Weekly Update for Auction Frogs Corporate Volunteer Challenge – Week 4 Update Radio Show Challenge- Cash Prize and Winning Team Announced
March 10, 2011
Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge brings teams together to compete, help good causes, and put the “FUN” back in fundraising
With the auctions live as of March 4th, this week’s challenge provided quite the flurry of activity for both teams, with great results for Junior Achievement and The Ronald McDonald House. With a venue on The Craig Cheney Show, teams had to infiltrate their networks, reaching through all of their available channels; radio, Facebook posts, Twitter, call, email to Auction Frogs, blogs, emails etc., to encourage people to vote for their favorite team, donate auction items, or online cash contributions between 4-5 p.m on Monday, March 7th.
94.1 The Voice had callers pouring in, and the online activity lead to a huge number of votes for both non-profits. People had no problem showing the love for their favorites, which led to $200 cash prize to the winning team that brought in the most votes through their variety of networks though this Challenge. An incredible amount of contributions and auction items were captured during this short time frame than thought possible. Special guests included Erza Haliti the current Miss. Idaho, and John Cotner, present board member of J.A, being interviewed and adding their special stories to the show. Ronald McDonald House brought in the most votes and therefore won the $200 cash prize from Auction Frogs, llc!
Even after voting was closed, calls were still pouring into the studio and through online channels as well. The energy from the event still ignites both teams, with the auctions picking up momentum.
Good stuff has been happening for both Junior Achievement and The Ronald McDonald House with reports they each have increased their Facebook activity by 20%! Fabulous!
Who will win the overall challenge on March 18th after the final results are tallied? Keep checking in to hear which team will win a cash prize from Western Capital Bank!
Chai Yo! team wins for Junior Achievment in Volunteer Challenge
March 1, 2011
BOISE, ID – March 1, 2011 – In another tight competition, the Chai Yo! team was declared the winner of the second weekly challenge in the Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge at the Baan Thai restaurant in Eagle Friday.
Team Chai Yo! raising money for Junior Achievement of Idaho
Team Chai Yo!, which means “victory” in Thai, named after the corporate volunteers from Baan Thai Restaurant are raising funds for Junior Achievement of Idaho charity. They are competing head to head with the Fighting Craigs, named after the corporate volunteers from the Craig Cheney Show, raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House of Idaho charity.
For the second challenge teams were tasked to effectively execute the strategy they created in the first week and solicit auction item donations and acquire sponsorships. They were also challenged to market and promote their online auction, update the auction site, and upload the donations they have collected into the auction site.
“Again, the scores were extremely close but this week but the scores were hinged on the networking event on the 22nd and the feedback from the companies that participated,” said Kristi Saucerman, President and CEO of Auction Frogs.
Last week, as part of the second week’s challenge, the teams attended a Speed Networking Event on Tuesday, Feb. 22. At this event teams met with 10 businesses and had three minutes with each business to explain what they are raising funds for and ask for a donation. Both teams did a great job of networking but Kristi Saucerman said that the Chai Yo! team did an exceptional job.
Members of the winning Chai Yo! team were presented with gift certificates for the Seasons Bistro, Wine Bar, and Catering provided by Social Eyes Marketing. The Baan Thai restaurant and Junior Achievement also received a subscription to the Idaho Business Review and each a copy of the Book of Lists courtesy of the Idaho Business Review.
Shannon Robnett , owner of Baan Thai restaurant and member of the Chai Yo! team, explained how powerful the act of giving can be. He said, “The more benevolent my business is the more we have grown.”
On Friday, after the awards were presented the teams received their third week challenge. The third challenge is to effectively execute the strategy that the teams created for the first and second Challenge weeks. This includes the continuation of the soliciting for auction item donations, acquiring sponsorships, and making the most of the opportunities presented through this experience.
The online benefit auction will start on March 4th. The teams are also tasked with identifying free places to announce the start of the online auction, share links, and prepare an email message announcing the start of the auction.
The teams will report back to the Corporate Volunteer Challenge Advisory Board on March 4th. At the end of the Online Benefit Auction, March 18, the team with the most money collected wins the competition and a cash prize for the nonprofit.
To learn more, become a sponsor, or donate an auction item for the Junior Achievement Online Benefit Auction visit http://www.jaboise.afrogs.org/
To learn more, become a sponsor, or donate an auction item for the Ronald McDonald House Benefit Auction visit http://www.rmhboise.afrogs.org/
The Corporate Volunteer Challenge Spring 2011 is the first of many Auction Frogs sponsored events designed to help nonprofits overcome many common pitfalls normally experienced while fundraising and maximize their fundraising potential. While boasting some friendly competition, these events are all focused on helping good causes and putting the “FUN” back in FUNdraising.
