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MAVA Resources | Professional Development | Connect with Volunteers | Share Ideas & Network

Volgistics Users

| Guides, Articles, & Books | Helpful Websites | Volunteer Management Resources

| Technology Resources | Job Seekers | Social Media Outreach | Volunteer News

Social Media is the next big thing, not only for networking and business purposes, but for your volunteer program! This page provides resources to help you jumpstart or improve your social media presence.

We're interested in your feedback! How was the presentation? Do you have any tips for us to share? Show off your social media mastery-- Tweet us! Send us a Facebook message, or simply shoot us an email: office@mavanetwork.org

MAVA's Social Media Mini Start Up Guide -- Taken from our program, Social Media Outreach, this step-by-step, two-page guide is filled with resources for starting, maintaining and evaluating a social media site for your program.

    1) Choose your tools
    2) Explore & listen
    3) Be a good Engager --Inspire
    4) Update & advertise
    5) Empower
    6) ...Keep at it (& Evaluate)!

Advanced Topics In Social Media Outreach Power Point- Maplewood, 8/12/10

Social Media Outreach Power Point- Willmar, 6/15/10

Social Media Outreach -- So, you've started a Facebook page, or maybe you don't even know where to begin! Either way, social media is here to stay, and it is becoming more and more important for nonprofits and volunteer programs. In this interactive session, learn about the big three social networking tools, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, plus some other web 2.0 tools to increase your outreach to volunteers, funders and your community. Also, find out WHY nonprofits are using these tools and how it will increase your visibility! If you are interested in bringing this session to our organization, contact us: (651) 255-0469 or office@mavanetwork.org!

Social Media Resources

Helpful Websites

Techsoup - Provides resources, software and support for nonprofits.
Mashable - The online social media guide.
Beth's Blog - How nonprofits can use social media to achieve mission.
Change.org - Nonprofits 2.0, social media blog.
Nonprofit Tech 2.0 - Online collection of blog posts and articles about nonprofit technology.
NTen - Young Nonprofit Technology Network provides resources, trainings and research for nonprofits using technology.
Frogloop - Marketing blog for nonprofits.
Wild Apricot - Nonprofit technology blog.
SlideShare - Access to thousands of presentations on nonprofits, social media, volunteer management and more!
Facebook Nonprofits - A page specifically for nonprofits. Keep up-to-date with Facebook trends and applications for nonprofits.
NetWits Think Tank - Social media blog for nonprofits.
DIOSA Communication- Facebook best practices for non profits.

Social Media Articles

So you want a Facebook Fan Page for Your Nonprofit? - The Scoop by Beth Kanter.
Six Advanced Facebook Page Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations - from Nonprofit Tech 2.0: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits
How Much Time Does It Take To Do Social Media? - by Beth Kanter.
Understanding the Available Social Media Recruiting Strategies - Leveraging Your Employees' Time - by Dr. John Sullivan.
A Look at Large Charities on Social Media - by Cody Switzer

Social Media Guides

Social by Social - A practical guide to using new technologies to deliver social impact.

Twitter How-To Guides

Twitter Resource Glossary - A guide on how to start a Twitter account and glossary on how to effectively utilize Twitter tools to improve your Tweets.

Social Media Tools

A list of commonly used social media tools for nonprofits and volunteer programs. Find the one that's right for yours.

Social Networking Sites - Most popular sites for building online communities or groups.

Niche Social Networking Sites - These social networking sites are specifically designed for nonprofits.

Micro Blogs - Keep your "followers" updated in 140 characters or less.

Twitter

Blogs - Publish articles and updates about your program.

Wikis - Website that allows for easy creation and editing by many administrators.

Media Sharing - Easy way to share information, photos or videos.

Email Marketing

Social Media Research

Listen to what other organizations are saying in the social media world. A little research will provide you with the insights to improve your content and successfully target your online advocates--and potential volunteers!

Google Alerts - Sign up to receive alerts related to your cause (e.g. - volunteerism & healthcare). Google will scour the web, notifying you when relevant news is posted on the web. Stay current with hot topics, identify who your advocates are and keep tabs on similar organizations.
Google Insights for Search - Compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties.
Google Trends - Want to know what people are saying about you or your cause and who is saying it?
Wordtracker - Use this tool to find the keywords you need to become more search engine friendly.
Keyword Discovery - Compiles keyword search statistics from all the major search engines world wide.
Quantcast - Get to know your audience. Quantcast compiles demographic data of all your visitors, allowing you to better cater your content.
DoubleClick Google Ad Planner - Refine your online advertising by identifying which sites your target audience is visiting on the web.
Wefollow.com - Search for the nonprofit or volunteer tag and start exploring. Add yourself to their directory.
Twitter Search - Twitter has a great search tool. Search by topic, organization, sentiment, hashtag, geographic area and more.
Examples to Follow - Many nonprofits and volunteer programs are already using these tools. Learn from them. What are they doing online? How good of a job are they doing?

