Must-Read Reports for Nonprofits
The eight reports listed below are just a small sampling of the research available to nonprofits about online communications and fundraising, social media, and mobile technology. These reports are, however, some of the most valuable in terms of insight, useful and practical data, and how-to advice. Many of these reports are published on an annual basis, so please be sure to bookmark this post and I’ll keep the the list updated as new reports are released.
If you would like to suggest a report be added to the list, please post the name and the link to the report in a comment below. All the reports currently listed are based on U.S. nonprofit research, but I would also like to add similar reports from other countries. As the reports come in, I’ll organize them by continent. Thank you.
1) 2012 Nonprofit Social Networking Benchmark Report :: Download
Published by NTEN
View: All NTEN Reports
2) 2012 Online Marketing Nonprofit Benchmark™ Study :: Download
Published by Convio
View: All Convio Reports
3) 2012 Funding Mobile Strategies for Social Impact: The Future is Now :: Download
Published by ZeroDivide
View: All Reports by ZeroDivide
4) 2011 Online Giving Report :: Download
Published by Blackbaud
View: All Blackbaud Reports
5) 2011 donorCentrics Internet and Multichannel Giving Benchmarking Report :: Download
Published by Blackbaud
View: All Blackbaud Reports
6) 2011 The Mobile Frontier: Successful Strategies from Text-to-Give and Beyond :: Download
Published by Convio
View: All Convio Reports
7) Giving USA 2011: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2010 :: Download
Published by the Giving USA Foundation
View: All Giving USA Foundation Reports
8) The Future of the Internet: An Ongoing Series of Reports :: Download
Published by the Pew Internet & American Life Project
View: All Pew Internet & American Life Project Reports
Related Links:
Social Media for Social Good: A 268-Page How-To Guide for Nonprofits
Social Media and Mobile Technology Webinars for Nonprofits
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11 Excellent Examples of Nonprofit Avatars
Every second of every day nonprofits around the world are posting status updates, tweets, and messages on social networks attached to avatars with cropped art work and/or unreadable text. Would you ever send out a print or e-mail newsletter, or sign off on a business card with a cropped or visually-defective logo and text so small that it was indecipherable? Absolutely not. However, and unfortunately, the importance of using a visually appealing, perfectly-square avatar consistently on all social networking sites to build a powerful, recognizable online brand has yet to make its way into the communications and fundraising plans of many nonprofits.
Logos, on the other hand, are primarily designed with a horizontal orientation and when uploaded to social networking sites either get cropped to the point of illegibility or shrunk to a size too small to read or make a strong visual impact. This is one of the most obvious mistakes nonprofits (and small businesses) make on the Social Web, and fortunately, one of the easiest to remedy.
That said, a good nonprofit avatar should:
- Be simple in design and use strong, eye-catching colors that match the overall online branding of your nonprofit.
- Not have text that is too small to read.
- Be square.
- Not have obvious visual defects such as copped art work and blurriness from low resolution.
- Be used consistently on all social networks to build a synergistic, recognizable brand across the Social Web.
Related Links:
Free Webinar on June 6: 10 Common Mistakes Nonprofits Make in Social Media
Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits
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11 Blog Content Ideas for Nonprofits
Initially a reluctant blogger, I launched Nonprofit Tech 2.0 in August 2009 and within a few months came to the conclusion that blogging had been the missing piece in my social media campaigns. That first month Nonprofit Tech 2.0 received 13,000 visitors. It was much more traffic than I would have ever thought possible, but thanks to the burgeoning “Nonprofit Organizations” communities that I had built on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace, launching a blog was much easier in 2009 than it was when I tried and failed in 2004. As of last month, Nonprofit Tech 2.0 received 93,000 visits and as traffic grows consistently from month to month so does my ROI. Nonprofit Tech 2.0 has turned out to be the glue that holds it (the “Nonprofit Organizations” brand) all together and makes it work, surprisingly.
