Social Media Resources for Newbies- There’s nothing to fear! (I promise!)
Are you little intimidated by all the weird terms and concepts you’ve heard so much about? Don’t worry, social media is in its infancy, and we are all learning… some of us have a bit more experience, but we were all newbies once. Relax! Here is a smattering of great resources that will help you understand the basics.
The FIRST STOP:
(Do not pass GO… Start here!) CommonCraft Videos
The absolute easiest, most user-friendly, and basic source of information might just be found at CommonCraft. The folks at CommonCraft develop and deliver outstanding videos intended to make the most complex concepts simple and interesting. They sell their …In Plain English series of videos to trainers and large corporations, but they make them available for non-commercial use on owner Lee Lefever’s CommonCraft channel on YouTube. (Wait, I might be losing you with channels on YouTube. We’ll get there, but for now, just click on the links!)
Here are a few of my favorite ComonCraft Videos!
Social Networking in Plain English
Blogs in Plain English
Twitter in Plain English
RSS in Plain English (If you want to keep up with lots of blogs, you MUST see this video!)
There are many more on the CommonCraft channel on YouTube
A quick Glossary, courtesy of Socialbrite
Best overall resources
Mashable’s Social Media Guide
The overarching guide to social media that is updated several times a day:
Mashable’s Social Media Guide
Hubspot’s Internet Marketing Blog
Hubspot sells Internet Marketing software, so they want you to visit their blog, but in general, the information offered in this blog is very good! Highly recommended!
HubSpot’s Inbound Internet Marketing Blog
Articles and Webinars
From Joanne Fritz’ excellent Non-Profit Guide on About.com (a great resource for all things nonprofit, not just Social Media): 12 Tips for Nonprofits on Getting Started with Social Media
You’ll find a lot of Social Media articles in the Social Networking section of Network for Good’s Learning Center, Fundraising123
NTEN Artcles – Articles from the Nonprofit Technology Network
NTEN Webinars– Affordable webinars from NTEN
Blogs
This is a hodgepodge of blogs that focus on Social Media and its application for marketing and fundraising. Some are written for nonprofit organizations, but offer excellent reading for small businesses as well.
John Haydon’ Blog
Heather Mansfield’s Blog
Kivi Leroux Miller’s Nonprofit Marketing Guide
Allison Fine’s Blog
Beth Kanter’s Blog
Organizations that offer articles and training on Social Media for Nonprofit Organizations (but offer great resource even if your business is not nonprofit)
Association of Nonprofit Professionals
The Nonprofit Marketing Guide: High-Impact, Low-Cost Ways to Build Support for Your Good Cause by Kivi Leroux Miller
I’m On Linkedin– Now What? by Jason Alba
Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking, Revised Edition by Andy Sernovitz
Guides and Whitepapers
Beyond the Hype: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits and Advocates
from Texans Care For Children
Reference
If you are ever stuck, you can look up words, terms or phrases through Google:
Enter keyword: define: (the word or “phrase” you want to look find)
For more specific information, fast, I recommend Webopedia.
And, of course, the ever popular Wikipedia is helpful, but can be overwhelming.
Hey, Smartipants: Add your recommended resources here!
There is an overwhelming amount of information about social media! This is hardly a complete list! I’d love to add your favorites to this entry, so leave a comment to make this resource richer! (Yes, I know, a wiki would work better, but that’s a subject for another day!)
Are ECE programs businesses?
When you think about your early childhood program, do you see it as a business? Do you think about yourself as a business administrator? I know that when I was in the field, I did not. I ran a program! I thought my program was a nonprofit organization, not a business. It was something else, above or in between. Huh?
Let’s break this down… Every day, just like you, I did the same things every business administrator does, like:
- managing the facility and equipment (quality assurance)
- ensuring 100% enrollment (sales)
- communicating with my customers (families)
- managing the budget (financial management)
- making presentations for prospective families (marketing) and staff (training)
- paying payroll and accounts payable
- supervising staff (quality assurance)
- hiring (HR)
- developing the program (product development)
- managing benefits (personnel), and…
- all of the tasks any business administrator needs to complete.
