Community Building Epiphanies
I’ve often firmly advised myself that trends are never to be robotically followed. A “trend” suggests that it’s “here-today, gone-tomorrow” so should automatically be treated with scepticism.
But what if a trend is not so much “trendy” as it is a genuine trend that will shape our future? And what if a trend is something that reinforces a fundamental fact from our past?
Today I conducted a short workshop session for Hospice fundraisers and the first trend discussed was “In social media, regular engagement with your audience is critical”. UPDATE: At the bottom of the page I've also loaded the two FINZ Powerpoints conducted on the following day.
Is this a trend when relationships have always been built on the quality and frequency of interaction? Is it a trend when the ability to conduct conversations, tell good stories and ask great questions has always been the centre-piece of effective communications and community development?
Maybe it just seems this way because social media has reintroduced us to the importance of personal engagement again, after years of remote-controlled mass communications.
For the benefit of today’s workshop attendees, some notes and useful links follow:
The three big social media trends for fundraisers
- Regular engagement with your audience is critical
- Sharing images on Instagram & Pinterest gets traction
- Advertising is becoming more important than ever on Facebook & Twitter
POWERPOINT: The three big social media trends for fundraisers
ARTICLE: In fundraising, the digital marketing space can be rich pickings for storytellers.
LINK: Flightdec: Websites in groups and communities
LINK: Instagram Marketing: How to Get Started With Instagram
LINK: Pinterest Marketing: What Marketers Need to Know to Succeed
LINK: Boost Posts or Promoted Posts on Facebook: Which is Better?
FIA Standards of Social Media Fundraising Practice
INFOGRAPHIC: All You Ever Wanted To Know About Viral Marketing
LINK: Why Your Nonprofit Should Invest in Video As Part Its Communications Strategy
LINK:14 Social Media Marketing Tools Recommended by the Pros
LINK: Why Your Nonprofit Should Invest in Video As Part Its Communications Strategy
LINK: Should You Combine Your Personal and Business Social Media Identities?
LINK: Arohanui Hospice on Facebook
LINK: Hospice Waikato on Facebook
POWERPOINT: Developing an online strategy for fundraising
POWERPOINT: Creating an innovative culture to support fundraising
Fraser Carson is grateful to have the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas through this blog. He is the founding director of Flightdec.com, The Crowd Blog.com, Wotzon.com and Issues.co.nz. Fraser is a marketer and communications expert, and a developer and commentator on online and community building issues with a particular interest and involvement in the Collective Impact method of working cooperatively.