Online Technology & Social Media

August 7, 2009 National Women’s Political Caucus

Christina Gagnier, REALPOLITECH gagnier@realpolitech.com

Technology has changed everything.

How do we use these different channels?

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The “Big Three”

MySpace Ning Orkut FriendFeed

The Others

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Think of a hub and spoke model

You or your website as the hub

These social networking tools are the spokes.

They expand your reach.

Your Technology Universe.

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

MySpace

YouTube Flickr

Social Networking. What?

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Goes by a variety of names

The love/hate relationship with the term “social media”

Decoding It

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Social networks replicate your real-time offline experiences.

Its’ use should match offline grassroots efforts.

How does all this online “stuff” do what I need it to do for me?

Riding the Waves

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First Wave

Offline Action:

Does it drive volunteerism?

Does it drive donations?

Does it drive people to the polls?

Second Wave

Online Action:

Online volunteerism

Online community

Micro-volunteering

Mobile action

Why?

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Reason: Connect with friends, family, colleagues.

Reason: To follow things you already like.

Reason: Get feedback.

Reason: Mobilize others, generate interest.

Reason: Town Crier.

How It’s Different

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Complaints:

“P.R. run amuck”

“Getting off the message”

Quality Control

Imaginations run wild when people realize the organizational “me” becomes

a large “WE” with social media.

Big Thing to Keep in Mind

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Things are changing from a “Broadcast at” to a “Broadcast with” model.

People want to interact, not just be talked at. Join in. The conversation potential is

deep.

Content. Context. Campaigns.

Successes. Obvious,

and not so obvious

ones.

Advent of the modern political campaign.

2004: A Political Odyssey.

Obama campaign.Causes.

Providing assistance to families in need.

Collecting stories of national service.

Demonstrating impact.

The Modern Political Campaign.

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Easy to engage.

Can participate from anywhere.

Causes.

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Guiding Digital Citizens.

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Micro-asks.

Legitimizers.

Story of National Service.

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Impact Driving Involvement.

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Assembling a Toolkit.

A Translation.

Twitter.

Tweet. DM. RT. #. @.

Huh?

Facebook.

Basic Profile. Groups. Fan Pages. Who & Why.

Your Technology Universe.

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

MySpace

YouTube Flickr

Facebook.

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The Power of Suggestion.

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Facebook is…look at me! Be my friend! Do what I ask because others do it too!

What’s available:

Basic Profile

Customized URL.

Fan Pages

Groups

74% of non-profits surveyed use it.

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Fan Page v. Group

Groups are very easy to set up.

But they are limited.

Fun applications are available with fan pages.

Who Should Use it & Why.

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Reason:

Your acquisition & cultivation base is moving online.

Reason:

Your new recruits are already there.

Reason:

Your future leaders shape this space already.

#1 Social Networking Service in the U.S.

Twitter.

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Sweet. Let’s Tweet.

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Basic Profile/Name.

Tweets.

@ Replies.

Direct Messages.

The Infamous Retweet.

Fun Events: #FollowFriday

@gagnier

@realpolitech

Exercising your “Twinfluence”

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Power of 140 Characters.

Rapid Response, Rapid Dissemination.

Sincerity.

Master of the Twitterverse.

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Twitter is…share info with me! Follow me because I am interesting! Share my info & my cause!

Return on Investment.

Rule #3: Personaliz

e.

Rule #2: Link. Link. Link.

You link to others, respond to what is going on.

Others will link back & comment.

Rule #1: Blog early. Blog often.

Make it a “first thing” routine.

Do it frequently.

It’s not like making a deposit.

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You won’t necessarily get back what you put in.

Make sure you are focusing on the right things:

Content is king (or queen).

Quality v. Quantity

V is for…

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Visibility.

Using multiple platforms in a rich manner often.

Viability.

Setting up a plan that you can implement.

Get Started.

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#1: Create an account on Facebook & Twitter.

Start simple. Check these tools out, add info, customize, have fun.

#2: Try new tools.

Venture on to LinkedIn or YouTube.

#3: Take suggestions.

Facebook suggests friends. Twitter lets you use your email contacts.

Additional Considerations.

Measure return on investment.

Keep a log. Do a monthly

assessment.

Is MySpace your space?

If even a small part of your community identifies with the tool, maybe you should use it.

In House Social Networks.

Why do people go this route?

More control = more work

Strategy time.

Connect.

Thank you.

Christina Gagnier CEO REALPOLITECH

gagnier@realpolitech.com

http://www.realpolitech.com

@gagnier

For more tips, check out the REALPOLITECH website for blog posts & upcoming webinars.