I guess that means ECE programs are businesses! (I better check Wikipedia for a definition, just to be sure….) Some are self-contained and managed internally, and some are managed by larger organizations like schools, agencies, or corporations. But nonetheless, we are in the business of providing developmentally appropriate programs for children. Enough said?
What are the implications? Tell me what you think!
Nurturing Donors Online is NOT Magic
Have you ever been disappointed with the results you are getting with your online fundraising program because you thought it was going to be so easy? As you began the process, you might have thought you’d put a donation button on your web site, and suddenly the donations would start flowing. That is a common misconception, and it’s one that often sabotages online fundraising. Getting donations online requires some effort, some creativity, and a few key tools. Of course, you must have online donation software that actually processes the transaction, but that’s only a fraction of the story. You have to set all of the action into play! You have to ask for donations, remind supporters about your great work, and then ask again. Online fundaising should one tactic in your overall fund development toolkit, and should be combined with other strategies. But, if you are asking for donations through postal mail and events, you may miss opportunities to engage donors on the spot, in the moment that they are considering your well crafted appeal. The immediacy of the connection between an email that links to your donation button offers opportunities to capitalize on the natural need for immediate gratification. There’s a natural cycle involved in engaging donors online. It looks like this:
The Online Fundraising Cycle
What are the two most basic tools you need to make the online fundraising cycle go around?
- You’ve got a great website (check?) (Think carefully about what “great” means!)
- You are using well designed, high-impact, regularly delivered email newsletters and email blasts to keep your supporters, donors, and constituents informed (check?)(No? Download The Nonprofit Email Marketing Guide from Network for Good.
If you are missing either of these elements in your online fundraising toolkit, it’s time to get to work! Here’s what you can do to improve your organization’s chances of becoming an online fundraising superhero: Your Website and your DonateNow pages When was the last time you took a look at your site as if it was the first time you visited? Sit down at the computer and pretend you have never been there before. Ask yourself these questions:
- Does the site provide information that is compelling, complete, and tells the story of your organization’s work?
- Does it include a form for visitors to complete if they want to learn more about your organization or subscribe to regular email communication from your organization?
- Do you ask visitors if they would like to receive an email newsletter?
- Do you know how to capture those addresses and use them to contact potential supporters?
Take a look at the sites of other similar organizations. How does your site look compared to the “competition?”
- Is your site as attractive and does it look as professional as the other sites in your field?
- Are you proud of your site?
- Would you be proud of your site if a potential grantmaker visited?
Ask a friend to take a tour while you watch. See how that friend gets around and be prepared to ask questions.
- Is it easy to find your donation links?
- Do your DonateNow pages tell your story?
- Can your friend easily describe your work and tell you why your cause is important and worthy?
How did your site stack up? If it did not meet your expectations, don’t worry! Maintaining a website is an ongoing process. You should expect to care for your site regularly, and do a significant facelift every 2-5 years. It doesn’t have to be expensive to make sure you are hitting the most important elements. If you need help, take a look at these resources: Web Sites 101 on Fundraising 123 by Network for Good 10-Point Basic Website Checklist for Nonprofits Is Your Website a Tool for Doing? Your Email Newsletters and Email Announcements If you are not using email to communicate with potential and current donors and supporters, it’s time to think about subscribing to a professional email provider. If you already are using a system, consider the following tips to optimize your results:
- Make sure to place the email newsletter sign-up form in a very visible place on every page of your website.
- Be sure to ask for donations and link to your donation page in every issue or announcement.
- Refresh your email list every time you send an announcement or newsletter with the new addresses that have been entered since the last time.
- Plan an editorial schedule with topics that your donors and supporters are likely to want to know.
- Be flexible with your editorial schedule. If an emergency or natural disaster occurs, you will want to include information that is interesting and relevant.
- Write compelling stories about the impact your organization has had. Make them as personal as possible. Think like a donor….they want to know that their donations have had an impact and made a difference for the cause.
There are literally thousands of e-mail marketing systems. Here is a list of a few of them:
EmailNow (Nonprofit Organizations only)
140+: In the Moment 