Social Media for Social Good :: Your Nonprofit Tech Checklist

At the end of the Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits is a nine-page “Nonprofit Tech Checklist” which I have copied and pasted below. Each item on the list is discussed in the book and some items won’t make sense unless you have read the book, but most will. I hope you find it useful. That was my number one priority when writing the book… to create a comprehensive, useful social and mobile media how-to guide for nonprofits. Oh, and the book tour thus far has raised more than $14,000 for nonprofits. The IRS is still trying to wrap it’s head around that one… a book tour fundraiser. 🙂

Getting Started: Organization and Planning

• Subscribe to, like, and follow large organizations with a mission that is similar to yours.
• Subscribe to social media and mobile technology blogs.
• Define your goals and objectives.
• Get the necessary training (HTML, digital photography, video, social media, and mobile technology).
• Create a master login sheet.
• Define metrics of measurement and create a social media ROI spreadsheet.
• Create a Google account.
• Sign up for Google Alerts.
• Experiment with social media dashboards.
• Write social media and mobile technology policies.
• Hire a graphic designer to design a square avatar(s).
• Purchase a smartphone and/or tablet.
• Purchase a digital camera.
• Purchase a pocket camcorder.
• Create an e-mail signature that includes your website, blog, and social networking links.

Web 1.0 :: The Broadcast Web

1) Website

• Purchase .org domain name for website and e-mail addresses.
• Purchase website hosting package.
• Select a website vendor.
• Write content and secure photos for website pages.
• Hire a graphic designer to prepare website banner(s) and custom graphics.
• Add e-newsletter and text alert subscribe functionality.
• Add “Donate Now” button to your home page.
• Add social networking icons.

2) e-Newsletter

• Select an e-newsletter vendor.
• Design an e-newsletter template.
• Add e-newsletter subscribe functionality to your blog.
• Add e-newsletter subscribe functionality to your social networking communities.
• Add e-newsletter subscribe functionality to your mobile website.
• Add a website, blog, and social networking pitch to your “Thank You for Subscribing” e-mail.
• Add a website, blog, and social networking pitch to your “Thank You for Subscribing” landing page.

3) “Donate Now” Fundraising

• Select a donate now vendor.
• Create a “Donate Now” landing page with your nonprofit’s branding inside of your website.
• Add charity ratings graphics to your “Donate Now” landing page, if applicable.
• Add a “Donate Now” button to every page of your website.
• Add a social networking pitch to your “Thanks for Your Donation” landing page.
• Add a video or slideshow to your “Thank You” landing page, if applicable.
• Add a social networking pitch to your “Thanks for your Donation” e-mail.
• Launch a sustainer program, if applicable.
• Launch a gift donation program, if applicable.
• Launch a peer-to-peer fund-raising campaign, if applicable.

Web 2.0 :: The Social Web

1) Facebook

• Create a Facebook Page.
• Design custom tabs.
• Find your Facebook voice.
• Find and monitor your Facebook Community Page, if applicable.
• Claim your Facebook Places Page, if applicable.

2) Twitter

• Create a Twitter Profile.
• Design a custom background.
• Find your Twitter voice.
• Create Twitter lists.
• Create an account on Bitly.
• Create an account on Twtpoll.com.
• Create an account on TwitPic (or yfrog).
• Create an account on TwitVid (or yfrog).
• Create a Twibbon for your nonprofit.
• Experiment with HootSuite (or TweetDeck).
• Experiment with Twitter social good apps and portals.
• Launch a Twitter fundraising campaign, if applicable.

3) YouTube

• Create a YouTube Channel/Google Account.
• Design your YouTube Channel.
• Create and upload videos.
• Subscribe to funders and partners.
• Friend local media and supporters.
• Create an Animoto Account and apply to Animoto for a Cause.
• Apply to the YouTube Nonprofit Program.
• Design a custom banner, sidebar column image, and video page banner, if applicable.
• Create a “Thank You” video, if applicable.
• Add Google Checkout button, if applicable.

4) Flickr

• Create a Flickr account.
• Upgrade to Flickr Pro.
• Create and organize photos into collections and sets.
• Format collections and sets.
• Set up Flickr Profile.
• Add funders and partners as contacts.
• Join and participate in groups.
• Create galleries.
• Create a “Thank You” slideshow, if applicable.

5) LinkedIn 

• Create and complete your personal profile.
• Reserve your LinkedIn Public Profile URL.
• Make connections.
• Give recommendations.
• Join and participate in LinkedIn Groups.
• Experiment with LinkedIn Answers.
• Create and set up a group for your nonprofit, if applicable
• Publish group rules.
• Set up group templates.
• Claim and set up your nonprofit’s LinkedIn Company Page.

7) Blogging

• Select a blogging platform.
• Design your blog and upload a banner.
• Add e-newsletter and text alert subscribe functionality.
• Add “Donate Now” button.
• Add social networking icons.
• Write content and secure photos for blog pages.
• Add “Share” functionality.
• Add search functionality.

Web 3.0 :: The Mobile Web

1) Mobile Social Networking

• Download Facebook app.
• Download Twitter app.
• Download Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp, Google Latitude, Loopt, and other location-based community apps.
• Select mobile photo-sharing app and download.
• Select mobile video-sharing app and download.
• Download USTREAM (or Livestream) app.
• Select a mobile browser and download.
• Select a mobile payment app and download.
• Select a group texting app and download.
• Download a QR code reader app.
• Download Google app.

2) Location-Based Communities (if Applicable)

• Check in on Facebook Places/Location.
• Claim your Facebook Places Page.
• Create a Foursquare personal profile and check in.
• Claim your Foursquare Venue Page.
• Create a Foursquare Business Page, if applicable.
• Create a Gowalla personal profile and check in.
• Claim your Gowalla Spot Page.
• Create a Google Places account.
• Check in to Google Latitude.
• Check in to Loopt.
• Unlock your Yelp Business Page.
• Launch a “Check In for Good” campaign, if applicable.
• Create a 6- × 6-inch hard copy of your nonprofit’s avatar for photo check ins, if applicable.

3) Mobile Website

• Select a mobile CMS.
• Write content and secure photos for mobile pages, or import via RSS.
• Design and upload a banner.
• Create a “Donate Now” and/or “Text-to-Give Now” landing page.
• Add e-newsletter and text alert subscribe functionality.
• Add social networking icons.
• Set mobile website to m.domainname.org or .mobi URL.
• Experiment with QR codes.
• Create a QR code campaign.

4) Group Texting

• Select a group texting vendor.
• Create text-to-subscribe graphic.
• Add text-to-subscribe pitch to desktop website, blog, and print materials.
• Add text-to-subscribe graphic to mobile website.
• Promote text message campaigns on social networking and location-based communities.
• Create a Bitly account to track mobile click-throughs, if applicable.

5) “Text-to-Give Now” Fundraising

• Select a text-to-give vendor.
• Create five text-to-give images.
• Add text-to-give pitch to your desktop website, blog, and print materials.
• Add text-to-give pitch to your mobile website.
• Add text-to-subscribe pitch to your smartphone and tablet apps.
• Add text-to-give pitch to your smartphone and tablet apps.
• Upload text-to-give images to Facebook and TwitPic.
• Take photos of your text-to-give images with your smartphone for mobile social networking.

6) Smartphones Apps (if Applicable)

• Select a do-it-yourself app vendor or hire a developer.
• Submit your app to app stores for approval.
• Create a “Download Now” graphic for your e-newsletter, blog, and print materials.
• Create a “Download Now” landing page on your desktop and mobile websites.

Related Links:
Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits
Social Media and Mobile Technology Webinars for Nonprofits