All that said, the following is an excerpt from Chapter 7 of my book Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits. If your nonprofit has yet to start a blog or already blogs but struggles with ideas for fresh content, then hopefully the 11 blog content ideas listed below will help. Also, in my upcoming webinar on How Nonprofits Can Successfully Launch and Maintain a Blog on WordPress, I will give concrete examples of the nonprofit blog content ideas below as well as how to set-up and design your blog and craft your blog content to ensure that your supporters and donors will actually read your blog. 
Thanks to the Social Web, there is no shortage of possible topics for your nonprofit to blog about. From 10-paragraph editorials to 2-paragraph commentaries on breaking news, when you use the ideas given here, you should have no problem publishing the required minimum of one blog post per week (less than that and your blog starts to look abandoned). Still, understand that the more good, high-quality content your nonprofit blog publishes, the higher your ROI. That said, mix it up! Post a wide variety of blog content and have some fun with it. Finally, remember that blog posts make great content for e-newsletters. Definitely integrate your blog posts with your e-newsletter.
1. Share and Comment on Breaking News
One of the more effective ways to generate buzz for and traffic to your blog is to tap into the breaking news cycle. If a news story is breaking when you get to work in the morning, and it is related to your mission or your programs, write up a quick two-paragraph summary of or commentary about the breaking news story, add a link to the original source, and then distribute your blog post to your communities. People are much more responsive and likely to share your blog post if its subject matter is related to a breaking news story. Most nonprofits distribute the original source of the story to their communities (the New York Times, for example), but while that is generous, it does not help build the nonprofit’s brand recognition, e-newsletter list, or social networking communities; rather, it builds those of the New York Times. That said, you should be careful not to become a breaking news spammer by overusing this strategy, but you will discover that some of your most trafficked blog posts will be related to breaking news.
2. Post Calls to Action
Often tied to breaking news stories or internal developments at your organization, a blog post calling for action is often well received. A call to action can be an urgent donation pitch, a request to sign an online petition, or a call for volunteers. It’s amazing what your supporters will be willing and able to do for your nonprofit if you just ask.
3. Share Stories, Photos, and Videos from Events
You should be regularly photographing and recording videos at important events that your nonprofit hosts. A day or two after the event, write up a brief blog post summarizing the event, with a Flickr slide show or YouTube video recapping the event. It’s also good to feature quotes from supporters who attended the event. Quite often, a good slide show or video will entice supporters to give priority to attending your next event.
4. Provide Organizational Updates
If your nonprofit is launching a new program or campaign, definitely write a blog post to share the news and summarize the new program or campaign’s goals. Your supporters will probably help to share the news and provide valuable feedback. Organizational updates can also include announcements of conferences or fund-raisers, staff changes, or any recent awards or accolades your nonprofit has received. It’s also a good idea that every time you launch a new social media or mobile technology community or campaign, you write a brief blog post and list specific ways in which supporters can participate. If you start using QR codes, write a blog post explaining how you will use them. If you launch a new TwitPic campaign, write about that, too. Again, you’ll be surprised by what your supporters will do to help your nonprofit online if you just keep them informed.
5. Share Stories from the Field
For nonprofits that have staff members or volunteers in the field, definitely encourage them to send in reports with photos for blog posts. A first-person voice is best. Nonprofits that work in international development, disaster relief, or wildlife conservation often do this sort of storytelling in print materials and website articles, but it also works extremely well as blog content. Another idea is to have staff members send in reports from important conferences, meetings, or protests.
6. Interview Experts
A 10-question blog interview with an expert in an area related to your nonprofit’s mission and programs can be interesting to your supporters. Interview a professor, government official, or esteemed professional, such as a scientist, social worker, activist, or artist. Be sure to insert and bold the questions in the blog post, keep answers limited to two or three paragraphs, and always include the expert’s photo. The easiest way to conduct these interviews is through e-mail or over the phone, but for the enterprising blogger with a penchant for journalism, in-person interviews provide the opportunity to get action photos and video interviews.
