How can social media be used to enhance your philanthropic efforts?

Six main points pop into my head: Know Your Goal: Spreading word or raising cash? Your posts will differ. Tell Stories: Share tales of those you're helping. Pics & videos work wonders. Engage: Chat with followers. Reply, share their stuff, go live sometimes. Partner Up: Team with influencers who vibe with your cause. Big boost! Check Stats: See what's clicking. More likes? Do more of that. Be Transparent: Share where donations go. Ups, downs, all of it.

When thinking about social media, we often jump immediately to technologies without considering why we're on social media to begin with. Our "why," alongside our "who," is going to define which social media platforms are best for us. We don't need to be on every platform. We need to be on the platforms that meet our needs.

Did you know on LinkedIn you can actually search by 'philanthropist'? This is a great way to see who identifies in this category and start mapping out your idea audience to begin approaching.

One tool I have found helpful when identifying a target audience is called an Empathy Canvas Map. It really helps you think about your audience from a more personal perspective, as it intentionally prompts you to answer questions regarding deep thoughts and emotions. When creating content, appealing to a person's emotions can have a real positive impact. The Empathy Canvas Map asks a total of 7 questions; Who are you empathizing with? What do they need to do? What do they see? What do they say? What do they do? What do they hear? and finally, What do they think and feel? Try to be as detailed and specific as possible when responding to these questions and you will be well on your way to learning who your audience is.

Alright, here's the deal: You've gotta know who you're talking to. Think about who you want to reach and what makes them tick. Tailor your chats and posts to what they dig. How do you figure this out? Try surveys, check out your social media stats, or even just ask them directly. Maybe you'll discover their age group, what drives them, or even their favorite social platforms. Once you've got the lowdown, crafting cool posts that they'll love becomes a breeze. So, get to know them, and make every word count! 👌

I wanted to share two additional thoughts to the existing contributions: - Evaluate the difference between those who follow your brand and those who engage with your brand's content. The demographics can and most often differ and that context is important. - Test content often. Survey regularly. Your audience's thoughts and opinions change naturally over time and by topic. The makeup of your audience ebbs and flows as much as the algorithms of social platforms.

Knowing the people you are trying to reach will also help you define your social strategy and which platforms you choose. If you're trying to reach young people, you will often need different social media platforms than if you're trying to reach their parents.

Think through the stories you want to tell and the narratives you want your donors or advocates to experience. What stories do we need to tell to disrupt a donor in to thinking differently about an issue or cause? What stories do we need to tell to help that donor turn inward and reflect the issues? What stories do we need to tell to help a donor confident in their gift?

Hey, guess what? Content is king! To really grab people's attention, you've gotta serve up stuff that's helpful, heartwarming, and gets them moving. Mix it up with cool pics, videos, podcasts, or even infographics. Share your dreams, wins, and the real stories that drive you. And don’t forget the little things! Toss in hashtags like #GivingTuesday, sprinkle in keywords so folks can find you, add captions to those videos, and always – I mean always – have a clear next step. Maybe it’s "donate now" or "share this". Keep it fresh, make it matter, and watch the magic happen!

Being authentic is crucial. Supporters need to know you are listening to their comments and concerns. And that you are present in the conversation - responding in a timely manner and specifically to them. Make sure to have business guidelines on how, when, and where to respond to your supporters across platforms and uphold them. Authentic responses are more than just a thumbs-up emoji. Respond with words - address the specific person by name and make sure your exchange is respectful, prompt, and engaging. Be vulnerable - there are times when communities catch errors and mistakes. Be ready to acknowledge them and correct them. Your brand shows up wherever conversations happen. Make sure you are tracking, listening, and responding.

Listen up! Social media isn't just about shouting into the void; it's about chatting with real folks. So, dive into the convo! Chat with your peeps, answer their questions, give them a virtual high-five. Why not ask them to share their own awesome stories? And hey, when someone donates or supports, give 'em a shout-out or a cool badge. Partnered with someone rad? Show them off in a post. Dive into groups that gel with your cause, and maybe even host a fun webinar or fundraiser. Remember, it's all about the back-and-forth. Keep it real, keep it lively, and your community will be right there with you!

Alright, here’s the scoop: Social media is like a megaphone for your cause! Want to shout louder? Easy. Tag folks who vibe with what you're doing. See a cool post? Share or repost it. Don't stick to just one platform – spread the love around. Team up with other awesome groups or even influencers. Think about it: getting a celeb or expert to give you a nod? That's gold! So, mix, match, collaborate, and watch your message soar.

Okay, let's chat about checking your social media scorecard. Ever wonder how you're doing? Dive into tools that spill the beans on your reach, likes, shares, and all that jazz. Keep an eye on the big wins like clicks and donations. But hey, numbers aren't everything. Listen to what your followers are saying. Love a good testimonial? Snap it up! It's all about learning, tweaking, and giving yourself a pat on the back for the cool stuff you're doing. Celebrate the wins, learn from the oops moments, and keep rocking it!

What stories do you want to tell your audiences? Stories resonate and connect in ways raw statistics can't. In addition, the stories you want to tell will influence the social platforms you engage, and the social media platforms you engage will shape how you tell your stories.

Social Media is a tool that is used to share stories and news about the work the non-profit is doing and how it’s adding value and benefiting the community. Invite event attendees to share why they were here and what they liked on their social media platforms or using specific hashtags. Engage with them to share a photo or perhaps a group photo with a team they are passionate about; not many people are comfortable with sharing on social media, and creating and fostering an open, friendly atmosphere to facilitate social media engagement is vital.