flickr photo courtesy of racoles
Note from Beth: This week I've been researching and thinking
about the topic of creating movements with others and invited guest blog posts on this topic. Frank Barry offered to do compile a list of movement building resources and nonprofit examples and I've added a posts/resources from the last few years. Over the next month, I'm continuing with recruiting guest posts on different themes, if you are interested, submit a post for consideration here.
Are you creating a movement or just campaigning? Recent initiatives such as Charity:Water, 12for12k and Twestival have wowed us with their ability to create powerful movements using social media and the internet as their driving force. Lance Armstrong Foundation, Susan G. Komen, The American Heart Association
and many others started movements that are changing our world to this
day. Each has withstood the test of time – Surviving no matter what the
communication channel or how their message is spread.
The incredible people supporting each cause and the passionate teams leading these organizations are at the heart of their success.
Movements are amazing to watch form. They have an incredible ability to affect change in our world. The organic grass roots nature of movements coupled with their passionate supporters give them the ability to quickly spread around the world one person at a time.
It’s not just about creating campaigns, it’s about creating movements.
An excerpt from Brains On Fire helps drive home why movements are becoming more and more important in today’s highly connected world:
Movements go on as long as kindred spirits are involved.
Movements are part of the evangelist vocabulary. (Evangelize, passion, love…)
Movements are organic and rooted in passion.
Movements rely on word of mouth, where the people are the medium.
Movements are part of the evolutionist theory—whatever we co-create with the fans they can own and run with it, which will evolve over time.
Below you will find some great resources to help you learn more about creating a movement.
What's A Movement?
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals and/or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change.
- Social Movement (Wiki)
- Creating Movements by by Geoff Livingston of The Buzz Bin
- Social Movements 2.0 by Vanessa
- Building Movement Project
- Five Stages for Social Movements by Training for Change
Tips on Getting Started:
- How to Start a Movement in 7 Easy Steps by Nathan McGee of Social Media Today
- 10 Steps in Creating Movements by Conversation Agent
- The 5 Phases of a Movement by Brian Reich of Thinking About Media
- 10 Lessons Learned in Igniting Word of Mouth Movements by Brains on Fire (pdf)
- How To Create a Grassroots Movement Using Social-Networking Sites(YouTube video)
A Few Examples:
- ZeroTrash shows how to create a social media grassroots movement by David Scott of Web Ink Now
- Planned Parenthood Movement Building: Leadership, Engagement, Stories, and Platform for Self-Organizing by Beth Kanter
- Twestival = Social Media for Social Change by Paull Young of Mashable
- Amanda Rose, Twestival Leader, Reflects on Twestival by Beth Kanter
A for-profit example that gives us some good insight:
- Ford Corporation and Social Media-Fiesta Movement on Facebook
- Ford creates a Social Media Movement with Fiesta by Rick of Eye Cube
- Ford Fiesta Movement and social media participation points by Geoff Northcott of Supercollider
You should also check out the Building a Movement Project. They help Nonprofits!!
What other examples have you seen emerging due to the new ways people communicate online? How are movements being started and how are they spreading in today’s modern and highly connected world?
Frank is a Consulting Manager at Blackbaud Internet Solutions. At work he helps nonprofits with technology, social media & online strategy. He also spends some time speaking at industry conferences. The rest of the time he enjoys family, learning, sports, food, friends & movies.
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