Lisa Trigg
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Social media and Internet marketing have become valuable tools to spread information in today’s society.
Unfortunately, many service and volunteer agencies who could make valuable use of Twitter, Facebook and other online media are often hesitant to promote their projects or organizations in cyberspace.
Whether it’s unfamiliarity with the media, or simply a matter of teaching new skills, folks at the Regional Governor’s Conference on Service and Volunteerism learned that harnessing the power of the web is a great way to reach more people.
“You have to dive in,” Scott Rieger of Tevectos told representatives of regional nonprofit groups Wednesday. “And you will make mistakes. That’s OK. The only wrong way is not to do it.”
Issuing a specific call to action — such as signing up for a newsletter, donating to a cause, or volunteering for a project — should be the aim of an online campaign.
Reiger explained that online videos are a must for organizations, and they don’t have to be professionally produced. In fact, gritty and raw video works better than polished productions in attracting attention.
Giving creative titles and keywords for the video helps bring in the viewers. And where better to post video online, than at YouTube.com, which has special features for not-for-profit organizations.
The equipment doesn’t have to be expensive, and the software is usually free or cheap.
“If you have video on your website, you are already 50 times more likely to be found,” Rieger said. And registering with news aggregators such as Google and Yahoo will also make a web site more likely to be found.
The advice of the Tevectos pros, as well as presentations on grant writing, nonprofit governance, diversity and volunteering, were intended to facilitate collaborative dialogue and connect service organizations in the area. The conference was sponsored by the Indiana Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, which elevated the state’s ranking of sixth in the nation in the average number of hours of service per resident.
And keynote speaker Tim Miles, of the firm The Wizard of Ads, told the conference attendees that even though a new report claims that charitable giving in the United States has dropped 11 percent because of the current economic recession, people are still willing to give to make a positive difference.
Society is entering a “civic” generation cycle, Miles said, and the mindset is not about big dreams, but about small actions that work for the greater good.
While statistics may say that charitable giving is on the decline, he said, volunteerism is on the rise. People will volunteer for well-organized efforts that make the best use of people’s valuable time.
And he also emphasized that social media are not a fad. Technology is actually rewriting the rules of commerce.
“The new goal is to say something powerful, instead of saying something powerfully,” he said. “Today, people are not simply waiting to hear what you say. They are watching to see what you do.”
He urged the attendees to take a five-step approach toward their organization’s goals:
• Focus on a simple goal and know what result is desired.
• Evaluate the factors that are holding you back.
• Prioritize objectives, moving through the list.
• Brainstorm how to overcome hurdles, often by looking outside your industry for solutions.
• Implement the plan by knowing the destination, moving toward it and refusing to stop.
“End each day by reviewing your progress,” Miles said. “It’s that simple. If there’s no progress, make any small step. Be relentless.”
“The magic is not in the size of your steps, but in the relentlessness of them.”
Lisa Trigg can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or lisa.trigg@tribstar.com.