7. Allow Guest Bloggers to Post Commentary and Share Their Expertise
Additionally, you can ask experts to write guest blog posts. Some will be too busy to take the time to write, but others will happily embrace the opportunity. Your role is to give them a word limit, a general theme, and a deadline, and to solicit photos. Since there’s always the possibility that a guest blogger will be a poor writer or controversial in her subject matter or tone, it’s best to ask experts who are already closely connected to your nonprofit.
8. Share Resources and Useful Tips
Blog posts that share resources and useful tips are some of the most popular on the Social Web. For example, if you are a health nonprofit, write a post about foods that help lower blood pressure, or provide tips on how to exercise at home. If you are an environmental nonprofit, write about ways in which supporters can green their homes or garden without pesticides. If you are a nonprofit that works with low-income communities, write blog posts that share recipes for low-cost meals and energy-saving tips. Newspapers and magazines publish these sorts of articles regularly because they generate buzz. There’s no reason why nonprofits can’t capture some of that buzz, too.
9. Solicit Feedback and Direction from Supporters
When you are considering launching a new campaign or starting a new online community, go to the blogosphere for advice. Just be prepared to listen to people’s feedback! Let’s say you are considering investing in a text-to-give campaign, and you are about ready to sign the contract. Before you do, write a blog post asking your readers if they have any interest in donating to your nonprofit via text, and why or why not? They will surely let you know, either through an onslaught of feedback or through a defining, all-telling silence. It cannot be stressed enough that your supporters are eager to be engaged and useful, but you need to open your nonprofit to their feedback and direction. It’s also worth pointing out that if you can get your supporters engaged in a new program or campaign during the idea stage, they are very likely to assist throughout the launch and implementation stages as well.
10. Write Numbered Lists
Numbered lists are the most retweeted, liked, and shared blog posts on the Social Web today. Seriously! Some of the most successful blogs on the Web today regularly publish blog posts with numbered lists, and once you start, you will quickly notice that these posts are becoming your most trafficked blog posts. Some examples for nonprofits are “10 Ways You Can Help Fight Poverty,” “Four Reasons Why the Green Economy Is America’s Future Economy,” “10 Tips to Help You Quit Smoking,” and “Eight Benefits of Volunteering.” Your nonprofit should set a goal of publishing a minimum of four lists per year, and it’s worth noting that these lists make great content for e-newsletters as well.
11. Highlight Special Donors, Fundraisers, and Volunteers
Blogs are a great platform for highlighting donors, fund-raisers, volunteers, and other supporters through “of the month” posts. These posts help your nonprofit show appreciation to your most valuable supporters and create an incentive for other supporters to do and give more. Though most of them won’t come right out and say it, many people appreciate public recognition for their contribution. It makes them feel special and important. These posts can also be very effective in e-newsletters. Keep them brief, include a quote or two from the person being highlighted, and definitely add his picture.
Related Links:
Webinar: How Nonprofits Can Successfully Launch and Maintain a Blog on WordPress
Five Reasons to Consider Launching a Blog for Your Nonprofit
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Until recently, I have gone to exceptional lengths to avoid getting video recorded. I have always felt very uncomfortable in front of a camera and even more so watching myself recorded. I’m usually the person behind the lens. Know what I mean? In fact, one of the reasons that I have pursued a career in nonprofit technology, ironically, is that I can do it in solitude and mostly in the comfort of my own home. However, nonprofit technology and online communications are changing rapidly and becoming much more visual and with the rise of camera and video-enabled smartphones worldwide, it has come to a point where I have to practice what I preach and get in front of lens every once in a while.
