Social Media

Ted Hart speaks with Greg McHale, founder and CEO of good2gether, about going mobile, social and local on his Nonprofit Coach radio show.

When my agency started doing social-media audits three years ago, we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. What we soon discovered is that, big or small, B2B or B2C, many companies seem to be making the same mistakes, regardless of the department leading the charge. Here is a quick overview of the five most common mistakes we’re seeing, along with notes on how to correct these self-defeating faux pas.

At the DMA Nonprofit Federation's 2010 New York Nonprofit Conference, four fundraising professionals, including Jann Schultz from Operation Smile, shared "How Fundraisers Can Measure and Use Social Media."

Recently a reader asked me how his nonprofit could raise money through Facebook. My immediate thought was the usual, "Facebook is for engagement, not fundraising."

Social media is the social space where you not only connect with those you know, but you get to make introductions and meet new people. How does this support online fundraising? Social media is the place where you can change a donation ask from a stranger into a call to action from a friend. This is the space where you can equip your supporters with your message and help them carry your campaign to their own networks. Here are three ways you can start using social media in your campaign today.

Sometimes I meet organizations that think that social media is a silver bullet for email list growth or fundraising. They continue to reach for the pie in the sky, yet still struggle to figure out what content to post on which social media channel.

The primary advice about social media is to take your time and do it right. You are building relationships, and that is not going to happen overnight. Be consistent, be true to your mission and stay active on these channels. It works.

Despite their personal politics, fundraisers in 2009 could not deny the impact that the 2008 presidential campaign had on the face of fundraising. In January of 2009, Jocelyn Harmon asked (and answered) the question, "What Can *YOU* Learn From Obama?"

Claire Axelrad’s Clairification blog, which was one of our Best Fundraising Blog winners in the 2013 Fundraising Professionals of the Year Awards, got more nominations than any single submission in any category of any year of the awards. Last month, we announced the award winners; this month we’d like to formally introduce you to the blog. Here are some of Claire’s favorite recent posts.

There are lots of ways to manage your social-media presence, but only a few really simple rules: Keep it real; treat your fans, friends and followers with respect; and for Pete's sake, get your head out of your butt.