Understanding Social Networking

Executive Service Corps of Houston Seminar August 25,2010

Dr. Carl Scott

Brian Solis of FutureWorks

How NonProfits are using Social Networking

Fundraising Revenue on Commercial Social Networks

Putting Social Networking to work in a NonProfit

Tips for Nonprofits On Getting Started With

Social Media1. Pick the right social networks.

7. Post your edgiest, most viral content.

2. Find an 'internal expert' to help you.

8. Find out which of your supporters are already on social networks.

3. Extend your reach. 9. Communicate with your social network friends on a regular basis.

4. Prepare to lose control. 10. Devote staff time to making your social networking effort a success.

5. Know who is already pretending to be you.

11. Activate your social network supporters.

6. Make a good first impression. 12. Think of social networking as an investment in the future.

Online Resources for Social Media

1. Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

6. The Social Signal Blog

2. TechSoup.org 7. Blogging for the Hearts of Donors

3. NTEN 8. Seth's Blog (by Seth Godin)

4. Mashable 9. The Pew Internet Project

5. FastForward Blog 10. Twitter Jump Start

Reflections • Social Networking and Social Media

are here to stay• Social networking changing very fast,

so plan on evolving your message with it

• Work with younger staff members to create your social networking sites

• Social networking is there to help with communications and fundraising, but is not an answer by itself

Leading references1. Nonprofit Social Network Benchmark Report,

www.nonprofitsocialnetworksurvey.com2. Sarah DiJulio, Marc Ruben in People to People Fundraising:

Social Networking and Web 2.0 for Charities,, Wiley, 2007.3. Lindley Curtis, Carrie Edwards, Kristen L. Fraser, Sheryl

Gudelsky, Jenny Holmquist,4. Kristin Thornton, Kaye D. Sweetser, Adoption of social

media for public relations by nonprofit organizations, Public Relations Review 36 (2010) 90–92

5. Richard D.Waters, Emily Burnett ,Anna Lamm, Jessica Lucas Engaging stakeholders through social networking: How nonprofit organizations are using Facebook, Public Relations Review 35 (2009) 102–106 

6. http://nonprofit.about.com/od/nonprofitpromotion/tp/Resources-for-Social-Media.htm