◼Who is your audience?◼What platforms best suit the

organization? ◼Focus on 2-3 primary platforms◼ (Make sure website is in top shape

before starting any social media)◼How do you do much in little time?◼What voice/vibe/energy suits the

non-profit you are branding?

1. Know your audience & add value2. Be responsive, authentic & open3. Build trust -- do what you say you’ll do4. Build relationships & community (online

& in person)5. Be professional & transparent (work vs.

personal)6. Be a safe risk-taker7. Best social media is done live & in real

time.

• Reach a new audience• Engage with donors & those you serve• Improve visibility, image, reach more people in

less time• Do more with limited resources• Improve website traffic & engagement• Improve communication, trust/credibility• Encourage sharing (photos, video, links, stories)• Build (a supportive) community• Raise awareness

◼Take time to build relationships◼Reward your followers (with good,

valuable content, and occasional perks or giveaways)

◼ Invest time in social media every day

◼Are strategic & thoughtful

*Tip: Use email newsletter to promote social media channels and your blog!

TIPS: ◼ Encourage Facebook

reviews!◼ Encourage volunteers,

members, clients, etc., to post photos.

◼ Ask questions◼ Use Facebook Events

for greater reach◼ Save hashtags for

Twitter or Instagram

◼ Fill out page info (website, address, hours, etc.)◼ Include a photo or video on every post, even those

with links. All post photos should be square or horizontal. See http://bit.ly/FbookCheatSheet for more details

◼ Space posts 4+ hours apart, but post 1+ per day if possible

◼ Tag organizations using “@”◼ Use @ & “reply” button to reply individually on

comment thread◼ Use a “Facebook Team” if you have multiple stories,

departments, or capable volunteers◼ Check your “Insights” or analytics & adjust strategy◼ Preschedule posts when needed, send link for reviewMore: http://bit.ly/BestFbook

Bit.ly for Shortening, Sharing and Tracking

• Connect with like-minded organizations• Connect with individual reporters• Engage in the conversation• Always Include LINKS & IMAGES!  • Ideal Twitter is image is 525 x 262 pixels.

For Twitter: Use Hashtags to follow threads of interest, ie. : #RVA #VA #FXBG #NOVA

Topics, ie. #Playoutdoors #Garden #ECE #Kids #Autism #RVAart

More best practices: http://bit.ly/TwitterBESt

Look at your Twitter Analytics: analytics.twitter.com 

Image: http://pinoytutorial.com/techtorial/facebook-search-engine-rumor-against-google-details/

Twitter

◼Video or still photos

◼Live in real time◼Contests to

increase engagement

◼User Generated content &reposts

◼Hashtags to increase viewing & connect with the right audience

Review What’s Working

Tools: Canva

Using Our Power for Good

Use Instagram Contests for Multiple Objectives

◼Build Relationships◼Encourage Engagement◼Create Buzz◼User-Generated Content◼Opportunity for Collaboration◼Reward Fans◼Because It’s Fun

It’s not about the Winner …

A Snapshot of Dominion GardenFest of Lights via FansTool: PicMonkey

Contests: A Few Ideas

◼ Partner with other nonprofits for prizes, tag them & cross-promote on social media.

◼ Choose a short & memorable hashtag; vet it. ◼ Make sure you have a “rules” page with a disclaimer allowing use of images for promotional purposes.

◼Use onsite signage to promote contest with Instagram logo & hashtag .

◼Search for relevant photos that might be good entries & tell them about the contest. Despite all the signs, and promotion, some don’t know about it.

Pinterest

◼Rule No. 1: Add Value◼Rule No. 2: Drive Traffic (to your own webpage & to other reputable pages)

◼Don’t pin any photo without checking it out

◼Create new content on your blog (for the purpose of pinning)

◼Highly visual (photos & infographics)

Pinterest Analytics

Pinterest Analytics

http://www.shoutmeloud.com/5-reasons-why-readers-unsubscribe-from-blogs-rss-feed.html

Blogs are alive!

• Use Wordpress• Link to partners &

like-minded organizations

• Build ambassadors for your brand

• Support your Nonprofit’s mission

• Use tagging to help SEO

• Recycle & Cross-post Content

• Use categories to make a microblog

• Allow people to subscribe via email• Tell your story

• Create “Pinable” content that drives traffic to your website• Share blog posts on other social media -- recycle content

• Share your legacy (acts as a history of your nonprofit)• Content re-appears is reusable (unlike Facebook)

Your Blog

How Do You Create Compelling Blog Content?

◼Write to your Best Friend ◼Tie into Current Events & Hot Topics◼Image or Infographic Heavy. Light Text.◼Ask your Readers What They Want to Know◼Ask your Front-line Staff What Questions They Get◼Q&A or Take 5 (New staff, Board Members, Volunteers, Etc.) ◼Do a “Top10” Post

*Recapping your best posts *Featuring the best blogs or posts in your industry

◼Guest Bloggers (Clients, Volunteers, Constituents, Donors)◼Be an Expert!◼Recap (Year in Review, Community Kitchen Garden Recap)◼Tell Your Personal Story◼Share the <3

Wordpress Stats

You must check in on social media at least every 24 hours, more is better

Guidelines:*At least 1-3 Tweets a day *At least 1 Facebook post a day (if more space by

4 hours)*At least 2 blog posts a week*Regular attention to any platform you are on*Responsive & active engagement with those

who comment & interact on your page

◼Social Media is not a direct ask tool for fundraising

▪ Set Guidelines (ie transparency)▪ Identify social media team ▪ Go over policy with employees in person,

answer questions. Provide written copy & have them sign when they read/accept it. Post on web, handbook, & on social platforms

▪ Focus on what staff can do…… not what they can’t do.

▪ Consider legal issues. Chris Fortier & PRSARVA have a great presentation on this: http://www.prsarichmond.org/attachments/files/396/Legalities_of_Social_Media.pdf

▪ * email me if you’d like a copy of the Garden’s 1-page social media policy.

▪ Great resource: http://www.nptechforgood.com/

Questions?