Beth's Blog: Nonprofits and Social Media

Crowdsourcing Your Professional Learning With Social Media: An Example

Kevin Gilnack workes for the Providers Council

Yesterday I did one of the Chronicle's Live Chat Discussions that was billed as "How Can Charities Figure out How Much Time and Money To Invest in Social Media."   The transcript is here.  I got flooded with questions and wasn't able to answer them all in an hour.  So, I wrote a post organizing all the questions and providing some short answers in a follow up post. 

There were a number of questions related to tools and tactics that I couldn't answer off the top of my head - so I decided to crowdsource them on Twitter asking for answers in the comments.   Kevin Gilnack came by and wrote terrific responses to those questions.  I'm elevating them from the comments because they make a great post.   This is an example of how you can use social media to crowdsource your professional development and learning.  Thank you Kevin!

How often should an organization post to Twitter or send out updates on Facebook? Is there a fine line between sending too much that's irrelevant vs. useful information?

Quality is more important than quantity. Make sure you're sending useful, relevant information, and do your best to spread it out. Also, try not to tweet about your own org on an average of more than once every seven or so tweets. You will also find your followers engage you more if you engage them. Replies only appear in your intended recipients stream and in those of people who follow both you and the recipient, so don't be afraid to have conversations with your supporters.

Talking about time, is there an application which would post an update on all main Social Networking Sites at once? I know of some but they would pick my Facebook personal profile instead of the Organization's Page I am admin of.

While I would suggest using automated content thoughtfully and customizing your message where you can, I realize that's not always possible. Ping.fm allows you to publish to your Fan Pages as well as many many other social networks.

Is the stigma of having fans or cause supporters with 'questionable' Facebook profiles true? Does it make the organization look too lax or less professional? We are a workforce development organization, and my superiors think it could be misconstrued.

I tend to be of the feeling that if someone wants to support your cause via social media, they should be able to. I'd argue it makes your organization look open, inclusive, and accessible. Especially in workforce development, as it's very possible that those with questionable profiles could benefit from your work. However, one thing you could do is include a disclaimer that acknowledges you accept anyone who wants to support your cause but that by no means is intended to endorse them or their content.

I would like us to get our organization on twitter, but i'm afraid that if i only "tweet" about fundraising events, people will tire of it quickly--any thoughts on this? other content i might want to tweet about?

Yes, they will lose interest quickly. Look beyond what you need people to do (whether it's giving money, volunteering, taking action, etc.). Before you can effectively get people to respond to those requests, and to build an audience in an opt-in system like Twitter, you need to show you're there to add value to your followers as well as advancing your mission. Talk about how your spending their money (e.g. the goings-on and successes of your programs), news relevant to your organization, RT posts from other orgs and individuals, and respond to interesting/relevant tweets your followers are sending.

What are some best practices on Facebook to generate followers and turn them into donors? Also everyone says that Twitter wont' raise any money. Is that true?

I don't have the stats to back this up, but anecdotally, I believe that Twitter can generate more giving than Facebook Causes. The gifts will generally be smaller, but with the right cultivation, you can use Twitter to raise funds. Here are some examples from Beth from November, 2008 - I'd be interested in hearing about more data and experiences myself .

I haven't done a lot of work with Facebook, but integration (linking from your website and enewsletter, writing about it in your newsletter, and sharing it through your other marketing and fundraising presence will help. You might start by importing your email list and suggesting they become fans of your page / join your group. Once you have staff and stakeholders on, ask them to invite their networks and share your page in their minifeeds. You can also find potential supporters by looking at the followings of aligned groups, though I'm not sure the etiquette for cold-inviting people.

What is the best process through social media of finding new organizations/individuals interested or working in your arena of social issues and connecting with them? I usually do simple Twitter searches and @replies, comment on blogs, but are there better ways or a general hierarchy of effective strategies?

I know that Beth has some great recommendations on paid listening services that she mentioned in the forum, but Twitter search RSS feeds to a Google Reader can provide some great insights. I'm not sure what you mean by simple searches, but think of all of the names, things, words that would help you find conversations of interest. You can also consider using the localization feature of Twitter searches. Finally, don't forget that Google Alerts have web and blog search features in the comprehensive mode.

We have blogs and forums on our site, but have a hard time getting people to comment or post anything in them. Although our members will comment and post on our Facebook and Twitter... how do we get them to jump from those sites, onto our site and start discussing there?

