There’s nothing new in the news that social media is where “it’s” at. Never mind that most of the folks delivering that news aren’t completely certain themselves what “it” is. This we believe. If our organizations aren’t operating from robust social platforms, we’re sunk – or soon will be.
If all the technology choices are enough to make your head spin, join the crowd. Leadership in hundreds of thousands of small to mid-size nonprofits feel your pain.
But not to fear. There’s a wealth of great, mostly free resources available online to social media challenged organizations, including the following culled from my in-box over the past week.
CHECK THESE OUT
Don’t have a lot of money to spend on a website? Take a look at this article from Ethical Studios. The piece is brimming with great ideas for getting the best website for your budget. Ethical Studios also provides a steady stream of good advice to novice techies via their blog.
Want to take your cause national? Click on over to Movie Mondays for an inspiring story about how a small group of dedicated volunteers made a big splash using social media. Even if your horizons are of a more local scale, there’s good stuff here.
If those little black blobs of squiggly lines showing up everywhere (except in your publications) have your puzzled, check out QR Codes for Dummies. The link gives you access to a downloadable chapter – enough to alert you to the nifty things you can do with QR codes, without much cost or ability.
Measuring ROI from your organization’s forays into social media isn’t easy, but measure you must. Blogger Brian Solis provides helpful tips on understanding what counts and what doesn’t. As he cautions, not all clicks are created equal and “like” doesn’t necessarily mean what it seems.
Finally, this critically important piece from about.com on what donors want to see on your website. As the post predicts, people of all ages are likely to research your nonprofit via your website before they give to you. So don’t make them hunt for a reason to support your cause. And definitely don’t make it hard for them to donate.
I hope these five help. Thank you to the great folks who shared the info. They know that generous matters.