Learn more about the Auction Frogs Challenge online at www.auctionfrogs.org
About Auction Frogs
Auction Frogs recognizes the challenges and pitfalls of “selling” donations at a fundraising event and has developed a web-based application that takes the silent auction efforts to a whole new level for the nonprofit organization. They provide a web-based tool for nonprofit organizations to upload their donated items for their audience to bid on through a customized and hosted site. As a result, the bidding audience increases and the time frame for bidding is much longer which results in higher revenue. For more information on Auction Frogs visit www.auctionfrogs.org or call 208.321.5515.
Fighting Craigs win first challenge for Ronald McDonald House in Volunteer Challenge
February 25, 2011
BOISE, ID – Feb. 18, 2011 – After much deliberation, the Fighting Craigs were declared winners of the first weekly challenge in the Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge at the Ronald McDonald House in Boise Friday.
The Fighting Craigs, named after the corporate volunteers from the Craig Cheney Show, are raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House of Idaho charity. They are competing head to head with team Chai Yo!, which means “victory” in Thai, named after the corporate volunteers from Baan Thai Restaurant who are raising funds for Junior Achievement of Idaho.
For the first challenge the teams were tasked with developing a team name, logo, as well as forming strategies for promoting and gathering donations for the benefit auction at the end of the challenge.
“The scores were extremely close and both teams did an exceptional amount of work in the short time that they were given,” said Kristi Saucerman, President and CEO of Auction Frogs.
Members of the Fighting Craigs were presented with gift certificates for the Oliver Finley Academy of Cosmetology provided by guest judge Eric Holley of Oliver Findley.
Eric congratulated both teams for the great work they did on the first challenge and he looks forward to working with both teams throughout the Corporate Volunteer Challenge.
During the first week challenge both teams attended an Auction Forum where they were be able to ask a panel of past Auction Frogs Online Benefit Auction clients about their experience, about what worked, and what didn’t. They also attended the Buy Idaho Show, held annually at the Idaho State Capital building, to inform Idaho businesses about their fundraising auction and seek out donations and sponsorships.
On Friday the teams were also presented with their second week challenge. The teams will report back to the Corporate Volunteer Challenge Advisory Board and a weekly winner will be announced at the Baan Thai Restaurant in Eagle on Friday, Feb. 25.
The new challenge is based on executing the strategy that each team created in the first week challenge. It includes soliciting auction items donations, acquiring sponsorships for the auction, and making the most of the opportunities presented through this experience.
This week, as part of the second week’s challenge, the teams are attending the Speed Networking Event on Tuesday, Feb. 22. At this event teams will meet with 10 businesses and have three minutes with each business to explain what they are raising funds for and ask for a donation. The team that does the best job of asking for the donation will receive a larger donation item at the end of the event. This Speed Networking Event is meant to teach the teams how to approach businesses and successfully ask for donations that can be auctioned off during the Online Benefit Auction.
“The Speed Networking Challenge is really about strategy,” Kristi Saucerman said. “You have three minutes to give them your pitch, just like if you went to call on a business, they only have a few minutes to hear you out.”
At the end of the Online Benefit Auction, March 18, the team with the most money collected wins the competition and a cash prize for the nonprofit.
The Corporate Volunteer Challenge Spring 2011 is the first of many Auction Frogs sponsored events designed to help nonprofits overcome many common pitfalls normally experienced while fundraising and maximize their fundraising potential. While boasting some friendly competition, these events are all focused on helping good causes and putting the “FUN” back in FUNdraising.
Learn more about the Auction Frogs Challenge online at www.auctionfrogs.org
About Auction Frogs
Auction Frogs recognizes the challenges and pitfalls of “selling” donations at a fundraising event and has developed a web-based application that takes the silent auction efforts to a whole new level for the nonprofit organization. They provide a web-based tool for nonprofit organizations to upload their donated items for their audience to bid on through a customized and hosted site. As a result, the bidding audience increases and the time frame for bidding is much longer which results in higher revenue. For more information on Auction Frogs visit www.auctionfrogs.org or call 208.321.5515
Five Ways Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Build Their e-Newsletter List
February 25, 2011
Posted on February 22, 2011 by Heather Mansfield on http://charityhappenings.org
People are often surprised when I say that if given the choice, I would choose 10,000 e-Newsletter subscribers over 10,000 Followers on Twitter, 10,000 Fans on Facebook, or 10,000 Friends on Foursquare… combined. Any day of the week and without hesitation. And though some reports claim thatemail use is dropping, others claim its use is steady and even on the rise. Reports and predictions of the death of e-mail fluctuate seemingly on a quarterly basis.
