Social Media, Back to the Basics

Much has been made over the last year about the value of using social networking sites to promote your non-profit and raise money for your charity.  Although the return on investment is still debatable, it is important to get your feet wet and discover how to use the sites to your advantage.  Today let’s run you through a basic sign-up for three of the most popular social networking tools: facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  Once you are signed in, it is recommended that you play around within the sites and see what others are doing.  In the end, that is the best way to see how these sites can work for you.

facebook

Originally designed as a way for college students to connect with each other, facebook has morphed into a social media site designed for everyone to stay connected to the people they know.  Although primarily set up for individuals, in recent years it has become a place to promote organizations and events as well. 

Signing up for facebook is very straight forward.  Go to http://www.facebook.com/ and on the first page you will see a place to sign in.  The screen will ask for your full name, e-mail, password, sex and birth date.  

Once you have set up your account, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to verify your information.  Once you are signed in, you will find places to add a photo and various other tidbits about yourself.  It is up to you to choose what is appropriate depending on how much information you would like the world to know about you. 

Now that you’ve set up your facebook account, please consider joining the AFP Chicago facebook group!

For more info about setting up your facebook account: http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page7430.cfm?cg=searchterms&sg=facebook

Twitter

Twitter is an online resource that lets you post and follow information that has a maximum of 140 characters or around 25 words.  Just like facebook, Twitter originated as a way for friends to give instant updates on what they are doing at any moment.  It has transformed into a way to find out about your favorite causes (i.e. http://twitter.com/twestival), news (i.e. NPR http://twitter.com/nprnews) and celebrities (i.e. http://twitter.com/rainnwilson).  It can be a useful tool in promoting your cause and outreach efforts.

To sign up for Twitter go to www.twitter.com and click on the Get Started-Join Button. You will be forwarded to the page below.  You will need to enter your full name, a user name (or nick name), a password and your e-mail to get started.  Once signed in, there is a feature for you to search those you would like to follow.  You can begin writing your updates, or “tweeting” immediately.  Promote your account on your website and in e-mails and soon you could have a variety of interested people getting up to the minute information about your organization. 

For more info about setting up your Twitter account: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/23/tech/real_technology/main4964853.shtml

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a site designed for business professionals to make connections with their contacts, other people working in their field and those with shared interests.   It can be an effective way to network with your peers and keep up on the latest trends in your field.  It allows you to post a career history and make connections with those you have worked with in the past, join groups and meet new contacts.

To sign up for LinkedIn go to: www.linkedin.com and click the sign up now link.  You will be forwarded to the page below.  The page will ask for your first and last name, e-mail, password, country and postal code.  It will then ask for add your current employer, title and industry.  It will use this information to organize you into groups and suggest people you may know.  You can enter as many current and past employers as you would like and the system will suggest other people you may want to connect with for each.

Remember, it is also important to consider each site’s separate privacy settings.  These control how much information is presented to the outside world.  Even with these settings on the highest level of privacy, it is never a good idea to put information or media on these sites that you would like to share with the outside world.

Now that you’ve set up your LinkedIn account, please consider joining the AFP Chicago LinkedIn group!

For more info about setting up your LinkedIn account: http://ubrandmedia.com/?p=62