Today’s Tips for NGOs & Small Businesses 041915

Mind Your Manners on Social Media

I’ve been promoting the benefits of social media for nongovernmental organizations and small business and it’s an activity that should not be overlooked. However, as with life, there are rules that should be followed so you will increase the chances of your success.

No one wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror, and says, “I think I’ll be uncouth all day today.” Yet when you’re in a hurry to launch a project or distribute a press release or you’re dealing with strangers, you may overlook common manners that you grew up with. It’s not just about knowing these manners; it’s about being intentional in their use. Remembering your manners can make a difference between success and failure.

“Social media is ‘social’ and good manners will go a long, long way. When you represent yourself online what you say can easily be misunderstood. Take a bit of time and be thoughtful in your online habits. When you get frustrated that you need to spend 15 minutes each day in Twitter to connect with your ideal clients, remember the alternative, not very long ago in order to meet new people you had to travel, leave your house, I dare say…. get dressed,” observed Donna Cravotta, a social media consultant.

She suggested the following points:

1. Connect people with good information, smiles and other great people.

2. Shortening your words and using numbers instead of words is GR8T on Twitter, but not on Facebook or LinkedIn if you’re trying to convey a professional message on social media.

3. If you don’t want your client, competitors, stakeholders, your family to see a post, image or video, don’t post it. Sooner or later it will come around to everyone.

4. If more than one person is posting to your social media account, include info about them in your profile. You can also have them sign each update with their initial, so users can get to know who they’re listening and talking to. If the social media account pertains to your NGO or small business, then the chief executive officer is responsible for all content. If it is yours, then don’t allow others to post on it.

5. Thank people on social media and tell them you appreciate their information and help. You know, act like you would in the ‘real’ world.

6. When you see a list of ‘The Top 50 Social Media Tools,’ it doesn’t mean you have to use them all. Choose the one or few that work best for you, your product, your NGO and your customers and stakeholders.

7. Listening on social media is almost as valuable as participating. Pay attention to what’s going on around you.

8. Consider pros and cons of cross-posting your updates among social networks. Many of your followers will follow in more than one place, don’t overload them with the repetition.

9. Be your real self on social media. You are unique and that’s what attracts people to you, your NGO and your small business.

10. Add value to Follow Friday (#ff). Pick a great tweeter and tell your followers why you follow them.

You, your information, your NGO, your product and service, your small business are important so be polite when promoting them.

Finding Major Donors

NGOs face this problem very day. Finding major donors is a recurring calamity for all nonprofit organizations because donors are the lifeblood of your organizations. Small and large donors can keep your NGO alive and your projects active. You and your team often wonder where to find contributors so you can start a program or project. You approach this issue with trepidation and anxiety. Not everyone has a steady stock of donors so you must realize that you will have to search for donors in order to stay in business.

Andrea Kihlstedt, a fundraising consultant, advises “Yes, it helps if one or more folks in your nonprofit are on first-name terms with one (or more) wealthy folks. But if not, you can still build relationships with such people – it just takes a bit more time.”

She suggests a few steps such as:

1. Take field trips! In other words, take one or more tours of your community’s donor walls. Come armed with a camera or your phone and get pictures of them.

2. Make a practice of inviting your community’s leaders to your board meetings to talk about their experiences. Do this at every meeting and not only will your board learn a lot, but the speakers you invite will get to know your organization.

3. Your board members may think that they don’t have any wealthy acquaintances, but that’s probably not true. With that in mind, get them together for an old-fashioned brainstorming session.

Make concerted efforts to meet and create relationships with the wealthy prospects in your community not only when the need arises but every day.

Interesting Statistics

In total, Giving USA 2014 estimates that $335 billion was given to charity in the United States in 2013 by individuals, corporations and foundations.

36% increase in year-to-year in online giving on #GivingTuesday – a global day for giving, according to Blaukbaud. This year the day falls on December 15.

3.3 is the average number of nonprofit organizations that Generation Y donors give to, according to Next Generation of American Giving Report.

2.3 million nonprofits operate in the United States, 1.6 million of them are registered with the IRS, according to the National Center of Charitable Statistics.

Look toward the Future

Special conference the next generation of leaders – nonprofits, small businesses, politics. Friendship Ambassadors Foundation is presenting the summer 2015 edition of its Youth Assembly at the United Nations. For more information, visit: www.youthassembly.nyc

Contact me for more ideas and guidance.

For a global view of what NGOs are doing, please visit my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BoostingNGOOutreach