However, one thing that is certain is that the ROI (Return on Investment) from e-newsletters is still relatively high compared to other Web-based channels. For me, that ROI translates into webinar attendees and speaking engagements. For nonprofits, the ROI of e-newsletters translates into online dollars raised through “Donate Now” technology, event attendees, website and blog traffic, and paradoxically new Followers, Fans, and Friends on social networking sites.
That said, the roles of email and e-newsletters are constantly evolving and even though the number one activity on mobile phones is email, that could change in the future. Group text messaging could become the new email of the Mobile Web. But for now, nonprofits would be wise to continue to build their e-newsletter list at every opportunity to get in while the getting is still good. That said, here are five ways to do so using social media:
1) Blog, blog, blog!
Blogging during the era of the Social Web is more valuable than ever to nonprofits provided your blog is well-designed and the content is good. For building your e-newsletter list, blogging is phenomenal as long as you feature “Subscribe” functionality promenently. For example,Greenpeace’s Making Waves Blog was recently redesigned to feature their “Subscribe to our e-newsletter” pitch over the ability to subscribe to their blog via RSS. My personal experience has proven that to be a wise decision. When I started blogging 18 months ago my e-newsletter list was 3,000 and to that point had been built over 3.5 years primarily using my website. Today my list has now grown to 9,500 members. Thanks to blogging, my e-newsletter list tripled in size in half the time. Consequently, so has my ROI.
2) Convert Facebook Fans into Subscribers.
Once a month post a Status Update letting your Fans know that you are sending out an “important e-newsletter tomorrow, and if they would like to receive a copy, please subscribe!” You should definitely include a message that creates a deadline and a sense of urgency, and of course “Share” a link where users can directly subscribe. Again, don’t do a direct ask on Facebook more than once a month or you risk crossing that thin line between marketing and authenticity on Facebook. Once crossed, the Law of Diminishing Returns begins to kick in.
Also, your nonprofit can create a custom Tab urging Fans to subscribe to your e-newsletter list or participate in online petitions. For example, Oceana has set a Default Landing Tab on their Facebook Page that urges people to take action – which then builds their e-mail list. Of course, online petitions also make great Status Update content.
3) Ask your Twitter Followers to Subscribe.
Twitter has taught me a valuable lesson about social media ROI. Sometimes all you need to do is ask, provided you don’t ask to often. Again, once a month send out Tweet asking your Followers to subscribe to your e-newsletter. Be sure to create a sense of urgency and express gratitude:
Sending out my Web 2.0 Best Practices e-Newsletter tomorrow. To receive a copy, please subscribe: http://conta.cc/2VeW7A Thank you!
Unfortunately, “please” and “thank you” are expressions used less and less often (especially in email), and because of that can make a strong impression that will motivate readers to take action i.e., subscribe to your e-newsletter. Like Facebook, the trick is not to ask too often. Once a month is best… more than that and people begin to tune you out on Twitter.
4) Add “Subscribe” Pitches to Video Overlays.
If your nonprofit is a member of YouTube’s Nonprofit Program, you can add Call-to-Action Overlays to your videos. There’s no data proving that this will build your e-newsletter list, but it can’t hurt.
5) Add “Subscribe” Pitches to Photo Sets, Slideshows, and Captions.
Flickr Sets can be customized using HTML to add “Subscribe!” pitches, and Facebook Photosallow captions that can include links. In short, never waste an opportunity to promote and integrate your e-newsletter, website, blog, social networking communities, and or mobile campaigns social networking communities.
By: Heather Mansfield. Owner of DIOSA Communications and principal blogger at Nonprofit Tech 2.0, a social media guide for nonprofits.
Originally posted on Nonprofit Tech 2.0 Blog
Teams receive their first challenge as the Corporate Volunteer Challenge officially kicks off
February 15, 2011
Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge brings teams together to compete, help good causes, and put the “FUN” back in fundraising
Two local volunteer teams met and received their first weeks challenge when the Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge officially kicked off Monday at the Hidden Springs Mercantile.
Volunteers from the Craig Cheney Show will be raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho and competing against the Baan Thai Restaurant team raising funds for Junior Achievement of Idaho.
