(This is the sixth and last video in a series of videos, recorded as part of our "Flip" chat series, that explores how various nonprofits -- and the consultants they hire -- are using "social media for social good." You can check out our previous chats, with the National Wildlife Federation's Danielle Brigida here, Small Act's Casey Golden here, Idealist's Julia Smith here, NTEN’s Amy Sample Ward here, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's Renee Alexander here.)
As you think about how your organization should use social media, be sure to connect your social media strategy to the organization's mission, says Big Duck vice president of client relationships and strategy Farra Trompeter (@farra) in the final installment of our "social media for social good" series. Among other things, be sure to consider "your [nonprofit's] goals around raising money, creating change, [and] getting people to engage...and participate in programs or become a volunteer."
According to Trompeter, nonprofits should also pay attention to the following:
- Examine your organization's culture. Can employees watch videos on YouTube, check Facebook, or update Twitter during office hours? If not, you're probably not ready to launch a social media campaign.
- Check out the competition. What social networking sites are your competitors using? Chances are good your audience is there, too.
- Assemble a dream team. Identify the people in your organization who are passionate about social media and put them in charge of implementing your social media strategy and tracking the results.
- Draft a social media policy. Create a set of guidelines for staff to follow that includes advice about how to handle specific situations (e.g., a tweet or Facebook comment that puts your organization in a negative light).
- Be willing to experiment and fail. Experimenting with different tools is the best way to learn what works and what doesn't.
(If you're reading this in an e-mail, click here.)
(Total running time: 6 minutes, 11 seconds)
Now it's your turn. What would you add to Trompeter's list? And what's the most important lesson your organization has learned about social media?
For more on the "Social Media for Social Good" event, check out these videos.
-- Regina Mahone