If it is a struggle to get people posting in your forums but are finding Facebook and Twitter conducive to conversations, it may be worth evaluating what the value of those forums are and if it might be more worthwhile to drive traffic there for interaction. However, you might find that posting something like "That's a great point, we actually have a thread going on this topic here [link to forum]" and/or asking key volunteers to do the same. You may get more comments on your blog by using Twitter and Facebook to drive people there, as well as by promoting posts in your e-newsletter and other outlets. Is the blog to buried from your front page? Also, I'm not sure if this is true, but one stat I saw said to expect 1 comment / 100 views (though I assume they pick up significantly after the first comment is left).

What tips or suggestions can you offer for partnering with FaceBook or LinkedIn to leverage their brand as a communication platform for alums, and the private companies policies for not sharing alumni data with the higher ed institution?

I've seen a lot of colleges creating groups on Twitter (http://twitter.com/higheredu), Myspace, Facebook, and LinkedIn. I'm not sure the value in highlighting their privacy settings, but if someone is reluctant to share their new contact info, asking for an email to invite them to a group, or providing them with a link to join, might be a good second ask.

PS from Kevin: These are just my two cents (most of it read here at some point - just google around the site and I'd bet you'll find great answers to most of these).

We're thinking about how human service agencies can use social media to engage clients/consumers, their families, supporters/volunteers, interested community members, donors, electeds, and other groups, so if anyone has experiences or thoughts, I'd love to hear about them and other thoughts on the interesting questions raised above.

Joe Solomon, Guest Post: What's the Right Offline Event for Your Organization's Online Community?

Courtesy of Joe Solomon

This month's Net2 Think Tank question is: How do real-world (offline) events fit into social media conversations and campaigns?

My thinking: Social media conversations and online campaigns create whole new models for bringing together & powering the progressive movement. Although at core: People coming together in the real-world are key to fueling how we organize for change. We need real world events to be a central part of our online organizing. We need offline events to meet each other, bond eye-to-eye, and forge the collaborations that will make our social networks stronger, better connected, and ultimately transformative.

So - a major question is: How can your online community also support events in the real world? What kind of offline events are the best fit for your community? And what real world event models can you learn from or partner with? Well, let's look at five different event types and see if one or more of 'em sparks some ideas for your community!

1. Is your community all about the socializing? Then check out...

Green Drinks

"Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business...These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity."

I've attended Green Drinks in Vancouver & Seattle and think this event format is wonderful for socializing - if that's your cup of tea (or rather glass of wine!) Creating a space for socializing and networking is key for those "moments of serendipity" - and this model is great for those who are outgoing and excel at meeting new people.

Whatever your cause -- How would you help your online community socialize in the real world? Would Change.org's community benefit from "Change Drinks?" What about Care2 - "Care Drinks?" DonorsChoose.org - "EduDrinks"?

2. Is your community focused on accomplishing a shared agenda? Then check out ...

350.org Actions

"We're coordinating a distributed day of events for 24 October 2009, uniting the world around a common call to action--and we're asking you to help. You don't need to have ever done anything like this before--you'll have lots of support through 350.org. And if you're stuck for action ideas, just click here. We'll soon be unveiling a full set of tools to let you manage your local event and build a strong local climate group in the lead-up to 24 October."

The 350.org model enables any individual or organization around the world to create and promote events ("actions") - with a call to action for a fair global climate treaty. The framework is super flexible - as just about any kind of action can be proposed and organized. Since all actions are focused on a shared agenda, and will occur on the same day, their cumulative affect is well-positioned to have a much bigger impact in gaining attention and raising awareness.

350.org Actions are a great example of coordinated events with a shared agenda. These may work best for an online network focused on getting legislation passed - such as certain Sunlight Foundation projects, the Genocide Intervention Network, and the Energy Action Coalition.

3. Does your community focus on networking with learning & sharing? Then check out...

Net Tuesdays

"Every month, the NetSquared community comes together offline at Net Tuesday events to mix, swap stories and ideas, build new relationships, and collaborate. These gatherings provide a chance for all those interested in the intersection of social technologies and social change, whether you're part of a nonprofit organization or a for-profit organization, a funder or a consultant, a developer or an entrepreneur."

I am a proud member of the NetSquared community and have helped organize Net Tuesday events in Vancouver & Seattle. Events can take various shapes and sizes: usually with a socializing/networking element + presentations, group discussions, strategy sessions, or sometimes even games - whatever is a good fit for the community. By meeting in the real world - Net Tuesdays bring the frequent online "social media for change" conversations together for a more intimate, interactive, and hands-on experience.