The teams will receive a new challenge each week for the next four weeks, all related to the planning, marketing, and execution of a successful online benefit auction. The team’s first challenge included writing a team bio, creating a team logo, and writing a solicitation letter to collect donations for the nonprofit benefit auction. They were also tasked with developing a strategy to procure auction item donations, create a marketing plan to promote the auction, create content for the auction website, and issue a press release.
The teams are also encouraged to attend an auction forum where they will be able to ask a panel of past Auction Frogs Online Benefit Action clients about their experience so they can find out what worked and what didn’t as they plan for their auction. The teams will have the opportunity to speak with Julia Zunich of Z Group PR and Lisa Ahrens, an Auction Frogs Specialist, as they put together their marketing materials.
“Focus on relationships and work on your messaging ahead of time so when you are out at events and on the streets promoting your event your talking points will be ready to communicate,” said Julia.
On Friday, Feb. 18 the teams will report back to the Corporate Volunteer Challenge Advisory Board and a weekly challenge winner will be announced.
At the end of the Online Benefit Auction, March 18, the team with the most money collected wins the competition and a cash prize for the nonprofit.
The Corporate Volunteer Challenge Spring 2011 is the first of many Auction Frogs sponsored events designed to help nonprofits overcome many common pitfalls normally experienced while fundraising and maximize their fundraising potential. While boasting some friendly competition, these events are all focused on helping good causes and putting the “FUN” back in FUNdraising.
Learn more about the Auction Frogs Challenge online at www.auctionfrogs.org
About Auction Frogs
Auction Frogs recognizes the challenges and pitfalls of “selling” donations at a fundraising event and has developed a web-based application that takes the silent auction efforts to a whole new level for the nonprofit organization. They provide a web-based tool for nonprofit organizations to upload their donated items for their audience to bid on through a customized and hosted site. As a result, the bidding audience increases and the time frame for bidding is much longer which results in higher revenue. For more information on Auction Frogs visit www.auctionfrogs.org or call 208.321.5515.
Corporate Volunteer Challenge kicks off to raise funds for local nonprofits
February 10, 2011
Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge brings teams together to compete, help good causes, and put the “FUN” back in fundraising
BOISE, ID – Feb. 10, 2011 – Two local volunteer teams will go head to head when the Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge officially kicks off Monday, Feb. 14, 9:00 a.m. at the Hidden Springs Mercantile.
Volunteers from the Craig Cheney Show will be raising funds for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho and competing against the Baan Thai Restaurant team raising funds for Junior Achievement of Idaho. The teams will meet and receive their first of four weekly fundraising challenges Monday.
The teams are made up of three to four volunteers from a local business and at least one member from the nonprofit. Each weekly challenge is directly related to the planning, marketing, and execution of an online benefit auction to be held at the end of the four weeks.
At the end of the Online Benefit Auction, March 18, the team with the most money collected wins the competition and a cash prize for the nonprofit.
The Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge has come together with months of planning the support of exceptional sponsors like Western Capital Bank, Idaho Business Review, 94.1 The Voice, and many more auction donors and prize sponsors.
The teams will be using the Auction Frogs web-based application to take their online benefit auction to a new level. This online tool is a fun and easy way to automate many aspects of an event fundraiser. As a result, they will be able to reach a greater bidding audience with a longer timeframe for bidding which draws in much higher revenues for the nonprofit.
The Corporate Volunteer Challenge Spring 2011 is the first of many Auction Frogs sponsored events designed to help nonprofits overcome many common pitfalls normally experienced while fundraising and maximize their fundraising potential. While boasting some friendly competition, these events are all focused on helping good causes and putting the “FUN” back in FUNdraising.
Learn more about the Auction Frogs Challenge online at www.auctionfrogs.org
About Auction Frogs
Auction Frogs recognizes the challenges and pitfalls of “selling” donations at a fundraising event and has developed a web-based application that takes the silent auction efforts to a whole new level for the nonprofit organization. They provide a web-based tool for nonprofit organizations to upload their donated items for their audience to bid on through a customized and hosted site. As a result, the bidding audience increases and the time frame for bidding is much longer which results in higher revenue. For more information on Auction Frogs visit www.auctionfrogs.org or call 208.321.5515.
Volunteers from local businesses go head to head raising funds for nonprofits
February 7, 2011
Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge brings teams together to compete, help good causes, and put the “FUN” back in fundraising
BOISE, ID – Feb. 7, 2011 – The Auction Frogs “Corporate Volunteer Challenge” brings volunteers from local businesses together with local nonprofits to compete against other nonprofits in a variety of fundraising challenges starting Feb. 14.
