bathing Parrot Photograph by Cesar Badilla , My Shot

13. Building a digital ecosystem

14. Waikawau Bay, New Zealand Photograph by Steve Burling, My Shot