Mojo Magic! Get your mojo on with a couple of info pros, Dianna Wiggins and Lorene Kennard, as they share secret weapons of the Internet by demonstrating tools, widgets and resources that you may not have seen before. Included in this fun, interactive session are tips and tricks with the latest widgets and applications from the world of social media, aggregation tools that will make you look smarter than you really are (just kidding, but, hey, there’s always room for more!), and just plain fun stuff that you may want to check out for personal or professional reasons.
Click on the file names above the "Printer Friendly" button to download the following materials for this online session.
1. 60 Sites in 60 Minutes
2. Fun and Productivity with Social Media
A Dozen Tips on Using Social Media
Dianna K. Wiggins, YMCA of the USA
1. Listen and Learn First. Draw a map with yourself or your group in the middle and the stakeholders (for instance: members, community, donors, volunteers, competitive organizations, partner organizations, etc.) that you want to reach around you. Search for and follow the stakeholders you’ve identified on social media channels and listen to what they're saying.
2. It's about relationships, not technologies. Focus on building relationships and trust with your stakeholders. This is what makes the effort sustainable over time.
3. Begin with the end in mind. Frame your approach with the goals and objectives that you want to achieve in mind, then build an overall plan of which social media is a part.
4. Start small, don’t try to "boil the ocean" - Each type of technology has its best uses and some of these overlap. Master one of the major social media players in a category before you try them all, so that you don't dilute your message across too many mediums. As you master each one, you can add others so that your message is available to stakeholders in a number of ways.
5. The medium you choose should fit your relationship with your stakeholders. More commitment and trust is needed as you move from social media to social networks and online communities. Think about whom you’re trying to reach and where they tend to “live” technologically. For instance, teenagers focus a lot of their attention on social networking sites and mobile applications, while advanced seniors may still relate to traditional channels such as print publications and television. Be sure not to “throw the baby out with the bath water.” If your current channels are working, don’t stop using them just because social media is available. Consider your whole range of stakeholders and how each channel reaches different segments.
6. You still need a solid home base. Do some usability testing and make your websites, blogs and wikis easy to use and navigate before linking to them from Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. This way, your stakeholders can take the actions that you want them to take when you refer them to these online locations.
7. Be sure to "give" as much as you "get" - respond to postings by your stakeholders, engage them in conversation and show interest.
8. Be engaging. Find fun and creative ways to engage your audience, be genuine and use an informal voice.
9. Social media initiatives are not overnight efforts. This is because the objective for using them is to build relationships and engagement with stakeholders. Stick with your social media plan and make regular contributions to build and sustain momentum.
10. Social media are an immersive experience. Many of the most powerful benefits of using them are realized only when you use them regularly and learn from others who are using them.
11. It’s called a “stream” for a reason. Social media is not something that will explode if you miss pieces of it. It’s helpful to think of the information to which you subscribe as a stream flowing by. You can reach in and grab useful nuggets and respond to them, letting the rest flow by.
12. Stay legal. Be mindful of copyright laws and Fair Use stipulations when copying content and quoting others. Just because something is in digital form does not mean it isn’t protected by copyright. Credit and source others for their original work when appropriate.