The teams, made up of three to four volunteers from a local business and at least one member from a nonprofit, will be competing in four weekly challenges. Each challenge is directly related to the planning, marketing, and execution of an online benefit auction to be held at the end of the four weeks.
At the end of the Online Benefit Auction, March 18, the team with the most money collected wins the competition and a cash prize for the nonprofit.
The Craig Cheney Show and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho Vs. Baan Thai Restaurant and Junior Achievement of Idaho.
The Auction Frogs’ Corporate Volunteer Challenge has come together with months of planning the support of exceptional sponsors like Western Capital Bank, Idaho Business Review, 94.1 The Voice, and many more auction donors and prize sponsors.
The teams will be using the Auction Frogs web-based application to take their online benefit auction to a new level. This online tool is a fun and easy way to automate many aspects of an event fundraiser. As a result, they will be able to reach a greater bidding audience with a longer timeframe for bidding which draws in much higher revenues for the nonprofit.
The Corporate Volunteer Challenge Spring 2011 is the first of many Auction Frogs sponsored events designed to help nonprofits overcome many common pitfalls normally experienced while fundraising and maximize their fundraising potential. While boasting some friendly competition, these events are all focused on helping good causes and putting the “FUN” back in FUNdraising.
About Auction Frogs
Auction Frogs recognizes the challenges and pitfalls of “selling” donations at a fundraising event and has developed a web-based application that takes the silent auction efforts to a whole new level for the nonprofit organization. They provide a web-based tool for nonprofit organizations to upload their donated items for their audience to bid on through a customized and hosted site. As a result, the bidding audience increases and the time frame for bidding is much longer which results in higher revenue. For more information on Auction Frogs visit www.auctionfrogs.org or call 208.321.5515.
Live, Silent and Online Auctions Are Great School Fundraisers
January 31, 2011
Posted in Organic Food Online >>> Read Original Post>>>
Does your school hold an auction to raise funds? If not you might want to consider it. Many private schools, and even some public schools, hold dinner/auction nights to raise funds. It’s a fun way for parents to support the school, socialize and even go home with some great prizes.
Schools can have a live auction, silent auction, online auction or any combination of all of them. When there is more than one type of auction going on you are more able to reach out to everyone’s interest and price levels.
A silent auction can provide a way to offer many different auction items. The auction items can be valued anywhere from $20 to $500 or even more. With so many auction items, there can be something for everyone. From sports, to kids, gourmet foods, gift baskets, and many other interests can be included in the silent auctions.
A live auction is a great interactive event, that many attendees will enjoy. The auctioneer interacts with the crowd to make the auction fun and exciting. A professional auctioneer can often drive up the final bid price of the items higher than they would be with a volunteer auctioneer or if the items were on the silent auction table.
Internet based auctions are very popular and many parents are already buying items online on eBay. So why not have one for the school? An online auction can happen during the same dinner/auction night or a week before. You could even have the onine auction instead of an in-person event. If the online auction is stand alone they are often held over a 1-3 week period.
No matter what type of auction or combination of auctions you have, make sure you start planning well in advance. Organize into committees so volunteers can participate in a variety of ways.
Have some really high priced, premium items in the live auction. Big vacation packages, a motorcycle or gourmet dinner party are all good ideas for a live auction. Ticket packages for professional sports teams are also great auction items. Even if it’s not a super high priced item, if it will bring in lots of excitement and bids, put it in a live auction. Also have less fancy items that start at lower prices in the silent auction so everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Auctions can be a fun, great way to raise funds. Consider all of the different auction formats available and how they can fit into your school’s fundraising plans.
Angela Costas -
About the Author:
Angela Costas writes for the school fundraisers.
Getting Started with Social Media
January 24, 2011
Posted September 8th, 2010 on FundraisingCoach.com
By Frank Barry, manager of professional services at Blackbaud and blogger at NetWits Think Tank. Frank helps nonprofits use the Internet for digital communication, social media, and fundraising so they can focus on making a true impact and achieving their mission. Find Frank on Twitter @franswaa.
Make sure to check out the slides on “How ‘Going Social’ Can Unlock the Door to Greater Fundraising Potential” and the Nonprofit Social Media Primer after you’ve read this post.
