using social media to enhance volunteer effectiveness

Using Social Media to Enhance Volunteer EffectivenessDaniella Nordin, Online Community Manager

Why social media?

Before

Now

Why social media in higher ed? Student recruitment Student engagement Professional development School pride Alumni engagement General outreach In the classroom

FREE

Where in the world is Skidmore? Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Pinterest Foursquare Formspring Google+ Flickr

Why are we there?

Feb-11

Apr-11

Jun-11

Aug-11

Oct-11

Dec-11

Feb-12

Apr-12

Jun-12

Aug-12

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000

4,4004,4934,5624,6344,6994,7714,858

4,9865,191

5,2915,318

5,4815,545

5,6665,7395,803

5,9236,078

6,2686,515

Facebook Fans

Facebook Fans

2,433,147

Why are we (really) there?

Does it work?

#501Challenge Goal: increase young alumni engagement Challenge: get 501 donors on 5/01 for $50,000 Strategy: no direct mail; all online and social media, started

marketing one week prior to 5/01 Results

Reached 501 donors by 2:00 p.m. on 5/01 Reached 750 donors by 8:00 p.m. secured additional $25,000 Reached 1,000 donors by 11:00 p.m. for another $25,000 Total: 1,038 donors for $100,000 for Skidmore

Does it work? Skidmore Student-to-Student (#SS2S) Goal: increase applications to Skidmore Strategy: utilize current students

Implemented Skidmore Student-to-Student (SS2S) Initiative Since launching in Oct. 2011, the page is consistently among the top

15 most-visited on the Admissions site Students and staff have answered 440 questions from prospective

students and their families Each blog averages 500+ views per month The top-visited blog has 1,651 visitors Three bloggers participated in one of four live chats this year, where

they helped answer nearly 500 questions!

Why does it work? People!

Spreading the news Sharing experiences Talking about things they care about

2,433,147

What can you say? News and updates Point people to posts of interest BUT don’t just talk; Listen

On Facebook Like Skidmore College Share what’s in your news feed:

Photos Events Updates

Respond to questions Like posts and leave comments Tag us!

How? Share Like Social buttons

But that’s just Facebook . . .

What about Twitter?

@____ = say hi, reply to, direct your followers to

# = group tweets into a category or thread

RT = retweet

Why Twitter? Real time News News aggregator SEO

Feb-11Mar-11Apr-11

May-11Jun-11Jul-11

Aug-11Sep-11Oct-11Nov-11Dec-11Jan-12Feb-12Mar-12Apr-12

May-12Jun-12Jul-12

Aug-12Sep-12Oct-12

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000

829949

1,0301,099

1,1861,2841,324

1,5191,5701,597

1,6741,718

1,8311,929

2,0202,073

2,1502,203

2,3072,380

2,471

Twitter Followers

Twitter Followers

And . . . YouTube LinkedIn Pinterest Foursquare Formspring Google+ Flickr

Wherever you are . . . We are too.

Trust your instincts.

Contact me! Daniella Nordin dnordin@skidmore.edu @DaniellaNordin 518-580-5616