So, last week when I had the honor and the privilege to present a social media training to a group of young social entrepreneurs and future nonprofit leaders in Singapore at the #Innovate4Good Conference sponsored by Microsoft Citizenship Asia Pacific (facebook.com/citizenshipmicrosoftasia), I was asked to give a video interview discussing my top three social media tips. With hundreds of tips swirling through my head it was tough to narrow it down to three on the spot and on camera, but here’s how it went:
Finally, a special thanks to Microsoft Citizenship for bringing together these amazing young people from all over Asia Pacific – all expenses paid! Many of them had never been outside their own country, so it was a joy to see and hear their excitement and an eye opener for me to be exposed to such a dynamic group of young people that will no doubt shape the future development of rapidly changing Asia – and our world.
For More Info: @MS_CTZ_APAC, @msftcitizenship
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11 Nonprofit Websites That Look Great on iPads
Soaring tablet use and an online commons increasingly battling information overload has fundamentally changed web design as we know it. Bigger pictures, less text, larger fonts, and easy-to-tap and click buttons and navigation are the new Web design aesthetic. That said, consistency in Web design is becoming more complicated with each passing day. Do you attempt to create one website that looks good on desktops and laptops, tablets, Internet TVs, and smartphones using responsive Web design – or have multiple websites to accommodate viewing on different devices? Either way, both options are difficult to implement for nonprofits with limited budgets. Hopefully in time content management systems will make it easy and affordable for most nonprofits to publish content visually-compatible with multiple devices. Until then, since the iPad is the top selling tablet and its dimensions are compatible with desktop and laptop devices, if your nonprofit is considering launching a new website, then the following eleven nonprofit websites will help guide your design decisions. That said, during the design process make sure you have physical access to an iPad (and other tablets) so you can view and experience how your site looks on the iPad when held vertically and horizontally:
1. WildAid :: wildaid.org
2. Save the Children :: savethechildren.org
3. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art :: sfmoma.org
4. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital :: stjude.org
5. One World One Ocean :: oneworldoneocean.org
6. The Nature Conservancy :: nature.org
7. Natural Resources Defense Council :: nrdc.org
8. Humane Society International :: hsi.org
9. Human Rights Campaign :: hrc.org
10. charity: water :: charitywater.org
11. American Heart Association :: heart.org
Related Links:
Webinar: How Nonprofits Can Successfully Utilize Mobile Technology and Mobile Fundraising
Five Reasons Why Your Nonprofit Needs a Mobile Website
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Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Time: 1pm-2:30 EDT
Cost: Free
How to Register: Sign up!
Presented By: Heather Mansfield
The Social Web has dramatically changed how nonprofits communicate with supporters, donors, and volunteers. In fact, most nonprofits in the United States now regularly use social media in their communications and development campaigns, but few nonprofit social media practioners have been properly trained how to best utilize sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Google+. Your organization’s return on investment (ROI) from using social media is directly related to whether your staff fully understand each sites’ unique functionality and toolset as well as how to best integrate these tools into your long-term online communications and fundraising strategy. Many nonprofits are making simple mistakes that are draining their social media ROI, but fortunately these mistakes can be easily fixed.
That said, this webinar begins with laying a foundation for understanding the role of social media in the context of Web 1.0 [The Broadcast Web], Web 2.0 [The Social Web], and Web 3.0 [The Mobile Web) and then moves on to explore 10 of the most common mistakes made by nonprofit social media practitioners. This webinar cuts through hype and demonstrates clearly where the ROI is from social media – and where it is not.
Related Link:
Social Media and Mobile Technology Webinars for Nonprofits
@NonprofitOrgs is now following 100,000 Nonprofits, Nonprofit Staff, and Nonprofit Service Providers!
