Library of Congress photo
How do you get the word out about your charity, non-profit or fund-raising effort? Use Twitter as a listening tool to discover great ideas from others, and use Twitter as a talking tool to share your message efficiently.
Use popular Twitter non-profit hashtags, create your own hashtags (just lead with the pound symbol – #), double-up on hashtags (#nonprofits and #nptech), and localize (tell ‘em where your located – #toledo).
- Replace the word non-profit in a tweet with #nonprofit.
- Build your tribe with #FollowFriday. Highlight other nonprofit organizations and show appreciation to contributors.
- Follow #fundraising trends including #nptech
- Ready for an event? Set your hashtags (#[event] and [campaign] ). Make your group aware of the hashtags and consistently use them. Make sure that you produce a few tweets that explain what your hashtag means. Toledo’s #exclaim http://bit.ly/22XXaa is a yearly music festival – join us #nonprofit.
- Don’t forget to localize your event: #exclaim2011 set for #toledo
- #volunteer[s] follow the call – call them with the hashtag.
Find a Twitter chat
Build innovation and creativity by joining a Twitter chat with other non-profit teams. Look for others sharing ideas by attending a Twitter chat (all times Eastern).
- #npcons – nonprofit consultants (third Tuesday of the month, 4-5 p.m.)
- #smNPchat – small nonprofits (Host is Pamela Grow; every other Friday, 12-1 p.m.)
- #nptalk – nonprofit talk (Host is Nicole Harrison; every Wednesday, 3-4 p.m.)
- #ynpchat – young nonprofit professionals (Host is Rosetta Thurman; first Wednesday of month, 4-5 p.m.)
- #socentchant – social entrepreneurs (first Wednesday of month, 4-6 p.m.)
Best finds
- Nonprofit fundraising coach Sandy Rees – @sandyrees – has great ideas at Get Fully Funded.
- Clean design, digestible content: Jessica Journey – @jessica_journey – is a great non-profits resource.
I must be THE slowest person, in terms of comprehension. I STILL don’t understand the hashtag. (Perhaps, too many hash BAGS when I was younger!)
Whats a Twitter?
The hashtag is the ‘password’ to grant you access to the conversation. Try #contentstrategy sometime.
To WHAT conversation? Something within Twitter? To where do I “post” it? Like I said, I must be the slowest. #idiot.
I marvel at the tags in Twitter Trends (right-hand rail). Click on one for a better understanding of a ‘curated conversation.’ Today’s favorites – #wafflehouse and #fatbands. Try #guitar for a normal conversation.