Earlier this month, the world watched as America elected a new president who came from a campaign rich with social media. The campaigns had much more money and resources than all the nonprofit organizations that I know, but were really succeeding with free, or nearly-free, tools. The question this month focused on lessons for nonprofits:
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsnet2thinktank
Getting a start
I've been bookmarking articles for some time about the Obama campaign's use of technology. This is the URL to my list on delicious. http://delicious.com/david.cancer/politics
What strikes me is that success came from using a robust online infrastructure, a whole bunch of technologies, and good old-fashioned engagement both online and face-to-face. They trusted that the technology would enhance the campaign and made a total commitment to it.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsLittle by Little
The campaigns have definitely changed the way that nonprofits can think about social media. I work for a nonprofit doing poverty eradication in Kenya. We had bounced around the idea of sending out simple, wide-reaching emails soliciting small donations, but it was never something that we thought would amount to much.
The Obama campaign changed that for me (I didn't get John McCain's emails). It was always a very simply ask, "Please help us do good things. Donate $5 before midnight." It worked, and it worked like a charm, too.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNovember Net2 ThinkTank Time: Examples from politics?
Whether your candidate won or not on Tuesday, we can all be happy to be rid of campaign commercials, right? Since the campaigns are still so fresh in our memory, I wanted to use it for this month's Net2 Think Tank question.
Topic:
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNet2ThinkTank: Key Questions about Social Media Training
This month's Net2ThinkTank Question was: What are the key questions nonprofit organizations should ask to help them determine how to prioritize social media training and experimentation as they do their technology and organization-strengthening planning?
Below is a roundup of your answers!
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogs9 Steps to Prioritize Nonprofit Social Media Training and Experimentation
Here's my contribution to this month's Net2ThinkTank question posed by Amy Sample Ward,
"What are the key questions nonprofit orgs should ask to help them determine how to prioritize social media training and experimentation as they do their technology and organization-strengthening planning?"
1. What are the goals you are trying to achieve this year?
2. Which social media tools could possibly help you achieve those goals?
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNet2 ThinkTank: Key Questions to Ask
What are the key questions nonprofit orgs should ask to help them determine how to prioritize social media training and experimentation as they do their technology and organization-strengthening planning?
1) Who in our agency is already excited about social media and social networking?
Getting involved in social media as an organization should not feel like a chore. Let staff who already have a passion for this take the leadership in ways that work for them. Consider clearing other responsibilities from their plate so that they can:
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNonprofits should consider...
What are the key questions nonprofit orgs should ask to help them determine how to prioritize social media training and experimentation as they do their technology and organization-strengthening planning?
1. What is our organization's goal in using social networking sites - getting [more] people involved or maintaining communication with the net-public?
2a. How does our organization define "getting involved" or "being involved"?
2b. What are the expected results of maintaining communication with the net-public?
3. What are the key factors that determine whether someone will become involved in our cause? Do they vary according to the social networking site/group page/amount of advertising and promotion/etc.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNet2 ThinkTank time again!
It's time again for the Net2 ThinkTank! Here's a question for everyone to think about, blog about, and discuss. Thanks to Marie Deatherage for helping with it, too!
Topic:
What are the key questions nonprofit orgs should ask to help them determine how to prioritize social media training and experimentation as they do their technology and organization-strengthening planning?
Deadline:
Saturday, October 18th
How to contribute:
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNet2ThinkTank: How Can Nonprofits Use Flickr?
This month's Net2ThinkTank question was, How Can Nonprofits Use Flickr? Below is a round up of your answers:
Post Your Net2ThinkTank Answer by Tomorrow, August 27th
Just a quick reminder to email the URL of your Net2ThinkTank post to me at bbravo@techsoup.org by tomorrow, August 27th, at 5 PM PT ( I extended the deadline from Noon).
This month's Net2ThinkTank question is:
How Can Nonprofits Use Flickr?
You can see the original post with further directions for how to participate at, Join the Net2ThinkTank: How Can Nonprofits Use Flickr?
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsWe're on Flickr! So now what?
The net2thinktank question about non-profits on Flickr is what brought me here... but now that I'm all registered and logged on, I'm drawing a blank. The truth is, non-profits are doing lots of great things with Twitter, some of which are truly impressive.
My NPO has only begun to scratch the surface of social media. We have a Flickr account. We have a few pics up, some different versions of our logo. One on the main reasons we created a Flickr account was to put information out there for the local media to access when they want to feature us in a story. Thus far they've had to contact us for pictures, and since we haven't had many good pictures on hand anyway, we've missed out on some potentially great coverage.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsGreen Maps in Flickr
At OpenGreenMap.org, our newest mapmaking resource is an interactive platform and social networking website. The Open Green Map has mashed-up Flickr's API code, allowing to us to showcase images of green living sites, natural and cultural resources submitted by Mapmakers and the website's users around the world.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsFlickr and ICT Education Projects
Global Teenager Project (GTP), over the years, has aimed at bringing together students from all over the world in a safe and secure environment to engage in exchanges that promote inter-cultural awareness. It has also focused on improving the quality of education by introducing schools to exciting new applications of ICTs. A number of activities fall under the Global Teenager Project on an annual basis; chat sessions, pilot projects with other organisations.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogsNet2ThinkTank: How Can Nonprofits Use Online Video to Raise Money?
This month's Net2ThinkTank question is, How Can Nonprofits Use Online Video to Raise Money? Below is a round up of posts that were submitted, along with a few addditional ones I found on the topic:
Michael Hoffman of See3 Communications posted 11 Tips for Using Online Video to Raise Money.
Source: NetSquared, a project of TechSoup.org blogs