Every morning I begin my day with browsing those that have followed @NonprofitOrgs from the previous morning before. I then follow in return those that are nonprofits, nonprofit staff, or nonprofit service providers and today I followed my 100,000th nonprofit: Furry Feet Rescue in Walnut Port, PA (@FurryFeetRescue). To commemorate reaching 100,000 (which took three years, 10 months, and 100,000 clicks of a mouse!), I donated $1,000 – $100 to Furry Feet Rescue and $900 to my Favorite Nonprofits. I’ve been saving up for the occasion and truth be told, social media has made me (and many others) a much more consistent online donor. I mean, really, how can you follow 100,000 nonprofits and social do gooders, and not be inspired to put your money where your mouse is?
Related Links:
50,000 Nonprofits on Twitter!
Social Media and Mobile Technology Webinars for Nonprofits
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Is Your Nonprofit Guilty of #Hashtag Spamming?
A recent study concluded that only about one-third of tweets are worth reading and with Twitter now generating 340 million tweets per day, that’s approximately 266 millions tweets that would have been better left untweeted. Finding your Twitter voice is a skill and it takes a concerted effort to first track what tweets your followers react to (or not) and then adjust your content and tweets accordingly. In general, most direct marketing pitches and fundraising asks are ignored and increasingly an overuse or incorrect use of hashtags can do more harm to your nonprofit’s brand on Twitter than good. Too many hashtags in one tweet can look messy or nonsensical, decrease click-through rates, and subtly communicate to your followers than you are a hashtag spammer i.e., you’re not really monitoring or participating in the conversation around a certain hashtag, just spamming it in hopes of getting more followers – which doesn’t work by the way.
That said, I know that opinions and strategies on tweeting vary widely, so I am going to let you vote and share your thoughts on hashtag spamming with the hope that potential hashtags spammers reading your feedback will reconsider their use of hashtags. Below are five actual tweets by nonprofits. You tell us if you think the Twitterer is guilty of hashtag spamming:
Tweet #1 :: Hashtag Spammer or Not? VOTE
Tweet #2 :: Hashtag Spammer or Not? VOTE
Tweet #3 :: Hashtag Spammer or Not? VOTE
Tweet #4 :: Hashtag Spammer or Not? VOTE
Tweet #5 :: Hashtag Spammer or Not? VOTE
Related Links:
Webinar: How Nonprofits Can Successfully Use Twitter and LinkedIn
Five Nonprofits That Have Found Their Twitter Voice
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Date: Thursday, April 26.
Time: 12-1:30pm Singapore/Kuala Lumpur
(10-11:30am New Delhi; 2-3:30 Sydney;
4-6:30pm Auckland)
Cost: Free
How to Register: Sign up!
Presented By: Heather Mansfield
This 90-minute social media how-to webinar is ideal for nonprofit communications and fundraising staff. Sponsored by Microsoft Corporate Citizenship and presented by Heather Mansfield of Nonprofit Tech 2.0, attendees will gain practical knowledge about how to successfully integrate your nonprofit’s Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 campaigns in order to maximize ROI (Return on Investment). The webinar begins with defining Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 for nonprofits and discusses how to lay a foundation for future success on the Social Web, and then quickly moves into discussing the top five social media best practices for nonprofits with a particular focus on Facebook and Twitter.
Next, the webinar highlights the need to create a video and digital photography library and demonstrates how to use Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Live Movie Maker to create videos and slideshows for YouTube and Flickr. The webinar then closes with a discussion about how social media is directly resulting in an increase online giving and will demonstrate click-by-click how to use Excel to track and report your nonprofit’s Social Media ROI.
Please Note: For those in nonprofits attending in Australia and New Zealand, a phone number will be provided for the audio portion, however, it is not toll free. That said, all attendees regardless of location can listen to the audio portion over their computer speakers for free. Finally, please be aware that the webinar will not be recorded for later viewing.
