Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 26, 2009

I encounter a lot of social media skeptics who ask me pointed questions. I can answer most, but sometimes I get hit with a question that I can't answer (adequately) on the spot. I love those questions - they are a real gift. . Recently, I've been getting a question like that goes something like this, "All this social media stuff is great if you're fund raising or selling something or running a grassroots advocacy campaign, but what if you're focusing on carefully vetted scientific research

Policy 94

Policy Social Media Research Impact 94

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 11, 2009

Photo by Justin Benttinen. This past week was a busy one for leading workshops. I was in Washington, DC where I did a session on social media strategy for a convening of Packard Grantees. My participation included: An interactive presentation on best practices for using social media for external communications. Peer discussion on use of online tools for collaboration for bounded networks, exploring some of the concepts in Digital Habits (each participant got a copy).

Public 94

Public Learning Conference Social 94

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 1, 2009

Note from Beth: The Lance Armstrong Foundation , known by its nickname “Livestrong”, provides a network of support for people diagnosed with cancer and their families. The foundation's mission is to “inspire and empower people affected by cancer” by helping find the information, support, and strength they need to fight cancer. An early adopter of social media, the Lance Armstrong Foundation leverages social media to engage, connect, and celebrate its community.

Social Media 94

Social Media Community Cancer Media 94

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 19, 2009

This video is from a local site in Louisville , part of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's " Making Connections " initiative Part of the Making Connections core approach uses (offline) social networks. You can read more in this series of five reports that looks at the definitions, research, power, practices, and insights relating the impact of social networks on family strengthening and community change.

Network 88

Network Impact Louisville Social 88

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 30, 2009

See larger image here: Map from: Waddell, Steve. 2005. A Learning History of the CARE LAC - Institute for Strategic Clarity Guatemala Poverty Project. Institute for Strategic Clarity, March 15. Note from Beth: As visiting scholar at the Packard Foundation, I'm connecting with other people who are studying and learning about how networks work. A lot of the ideas resonate with using online social networks and social media effectively for nonprofits, especially in the larger frame of movement

Map 86

Map System Profit Guatemala 86

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 16, 2009

Yesterday, the Real Time Web Summit hosted by Read/Write Web took place in Mountain View, CA. What's the Real Time Web? Here's a good basic definition from the introductory post on the Read Write Web Blog: Real-time information delivery is fast emerging as one of the most important elements of our online experience. No more waiting for the Pony Express to deliver a parcel cross-country, no more waiting for web services to communicate from one polling instance to another.

Place 84

Place Time Web Stream 84

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 5, 2009

The 2009 NMC Symposium for the Future , the fourteenth in the NMC’s Series of Virtual Symposia (October 27-29th), will explore actual and potential applications of technology that could impact issues of global importance over the next five years and beyond. My colleague, NMC's VP Alan Levine (aka Cogdog Blog ) invited to give one of the keynotes in their 3D virtual space. .

Virtual 84

Virtual Brain Nonprofit Global 84

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 16, 2009

Yesterday, Twitter announced its first corporate social responsibility effort on its blog: We're just getting started as a company, but we believe thinking long term about making a positive impact will allow us to grow in the right direction to make a difference as both a technology and a business. For Twitter to be at its peak in utility, people who would have never had access to the world's information need to be able to not only receive it but engage with it, too.

Twitter 82

Twitter San Francisco Cambodia Literacy 82

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 8, 2009

Social Media Strategy Game Workshop Final View more presentations from kanter. I was in Washington, DC on Tuesday and Wednesday for a two-day workshop is designed for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Justice Leaders, who lead and manage networks or accomplish much of their work through networks. The workshop was hosted by the Packard Foundation and Monitor Institute.

Social Media 82

Social Media Reflection Network Strategy 82

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 6, 2009

Flickr Photo by Marin Labar. I just finished the first day of a training on Network Effectiveness for Packard Grantees facilitated by the good folks at Monitor Institute. I wanted to capture some reflections around my burning question: How do you think about using social media effectively along the continuum of open/closed networks? Most of my recent explorations have been focused around the effective use of social media for external communications.

Guidelines 80

Guidelines Articulate Social Media Conversation 80

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 20, 2009

PopTech Slides View more presentations from kanter. I have been near Camden, Maine for the past few days at the PopTech 2009 Fellows Program as part of the PopTech 2009 conference ( streaming live ), which starts on Wednesday. PopTech is an amazing blend of people, ideas, and projects. I was humbled to join the illustrious list of faculty members who have talents and wisdom in content areas that I only dance around of the edges of.

Program 78

Program Reflection Instruction Instructional 78

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 22, 2009

Arts and Social Media View more presentations from kanter. This morning I gave a presentation for a group of senior marketing people from performing arts centers around the country on social media. I've done a number of presentations and workshops for arts organizations over the years and have even created a wiki " Social Media for Arts People " with stories, links, and other resources, but haven't spoken to arts organizations recently.

Arts 74

Arts Social Media Media Tampa 74

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 22, 2009

Arts and Social Media View more presentations from kanter. This morning I gave a presentation for a group of senior marketing people from performing arts centers around the country on social media. I've done a number of presentations and workshops for arts organizations over the years and have even created a wiki " Social Media for Arts People " with stories, links, and other resources, but haven't spoken to arts organizations recently.

Arts 50

Arts Social Media Media Tampa 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 8, 2009

Photo by the TruthAbout. The success of your blog, or any social media effort, depends on your willingness to solicit feedback and take corrective action when necessary. If you want to have a successful blog that supports your organization’s goals and adds value, improvement should be continuous. You need to pick the right hard data points, or metrics, that will help you harvest insights and improve your blog.

Measure 95

Measure Tips Metrics Bookmarking 95

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 19, 2009

Even at 4 p.m. on a gray day with drinks just 30 minutes away, philanthropic communicators enjoyed the social media game (photo by Thom Clark). Note from Beth: I'm at Pop!Tech in Maine where I did the beta version of the social media strategy game for Pop!Tech Fellows. (Reflections coming soon!) Last week, Gordon used a version of the game at a conference in NYC.

Social Media 50

Social Media Game Media Los Angeles 50

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 24, 2009

Flickr Photo by Ghbrett. I'm writing this post from 30,000 feet aboard Virgin America as I fly back to California from a whirlwind week on the East Coast. I started off in Camden, Maine to teach at the PopTech Fellows program, New Jersey Center for the Performing Arts for a session with arts marketers , and finally to Washington, DC to attend a briefing at the White House and to keynote the last BlogPotomac conference.

Community 91

Community Blogher Boston Conference 91

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 19, 2009

Meeting June Holley for the first time! Last week, as part of my work at the Packard Foundation as visiting scholar I had the opportunity to participate in a face-to-face convening of the "Network of Network Funders," facilitated by the Monitor Institute. The most exciting moment for me was to meet June Holley face-to-face - the guru of network weaving.

Network 95

Network Practice Arts Facilitation 95

Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media

OCTOBER 15, 2009

Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. I've been participating in this event for the past few years and I just registered my blog to the almost 10,000 participating blogs from 150 countries.

Action 50

Action Org Conservancy Blogger 50