Social media continues to grow in both popularity and reach. It accounts for 22.7% of time spent on the web. Newspapers and television shows are constantly referring to Twitter and Facebook. It’s even been said that Nonprofits are among the leaders in social media adoption. With all the buzz it’s likely you’ve started asking yourself “how can my organization use social media to enhance our online efforts?” I’ve got a few thoughts and ideas for you.
Pursuing objectives using social media
Having a social media strategy is not its own objective. Rather, social media strategies can support existing objectives. Reflect on your organization’s current objectives: Do you want to build cause awareness, connect with new supporters, cultivate supporter relationships, or build a private space on the web for your community? Those are all things social media can help support.
Here are a few examples …
CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS: COLLABORATE WITH YOUR SUPPORTERS
In 2008, the Brooklyn Museum created an exhibit called Click! where the public got to be both the artist and the jury. Through an online system, members of the Museum’s web community submitted photographs and then selected those that would be included in the show. A total of 3,344 people participated, and the show was a great success.
READ MORE >>> BUILD CAUSE AWARENESS: BOOKMARK YOUR CONTENT — SOCIALLY!
READ MORE >>> BUiLD A SPACE ON THE WEB FOR YOUR COMMUNITY: CREATE A PRIVATE SOCIAL NETWORK
5 Step Social Media Plan
Now that you’ve got an idea for how social media can be used let’s take a look at five steps that will set you get you on your way to leveraging social media
1. PICK AN EXISTING GOAL TO PURSUE.
Identify something your organization wants to accomplish. Many organizations find that social media provides good support for:
- Building cause awareness
- Connecting with new supporters
- Soliciting online gifts
- Cultivating supporter relationships
If you are just starting, pick one of these to focus on and let that objective guide you every step of the way.
2. MAKE SUCCESS SOMEONE’S JOB.
Someone has to own it. Take a look at organizations like the ChildFund (Virginia Sowers), National Wildlife Federation (Danielle Brigida) and Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Allison Nassour). What’s the theme? Each nonprofit has a person who owns their social media efforts.
Making an overt assignment (like you do with direct mail, email, etc) will let a person or group of people on staff develop the focus, comprehensive view, and skills needed to leverage these new techniques effectively. No ownership equals limited success.
3. LISTEN.
With your team identified and your initial goal in mind, it’s time to learn how to “listen” in the social media channels. The concept of “listening” is also known as “monitoring”. What does that mean you ask? It’s the activity of finding out what is being said (by you and others) online about you or something you are interested in.
There are at least three reasons for this:
- Social media is a two-way channel. You need to be ready to listen before you speak.
- Organizations like yours are already participating. Learn from them.
- Once you start to contribute, a disciplined framework for listening will be used to measure reach and impact.
Some starting points for regular monitoring include:
- Twitter search is your best friend for finding out what’s going on in the real time conversation world of microblogging. Here’s 13 Twitter Search Examples for Nonprofits to help you get started.
- Get set up on Google Alerts to monitor the web at large. If it’s out there Google will probably find it.
- Have a Google Blog Search and Technorati Blog Search running at all times to see what the Blogosphere has to say.
Track the number of mentions for your organization name, your staff, and events you are currently running in each of these mechanisms. This will help measure your organization’s current social media footprint and prepare you to measure the reach of your future initiatives. Here are a few more ideas onhow to set up a social media listening dashboard for free.
4. ESTABLISH A BASELINE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.
After establishing your organization’s ability to “listen” in the social media channel, the next step is to establish a baseline presence that you can use as a foundation. Facebook and Twitter are, in most cases, good places to start, but remember that your objectives and the insight you’ve gained from “listening” should guide your choices every step of the way. Don’t just go out and get on Facebook because everyone else is doing it.
If you’re thinking about Facebook and/or Twitter here’s a few resources:
- 4 Facebook Tips for Nonprofit Success – See What Others are Doing
- 11 Quick Tips to Enhance Your Facebook Fan Page
- Twitter 101 for Nonprofits
- Getting Started with Twitter
5. EVOLVE.
Now you have an objective, dedicated staff, a way to listen and to measure results, as well as a foundational presence in the social media landscape. Reflect on what you’ve learned, review the program examples talked about in the “Pursing Objectives” section above, and formulate the plan for your first social media campaign. It’s time to really go for it!
Start the New Year off right and start planning your 2011 Online Benefit Auction fundraiser with Auction Frogs!
January 20, 2011
Auction Frogs has helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations and schools just like yours raise more money through our Online Benefit Auction service!
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Auction Frogs provides custom web site design, experienced dedicated Auction Specialists and marketing support with social media integration…for less!
What are you waiting for? Call today 208.321.5515