Related Link:
Social Media for Social Good: Lessons Learned from Nonprofits in Southeast Asia
11 LinkedIn Profile Tips for Nonprofit Professionals
The following is an excerpt from Chapter 6 of the recently released book Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits. These basic LinkedIn Profile tips for nonprofit professionals serve as a foundation for when and if your nonprofit is ready to utilize LinkedIn Groups and Company Pages. That said, I do not cover personal LinkedIn Profiles in my upcoming webinar How Nonprofits Can Successfully Use Twitter and LinkedIn, but LinkedIn Groups and Company Pages are covered in detail in both the webinar and in the book.
Finally, it’s important to understand that the line between personal and professional is blurry on LinkedIn, so much so that it’s completely respectable to use LinkedIn for personal reasons during office hours. The time you spend mastering LinkedIn benefits both your long-term career and your current nonprofit employer.
Unless you plan on working at your current nonprofit for the rest of your life, it’s entirely possible that during your next job search, recruiters and your future boss will be browsing your LinkedIn Profile. In fact, as long as you follow the tips outlined here, you’ll probably want to add your LinkedIn Profile vanity URL to your résumé. Until then, when you’re advocating for the nonprofit where you currently work, the professionalism of your profile directly reflects upon your nonprofit. Though it may take four to five hours, you should make the effort and invest the time necessary to complete your LinkedIn Profile in order to maximize its full potential. To create and then set up a profile on LinkedIn, go to linkedin.com/reg/join, then go to “Profile > Edit Profile” and follow the tips given here. You’ll also want to click on your name in the upper right of LinkedIn and select “Settings” to configure your privacy settings and e-mail notifications.
1. Fill Out Your Profile to “100 Percent Completeness”
As you set up your profile, LinkedIn will display a thermometer indicating the percent to which your profile is complete. Fill out all fields until you reach 100 percent. You should add a brief, succinct bio to the summary field. Include the majority of your work experience and all schools you attended (even study abroad programs). Maximize the website and Twitter fields. Fill out interests, groups and associations, and honors and awards. There are also special sections of your profile where you can list certifications, languages, patents, skills, and publications. For security reasons, do not add your phone number or mailing address. Connections can contact you directly through LinkedIn Mail. A profile that is 100 percent completed makes a strong first impression upon LinkedIn members and anyone who might be searching for you in Google or Yahoo!. LinkedIn Profiles rank very high in search results, so make sure yours is filled to 100 percent completeness.
2. Use a Professional Photo for Your Profile Photo
It’s best to use a profile photo on LinkedIn that speaks to your professional career, not your personal life (that is, not photos that were taken on vacation, with the family, in costume, and so on). Some personality is OK, but if you wouldn’t use a photo on the “Staff” page of your nonprofit’s website, then don’t use it on LinkedIn, either. In the spirit of merging the personal with the professional, you can help build your nonprofit’s brand recognition in the LinkedIn community by adding your nonprofit’s Twibbon to your profile picture. Also, it’s worth noting that your profile cannot reach 100 percent completeness without your uploading a photo. The LinkedIn community is skeptical of profiles without photos, thinking that they may be spammers, so LinkedIn makes uploading a photo a requirement for completion.
3. Customize Your Headline
By default, LinkedIn uses the title of your current position as your “Professional Headline.” You can customize your headline and add more detail and personality by going to “Edit Profile.” When people browse connections on LinkedIn, it’s your headline that is displayed most prominently, so craft it to make a strong first impression and summarize your most valuable skills.
4. Reserve Your LinkedIn Public Profile Vanity URL
To make it easier for you to promote your LinkedIn profile online, in e-mail, and on your résumé, it’s crucial that you go to “Edit Profile > Edit Public Profile >” and set your public profile URL. Use your first and last names to optimize search engine results, such as linkedin.com/in/heathermansfield. Fortunately, you can change your vanity URL at a later date if necessary—if you get married and change your name, for example.
5. Make Connections
Once you have set up your profile, you are ready to go public. Go to “People” and search individually by name, or import your contacts from your e-mail address books. You can also search for past work colleagues by going to “Companies” and searching for the company pages of places where you used to work (these are also accessible on the public view of your profile by clicking the company page icon next to each of your past employers’ names). When you find people you know, go to their profile and add them to your network. Finally, you should add your LinkedIn Profile vanity URL to your work e-mail signature.