In addition to helping communities come together around social technologies and social change, Net Tuesdays also represent a flexible way to marry network weaving with community learning and sharing. Online communities which focus on learning & sharing and social networking (like BloggersUnite, Knowmore, & WiserEarth) might benefit from learning more about how Net Tuesdays work.

4. Does your community address local issues? Then check out...

ChangeCamps (+ SeedCamps, HeroCamps, GreenCamps, EcoCamps, SocialChangeCamps & more)

"ChangeCamp is an event format, an open community and a set of tools and ideas designed to give citizens and governments the ability to work collaboratively in new ways to make change and to better address real-world challenges in our communities."

ChangeCamps are currently a Canadian phenomenon started by Mark Kuznicki and others. In theory, though, ChangeCamps could be organized anywhere. So far, ChangeCamps are full-day events with a focus on bringing together communities to address local issues. There's also a strong technology element although the last Vancouver Change Camp proved that you could have sessions on "social networking" co-exist with sessions on "social housing." By using the open-space/BarCamp model - participants are invited to create the agenda together to share their experiences & expertise, build solutions together, and explore ways to collaborate.

This model might be ideal for online communities focused on local issues. Like Vancouver's ChangeEverything.ca and Romina Oliverio's Youth Campaigners in Toronto. You could also extend ChangeCamps with regular events, like Social Innovation Camp does with monthly meetups.

Does your community focus on collaboration and/or on collaborative projects? Then check out...

Climate Change Collaboration Initiative

"Our vision is to connect the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector organizations that have similar mandates, in order to enable them to gain the critical mass that is necessary to bring about the desired social change objectives. To this end there are three primary objectives; to identify a single project around which a group of NFP's with similar missions can collaborate, support the initiative with an appropriate technology platform or set of tools, provide sufficient funding to hire a full time Collaboration Facilitator for the group. This model can be deployed amongst subsets of NFP's that should have overlap in their missions; fighting climate change, alleviating poverty in the developing world, etc."

This model is quite new and is being spearheaded by Suresh Fernando in Vancouver BC, Canada. While it remains untested - it has the potential to create a space for collaboration, foster alliances, and allow for sharing knowledge and resources. It also seems designed to work with any issue-focused community (not just climate change). The Collaboration Initiative could also give birth to projects that take advantage of new tools and technologies which in turn could draw on the Net Tuesday & ChangeCamp models to help your community identify and create relevant solutions.

Online communities focused on collaborative projects (like Amazee) might benefit the most from this event model. Meta-social networks (like WiserEarth) and online coalitions (like Science Commons) might benefit a lot too!

Crime Fighting Team Photo by ittiebittiesforyou.

What event model is the best fit for your online community?

Since every online community is different - you'll likely have the best sense of what kind of real world events are a most-good fit. It could be a re-mix or mashup of the palette of event models above - or entirely new kinds of events! Please share your ideas in the comments!

Here are some additional questions to consider for your organization's offline event strategy:

1. How would you blend the best elements of the event models described above with your ideas for creating a framework for bringing together your community in the real world?
2. How do you frame events so various organization representatives within your sector feel welcome to attend and participant?
3. What role does a support team and/or a Community Builder share in ensuring the success of local events and helping local communities connect to be bigger than the sum-of-their-parts?
4. How do you use social media and web tools to connect different events together for shared resources, learning, and experiences?

Note: There are lots of other social change event models too!: Eco Tuesdays, Social Actions Lunches, 501 TechClubs, WebofChange, M4Changes, NetworkingforaCause, OpenEverything, Environmental Meetups, 1Sky Local Events, TransparencyCamps, Transition Towns, and more!

Also: This post was adopted from research done for WiserEarth.org - reviewing real wold events for their global web-connected community of environmental and social change makers. Join the WiserEarth convo on the WiserEarth Blog!

 

Joe Solomon (@EngageJoe) starts & participates in conversations, events, and projects at the intersection of collaboration, the web, and social change.

This post was originally published at NetSquared

Working Wikily: The fine lines between content and curriculum and self-directed learning and instruction ....

 

Photo by JRhode (Jason Rhode)

One of the personal learning threads that I'm following is working wikily - and relating this to current work, including NTEN's WeAreMedia Project.  The way I do that is not just do the work, but reflect along the way in a socially-networked way.

