Social Media for NonprofitsSilver bullet or just a bunch of hype?

Marc A. Pitman, The Fundraising Coach, www.fundraisingcoach.com

Twitter: @marcapitman

Would you help? Could you tweet @aboutdotme and

ask them to choose the bowtie of @marcapitman for Times Square?

There are so many pressures on nonprofits

Social media seems too good to be true!Lots of options

But it can be a bit overwhelming!

Raise as much as Obama?

–Not likely• You need millions of potential donors• AND a compelling message

–But you can learn• Get emails everywhere you can• Study online marketing

–And you can “stack the deck”• Have major givers give through social media

But isn’t Social Media Free?This stuff is free, right? It costs T-I-M-E

You CAN raise money onlineSome are making money

$500,000 in 1 dayMarch 24, 2011

$30,000 around Mother’s Day

2011

Great example of “listening”Local businesses do it. Why not nonprofits?

More listeningEven Red Box is doing it

Have fun with it (It’s not what you think…)

TwitterMore good social mediaListen, engage, explore

Twitter Ideas1. Use it to be succinct

– 140 characters (really only 120 if want RTs)

2. Create donor list– Share their stuff

3. Promote others in your cause space

4. Participate in Twitter chats like #smnpchat #blogchat #fundchat

An example of a Twitter ListYou can see my other lists on the

rights

Twitter does increase fundraisingBlackbaud study shows Twitter increases resulsts

FacebookBe sure to be involved personally first

Find out what bugs you, what attracts you

FacebookHuge audience: over 600 million

people–Yes, Virginia, your donors are on FB

Huge time on site: >50% of Americans spend at least an hour on FB a week

Facebook Ideas1. Set up a FB page

–The ONLY place for organizations

2. Experiment with posts–Keep track of FB Insights (analytics)

3. Set up “secret” groups– Maybe with like causes to RT their stuff

A nonprofit FB pageBe sure to watch John Haydon’s

webinars on customizing. (One is in 501MissionPlace.com)

An example of FB InsightsLots of graphs and helpful information Use this to guide the content you post

A secret FB groupSorry, I can’t show you…it’s secret

LinkedInLinkedIn, the little engine that could

LinkedIn Idea1. Experiment with setting up

appointments through LinkedIn

2. Use LinkedIn for donor research– How do they describe themselves?

3. Use the “Answers” tool

LinkedIn AnswerCan be related to your cause or not!

Google+Awesome potential for nonprofits

Google+ Ideas1. Follow interesting people

– New search features help you find them!

2. Notice how people interact differently– Answers tend to be fuller & use more

media

3. Experiment with Hangouts– Lots of potential here for nonprofits

Example of a Google+ HangoutNow you can also:

–Broadcast your hangout (so 10 interact but many more can see)

–Name your Hangout (something that fits your organization)

–Share screen or collaborate on Google Docs

How do we organize all this? I love HooteSuite, others like

TweetDeckHootSuite allows you to see all of this

in one place (almost all, not Google+ yet)–Lists–Searches _ particularly FB searches

Lots of lists in one screen

Facebook SearchesHelps you see related public posts

An example of Twitter chat

Schedule PostsComfort with this varies, but I find it

helpful

Measuring SuccessURL shorteners (ie. bit.ly)

–Can track clicksGoogle Analytics

–See if social media is driving traffic to your site (that is the point after all)

Services like Flowtown can show where your donors are– If you have emails. You have emails,

right?

Email IS social mediaEmail is social media. It’s the grand

daddy.

And in my tests, is far more responsive

Tough times are hear to stayTimes are tough. And will be fore a

while longer.

Not a silver bulletBut not a bunch of hype either

But social media can help: Money is possible

Raise money and raise PR

Free Webinar 9/26

http://501missionplace.com/landing/social-media-increases-fundraising/

Frank Barry & the 501 Mission Place crew discuss online fundraising as year end approaches!

FMI:

Give me your card for a free copy of $100,000 Guide to Email Solicitation e-course

Tool shop including the Ask Without Fear! book and DVD

Free blog, articles, book reviews, and more!

marc@fundraisingcoach.com