6. Give Recommendations
Featured on your profile, “Recommendations” are like references, and they are highly prized and much sought after on LinkedIn. Connections can write a paragraph or two about working with you and about your skill set and professional attributes, and vice versa. Recommendations are, of course, meant to be positive. To get recommendations, however, in most cases you have to give recommendations. Make a commitment to give one or two a month. Proper etiquette is to reciprocate with anyone who gives you a recommendation (although not everyone does so). Don’t take it too personally if you don’t get one in return. More than likely, the person is just busy or not that active on LinkedIn. Still, hopefully, within a year you’ll have five or more recommendations.
7. Post Authentic Updates—Don’t Sync with Twitter!
Featured on the “Home” view of LinkedIn are the updates that have been posted by your connections. What you usually see there (and what most people ignore) are tweets that have been automatically posted in the LinkedIn news feed from your personal profile. Resist the urge and do not automate! Automated tweets just clutter the feed, and many people find them annoying. Make an effort to post authentic updates at least once a week. You’re more likely to get noticed and receive comments and likes as well when you post authentically. It’s worth noting that your most recent update is always featured at the top of your profile, so post updates strategically.
8. Use LinkedIn Apps
LinkedIn has a small application directory that allows you to feature your blog and PowerPoint presentations directly on your profile, among other things. To browse available apps, go to “Edit Profile > Add an application” and add at least one app. They add some color and pizzazz that can easily grab the attention of people who visit your profile.
9. Join, Participate in, and Display LinkedIn Groups on Your Profile
There are tens of thousands of groups on LinkedIn on topics ranging from “Autism Speaks” to “Zoo and Aquarium Professionals.” There are also a wide variety of groups related to nonprofit professional networking, job seeking, fund-raising, communications, and philanthropy. You should browse and join groups that are related to your nonprofit’s mission and programs, along with those that are specialized for the nonprofit sector, and then post links to your blog or website in discussions or promotions and engage fellow members. Be sure to monitor your LinkedIn referring traffic to your website and blog. The click-through rate on LinkedIn is phenomenal, often higher than that for Twitter or Facebook, provided your content is good. You’ll also probably start receiving more requests to connect, and possibly a recommendation or two, if you are active in groups. It’s beneficial to both your personal and nonprofit brands for you to spend a couple of hours per month participating in groups. Finally, be sure to allow your groups (under settings) to be featured on your profile. The groups you join and display on your LinkedIn Profile say a lot about who you are and where your interests lie.
10. Experiment with Answers
If you enjoy chatting online with strangers, then it’s worth experimenting with LinkedIn Answers. There is a nonprofit category where you can ask or answer questions in subcategories related to nonprofit fund-raising, nonprofit management, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. The more you participate, the higher you move up the “Top Experts” list. At a minimum, participate once or twice a month to get your name out on LinkedIn.
11. Don’t Engage the Narcissists!
There are countless experts, masters, mavens, rock stars, and gurus on LinkedIn. The vast majority are respectful, courteous, and helpful, but some are over the top in their arrogance and expertise. People in the nonprofit sector in general are humble and very good at keeping their egos in check, but occasionally you will encounter an outrageous personality on LinkedIn who enjoys inciting arguments with people, claiming absolutes, and constantly spamming your group. Experience will teach you that it’s best to just ignore or block these people. The more you engage them, the worse it gets. Encountering such narcissists is rare, but it is a uniquely LinkedIn experience that can be shocking to some nonprofit professionals when they first encounter it.
Related Links:
Webinar: How Nonprofits Can Successfully Use Twitter and LinkedIn
Social Media for Nonprofit Organizations LinkedIn Group
Mobile Technology for Nonprofit Organizations LinkedIn Group
