| Are you using Web 2.0 to promote your cause? If | | | | searching for a pet of that age, breed, or |
| not, why not? | | | | temperament. |
| One of the most important things you can do to | | | | If you teach literacy you can celebrate someone's |
| assure that you'll keep receiving funds from your | | | | achievement or announce that you got some |
| supporters is to let them in on what's going on! They | | | | wonderful new books. If you shelter battered |
| want to know about your successes and they want | | | | women you can rejoice that someone was reunited |
| to know about your challenges. And when you go all | | | | with her children or her parents. Or you can |
| out for some fundraising event, they want to know | | | | broadcast thanks because someone donated a whole |
| if you made any money. | | | | case of shampoo! |
| In short, even though you may never see their faces | | | | You can give them heads-up on fundraising events, |
| in person, your supporters want to feel like part of | | | | and you can ask for volunteers. |
| your organization. | | | | In short - you can give your supporters the |
| They also want you to seek their opinions as well as | | | | opportunity to stay in the loop and know what's |
| their money. So use a free site like Survey Monkey | | | | going on with your group. And you can keep them |
| now and then to send a questionairre. Staying in | | | | enthused, so that when you send an appeal for more |
| touch with supporters ranks right up there with | | | | funds, they'll be willing to give. |
| thanking them every time they send a gift. | | | | No time? Yes there is time. A Twitter post is 140 |
| And when I look around, I can't believe how many | | | | characters long. How long can that take? Especially |
| non-profits are letting funds go to some other | | | | when you will add your web address to most posts. |
| organization because they think they "don't have | | | | (Hint - what I just said in the last paragraph was 147 |
| time" for this. I do think you need to send a postal | | | | characters - too long!) And now, you can link your |
| newsletter at least quarterly, and I do think your | | | | Twitter tweets to your Facebook page - so what |
| supporters deserve an e-mail directed to their in-box | | | | you say goes to both places at once. |
| at least monthly. But... if you can entice them to | | | | Most people who use the computer will stop to send |
| become "friends" on Facebook or another social site, | | | | an email or read something or play a game. All those |
| or to follow you on Twitter, you can stay in touch | | | | things take longer than sending a short tweet! One |
| informally almost every day - if not 2 or 3 times a | | | | thing, however, be sure to check your @ messages |
| day. | | | | and answer people who have responded to your |
| Think about that... if you're an animal rescue you can | | | | tweets. That's how you build relationships and get |
| send a joyous message when a cat or dog is | | | | new supporters. |
| adopted. You can send an informational message | | | | If you haven't been using Web 2.0, start now. You |
| when a new pet comes into the system - just in | | | | can't do it yesterday. |
| case one of your supporters knows someone who is | | | | |