WHarnessing the Power of Social Media.

Elaine Gantz Wright214.683.9295http://elainegantzwright.wordpress.com/

WWhat is social media?

Social media is the landscape of online tools—such as blogs, video, and sites like Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, and Change.org—where people share content, have conversations, and participate in social action.

Micro Blogging

Message Boards

Social media sites

Widgets

Blogging

Photo/video sharing

Chat/IM

Podcasts

RSS

Social Platforms

WWhy should we care?

In 2005, 8% of all adults online had a profile on a social network site. Today, 35% do.

73% of active online users have read a blog.

57% have joined a social network.

55% have uploaded photos.

22% have uploaded videos.

51% of social media users have 2 or more profiles.

Sources: Pew Internet & American Life Report (January 2009) Universal McCain Comparative Study on Social Media Trends (March 2008)

WWhy should we care? • In 2007, total online giving in the US reached over $10 billion - a 52% increase over 2006.

• By 2010, experts forecast 30% of all funds donated to nonprofits will be raised online.

• 76% of donors say they are motivated by friends and family.

• In Dec. 2008, 54.5 million people visited Facebook – a 57% increase over the previous year.

• In Dec. 2008, 4.5 million people visited Twitter – a 753% over the previous year.

Sources: ePhilanthropy Foundation; Harvard Initiative on Social Enterprise; Carol Cone, Cone Inc;Pew Internet & American Life Report (Jan 2009)

“The real value of social media is that it exponentially leverages word-of-mouth.”

-- John Haydon Marketing Consultant

NONPROFITS ON

W5 Rules of social media:

1. LISTEN. Social media is not about you. It’s about the

people who care about you. Listen before you speak.

W5 Rules of social media:

2. GET INVOLVED. Social media is journey -- not a destination. It’s about building relationships. Ask questions, engage, and connect. Be inspiring.

W5 Rules of social media:

3. GIVE UP CONTROL. You can’t control or edit the conversation. If you want to spread the Word, you have to trust.

Listen. Inspire. Engage. Release.

W5 Rules of social media:

4. BE HONEST. You can’t “spin” with social media. Be open, honest, and authentic.

W5 Rules of social media:

5. Think long term. Don’t expect immediate, measurable results. It takes time to build trust and make connections.

Listen. Inspire. Engage. Release.

WWhere are nonprofits on social media?From www.nonprofitsocialnetworksurvey.com 2009

WOnline Communities: Interactive Public Relations

WCause-Focused Social Networks

W

Blogs

WSocial Media Success Stories

Epic Change raised $11,000 in just 48 hours to help build a classroom in Tanzania on Twitter. 98% of donors had never before donated to Epic Change. How Do You Measure Gratitude? A Tweetsgiving wrapup (15,000+ page views in 48 hours - WOW!)

http://tinyurl.com/6xewh210:58 PM Dec 2nd, 2008 from web

• The “Dollars for Darfur” Group on Facebook has over 5,000 student members and raised $150,000 in 2007 to help stop genocide in Sudan.

Sources: tweetsgiving.org, Nonprofit 2.0 (November 2008)

WTools to Monitor Social Media

WNow. . . Get out there and connect!

Elaine Gantz Wright214.683.9295http://elainegantzwright.wordpress.com/