9 ways nonprofits can use social media

By Joan Stewart

During a webinar that Jeanne Hurlbert, my partner, and I presented last week on social media and hosted by Susan Harrow, a participant asked for examples of how a nonpr0fit can use social media to build awareness, donations and a base of volunteers. The environmental group is devoted to bird research.

Here are 9 ways her nonprofit can use social media:

1. Create your own Facebook group devoted to this topic.
2. Join other Facebook groups devoted to conservation science and let them know about your noprofit, but do not promote to these groups.
3. Create your own Facebook Fan page and use this to share a wide variety of info, from research your group conducts, to fund-raising campaigns. This is the only place on Facebook where you can promote. See 11 Ways to Avoid Missed Opportunities on Facebook.
   
4. Consider creating your own social media site at Ning.com specifically for people interested in this topic.
5. Your nonprofit should start its own blog. Here are three business blogging tips, even if you hate to write, or you can’t write.
6. Set up Google Alerts for specific related keywords and find info there to share with your friends, followers and fans.
7. Use these alerts to find blog posts written on your topic, comment on them, and you’ll get a link back to your own blog or website.
8. Create a profile on Twitter, and join Twitter lists on your topic.
9. Upload photos of birds to sites like Flickr and Photobucket and tag them with appropriate keywords.

If your nonprofit uses social media other ways, share your ideas here.