archana sridhar - born to blog
DESCRIPTION
Can one tool help you share your story, build your brand, provide timely information to a variety of audiences and strengthen supporter engagement? Blogs can! In this session, learn how to create and maintain a blog for the different strategic goals of your organization. You will be introduced to the basics of blogging including different blogging platforms and blogging principles: managing expectations, becoming an authority, and building networks. Learn the secrets of blogging success with real examples from nonprofits.TRANSCRIPT
Born to BlogAn introduction to nonprofit blogging
Archana Sridhar
The South Asian Philanthropy Project
and
Indiana University
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What is a blog?
• Short for ‘weblog’
• Usually an online journal
• Contains regular commentary or news
• Personal, professional, and/or organizational
• Reverse chronological order
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An example
• Interplast – So No Child Must Wait
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Benefits of blogging
• Substance: Real-time commentary on relevant issues.
• Marketing: Reinforce your brands and claim expertise.
• Outreach: Forum to recognize and cultivate volunteers, donors, and journalists.
• Fundraising: Talk about appeals, campaigns, donors, and drive traffic.
• Community-building: Provide on-line resources and community-building.
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Case Study
• South Asian Philanthropy Project
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Pros
• Instant Publication
• Feedback and Comments
• Searchable
• Automatically Archives
• Links
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Cons
• Dependent on Internet Access
• No Authority or Control
• Too Much Information
• Takes Staff Time– How much?
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How to start a blog
• Think about resources
– How much do you want to pay? – free to hundreds per year
– What kind of tech expertise do you have?
– Look and customization
– Ease of use
– Widgets
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How to start a blog cont’d
• Pick a platform– Google Blogger
– Wordpress
– Typepad
• Can be up and running in minutes!
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Another example
• Kiva Chronicles
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Principles for nonprofit blogging
1. Manage expectations
2. Become an authority
3. Build networks
4. Entertain while being informative
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Some more examples
• PhilanTopic
• Give and Take
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Practical tips
• Use interns
• Keep it simple
• Write informally and often
• Expand into other social media
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Some more examples
• MaRS
• Ontario Nonprofit Network
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Some resources
• CanadaHelps (MyCharityConnects)
• Lucy Bernholz (Philanthropy 2173)
• Beth Kantor (Beth’s Blog)
• Nonprofit Blog Exchange
• NetSquared
• Marnie Webb (ext337)
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Thank you!
• Thank you to:– CanadaHelps
– Cindy Dabney of Indiana University
– Seth Mazow, formerly of Interplast
– The South Asian Philanthropy Project (http://southasianphilanthropy.org)
• Questions?