Dave Briggs pinged me to let me know that he just wrote a primer on wiki collaboration and since I've been obsessing about this lately, he thought I'd be interested.  And, yes I am!  I love step-by-step guides like this, especially if you're just starting out.    The type of collaboration described is using a wiki to capture notes from a meeting and for follow up.  One could do this for workshops as I've done

Yesterday, I shared some thoughts on the collaboration process.  Michele Martin responds with great insights and some provocative questions.

She accurately sums up the curriculum research and writing process as a a form of crowd-sourcing.   I've called them "swarms"  where calls are put out each day for people to respond with resources, tips, links, etc. that relate to a particular topic or question in the curriculum.  Michele goes on to observe:

It's my observation that the swarms have been a sort of combined subject matter expert analysis and brainstorming session-- really. This has been a great way to get a lot of content quickly and Beth's individual wiki pages set up for each module have helped us organize that content.

 

She also provides a valuable peer reflection on my online facilitation process - I was afraid of being too heavy-handed:

In facilitating this brainstorming portion, Beth has been using a light touch. She puts out the questions and calls for resources and has provided an organizational framework for responding. She also summarizes what's being discussed. There have been few if any "directive" behaviors from Beth in keeping with Dave Cormier's "Community as Curriculum" idea of letting knowledge evolve through the interactions of a learning community. As a result, the community truly is creating the curriculum.

So, looking at the visual above from Jason Rhodes - we are working wikily and covering the purple triangle on the top - content.   Michele's questions are green and blue sections - learner and instructor and of course the network and collective in the middle.   

Last night was I looking over Module 1 and Module 2, I definitely saw these as "rough drafts" and more editing/shaping or curating is needed - but I think more of the modules need to built out.  Michele also points out the fine line between process and product:

I see a lot of great resources, ideas and questions, but I'm not sure that I see an actual learning module that a nonprofit could pick up and implement on their own

The NTEN project includes both the wiki and some face-to-face workshops.  The wiki was originally envisioned as a self-service resource or content for nonprofits. The development of this content is being done collaboratively.    The face-to-face workshops will draw from the content in the wiki and part of my work will be to put together a trainer's guide and workshop instructional materials based on the wiki. The workshop is 2-day boot camp -- so obviously couldn't do everything that's in the wiki. 

And, since the wiki is available under cc - anyone is welcomed to use these materials in their own training, curriculum development work.  And one would hope, that if people were drawing from the source materials, they might add a link to how they were remixing the content in the wiki to suit their trainings.

In the comments, Betsy Hansel notes:

I think the dilemma is that you will not see exactly what happens to the module as it goes out there ... it's a bit like sending your children out in the world, isn't it? You don't know what will happen or how they will process what you tried to teach them.

 

But what if we were to provide some guidance on how to reshape the wiki "content" for "instructors" or "learners"?   Michele offers two options for process:

a) Go through another iteration of Module 1 where a smaller group of instructional designer types take the content and re-organize and re-configure so that it's a "stand-alone" kind of workshop in the format that people seem to want

b) Create some kind of companion piece that explains to people how they can take the module content and reconfigure for their own use, teaching them a new skill in the process?

The first option feels a bit beyond the project scope of work, but the second looks very doable.  With that said,  I am very curious what the steps would be for option B? Do you have a check list or list of steps? I think that would be helpful to have as part of this?

Conflict in Collaboration: From Getting Along to Getting things Accomplished

My colleague, Janet Salmons, Ph.d, is offering a free webinar.  Here's the information:

Webinar: Conflict in Collaboration: From Getting Along to Getting things Accomplished, on September 20 at 11 am EST, on Trainerspod. The webinar is free but registration is necessary. Register here: .
 

What kind of conflict is productive in collaborative efforts—and what kind of conflict obstructs progress toward collaborative outcomes? How can you tell the difference and what can you do about it? What issues are critical when the collaboration takes place in the virtual environment? These are some of the questions we’ll explore from both theoretical and practical perspectives in this webinar.

We will draw from our experience with collaborative efforts in and across disciplines including education and training, business and leadership, the arts, environmental science, government and the social sector. Lynn and Janet are editors of  the forthcoming book, A Handbook of Research on Electronic Collaboration and Organizational Synergy (http://www.vision2lead.com/html/esynergy.html)


The webinar will be interactive, using Elluminate’s shared whiteboard, chat area and voice over Internet. While you can use the text features without a microphone, we encourage you to use a simple headset or microphone with the computer’s speakers, so that you can participate in the live conversation. Trainerspod webinars normally run for about an hour and a half.

Come and join in the conversation!  Pass the word to anyone who might be interested in this live (and lively) discussion!