Time Saving Tools

CoTweet - Manage multiple Twitter accounts with multiple users.
Ping.fm - Manage multiple social media accounts from one website.
Bit.ly - Not only reduce link size, but track them too! URL reduction service with real-time tracking tools.
HootSuite - Web-based Twitter management tool that allows you to manage all your social media accounts at once! Also provides metrics, post scheduling, team workflow, clickable hashtags, and Ping.fm integration.

Policies and Confidentiality

Does your organization need a social media policy? - Common issues for non profits using social media.
10 Must Haves for Your Social Media Policy - 10 items to consider while developing your policy.
Internet public discourse policy - Example of guidelines for using social media at your organization.
Idealware - This is a great toolkit for examples of policies and guidelines for governing social media sites.

Track ROI

ROI Calculator for Social Media - For when you need to see the numbers--Is it worth it? Extensive ROI calculator created by Frogloop.

Promoting your Social Media Sites

Use these tips, widgets and buttons to publicize your sites. Embed these tools into your website, blog, newsletters, emails or on other social media sites!

Promoting your Facebook Page Outside Facebook - 10 strategies to promote your Facebook page, includes a Facebook button.
Twitter Widgets - Select from several different services. These widgets allow you to post your Twitter activity almost anywhere.
Twitter Application for Facebook
Blog RSS Feed for Facebook
Simply RSS - Add RSS feeds to your Facebook page.
AddThis - Great way to boost traffic to your social media site by allowing others to share your content. (For similar tools, see Blog & RSS Feed Anaylisis, below)
Looking for more buttons? Search the web. There are many sites that provide free buttons for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others to drive traffic to your site. You can either copy and paste HTML, or if you prefer download them as a jpg and hyperlink the image.
Ask your online advocates to donate their social status or tweet to your organization/cause. Check out the creative way the United Way of St. Croix Valley is doing it.

Make Yourself Easier to Find Online

Google Insights for Search - Compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties.
Google Trends - Want to know what people are saying about you or your cause and who is saying it?
Wordtracker - Use this tool to find the keywords you need to become more search engine friendly.
Keyword Discovery - Compiles keyword search statistics from all the major search engines world wide.
Google Local Business Center - Makes it easier for people to find your physical and online location when searching Google. Allows you to edit your own content on Google Maps.

Metrics
This list of (mostly free) online software/programs specifically designed for social media sites will help you track your success!

Remember! Most social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, provide their own analytic tools.

Analytics

Google Analytics - One of the most widely used analytics software on the web. Create goals, track online traffic and marketing effectiveness for your website or blog.
PostRank Analytics - Specifically designed for social media sites. PostRank features include: daily engagement reports, engagement trends and unified conversations between all of your social media outlets.
Clicky - Allows you to monitor, analyze and react to your website or blog traffic in real time.
Webtrends - Measure just about anything with this program. Includes analytic for web, phone apps and social media sites, as well as optimization tools, social measurement, and an ad tracker.
Clicktale - Analytics featuring heatmaps and ability to watch actual browsing behavior.
Crazy Egg - Confetti and heat mapping tools allow you to visualize your web visitors.
Stat Counter - Inserting a simple piece of code into your webpage or blog, and you can analyze and monitor traffic.

Twitter Analytics

Klout - Twitter analytics; Klout measures your Twitter influence across the social web. This program allows you to track the impact of your Tweets throughout your online social circle.
Tweet Reach - Measure the impact of your tweets. How far did your tweet travel?
Twitter Grader - How well are you tweeting and engaging?

Blog & RSS Feed Analysis

Google Feedburner - Create, publish and distribute. Find out who is interested in what you're saying by publishing feeds! Allow others to subscribe to your content by downloading this handy tool.
Backtype - Real-time, conversational search engine that lets you see what people are saying about topics and web pages. Great for blog research.
addtoany - Download the "Share/Save" button to any webpage. Automatically links content to just about any social media tool/site, as well as email and your web browser.
AddThis - 1# sharing tool on the web. Allows visitors to bookmark and share your content.
PostRank - Formerly aideRSS, this tool allows you to compare your blog RSS to others.

Site Rankings & Comparison Tools

Alexa - Compare your site against other movers and shakers in your field.
Compete - Compare analytics of different websites using click stream data.

Increase Traffic & Link Building

Google Webmaster - Optimize your website or blog. Google Webmaster provides detailed reports about your pages' visibility on Google.
Google URL Builder - Track links and movement between all your sites with this free tool.
Bit.ly - Use this amazing link shortening service every time you tweet, post or share, then track them! This site will show you who is clicking, linking, liking and sharing your links in real-time.

Enhance Your Social Media Site

Twitpic - Web-based tool that allows you to share photos on Twitter.
Five Essential Apps for Your Nonprofit's Facebook - Nonprofit Tech 2.0

Video Creation/Editing Tools

Have a PC? Windows Movie Maker comes standard on every computer.
Have a Mac? iMovie is free and one of the best movie making programs around.
YouTube - The ultimate video sharing site. Create a channel for your organization and embed your videos on your website.
Internet Archive - Free online library containing thousands of public videos, photos, music and audio.
Creative Commons - Licensed works you can share, remix or reuse.