intro to blogging for nonprofits and libraries

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Intro to Blogging for Nonprofits & Libraries

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Twitter hashtag: #tstblog

Ask follow-up questions in the Emerging Technologies Forum: – http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/forums/t/28873.aspx

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Facilitator: Becky Wiegand (TechSoup)

Presenters: Allyson Kapin, Care2Jason Griffey, Library Blogging

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Intro to Blogging for Nonprofits & Libraries


Today’s Speakers

Answering chat questions: Laura Newton, TechSoup volunteer

Becky WiegandTechSoup

Jason GriffeyAuthor, Library Blogging

Allyson Kapin Care 2’s Frogloop Blog


Webinar Objectives

Definitions

Benefits of Blogging for Nonprofits

Benefits of Blogging for Libraries

Considerations Before Starting

Overview of Tools

Best Practices and Tips

Favorite Blogs

More Resources

Q&A


What Is a Blog?

“A blog is a web page (usually) written in a programming language, where the content of the site is stored in a metadata-rich format, and the presentation of the content is (usually) in a reverse chronological order.

Each piece of content is (usually) the product of a single author, and the content is updated regularly. The page in question (usually) has some form of social component, whether through comments, trackback, or other mechanism of communicating content or feedback.”

-- Library Blogging

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What Are the Benefits of Blogging for Nonprofits?


Communicate. Stand Out.

Direct communications with your base of supporters, potential supporters, the press and influentials, and decision makers such as political representatives and staff.

Don’t get lost in the shuffle. Your opposition or competition probably has a blog. You should too!

www.blogforchoice.com


Tell Your Story with Your Voice

Easy and cost-effective way to share latest news, tell your story, solicit feedback and foster discussion.

Gives your nonprofit a distinct voice within a movement and can distinguish you from other nonprofits working on similar issues.

www.greenpeace.org/uk


Brand Your Mission

Build brand recognition around your mission.

blog.amnestyusa.org


Deliver Fresh Information

Integrate a blog feed on your organization’s homepage. It’s an excellent way to freshen up your homepage and make it dynamic. RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feeds allow you to automatically deliver updates.

www.savedarfur.org

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What Are the Benefits of

Blogging for Libraries?


build your audience


shareyour

secrets


remixyour

world

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Considerations for Getting Started


Getting Started: Goals & Staff Define Your Goals Upfront! Identify your target audience. Define the unique information you want to use your blog to deliver. Publishing schedule: Can you provide information quickly and

regularly?

Staff Commitment Options: Designate Blogger-In-Chief, periodic guest posts, rotating

staff contributions. Aim for three short posts per week to keep the blog fresh.

Who Should Be Blogging? People that truly understand your organization’s mission, issues,

and agenda. Guest bloggers: Board members, allies, partners, etc.


Getting Started: Voice

Tone depends on your target audiences. For example, if you have:

Young, tech-savvy online communications practitioner audience? Professional voice with some personality and spunk.

Policymaker audience? Research-based tone.

Community members including teens and children? Straightforward, non-sarcastic, age-appropriate.


Getting Started: Comments, Security

Do you want to allow comments? Moderated or anonymous? If you work on controversial topics, do you want to keep identities of your bloggers concealed? How can you ensure your blog doesn’t get hacked or become a spam repository? Do you need a disclaimer stating that your bloggers have their own opinions? What standards apply for staff, volunteer, intern, or board members who blog for you?

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What Tools Fit Your Needs?


Tool: Blogger.com


Tool: WordPress.com


Tool: TypePad.com


Tool: WordPress.org


Tool: MovableType.com


Tool: FeedBurner and Readers


Microblogging

Twitter.com

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Best Practices & Tips


Best Practices & Tips

Blogs should be easily scannable. Use bullets to display lists.

Frame your post around key sections that illustrate your points with bold headlines.

Use pull quotes strategically such as to highlight a very compelling comment or good stat.

www.frogloop.com


Best Practices & Tips Layout: Display several posts on the main page using excerpts and associated image so web visitors can get a quick synopsis of your latest articles.

Length of Posts: 500-750 words or less is a good framework. If it’s longer, divide into a two-part post.

Search Engine Marketing: To increase your search engine rankings, use keywords that relate to your nonprofit’s issue. A keyword-oriented blog can increase your chances of higher search rankings which means more traffic to your blog.

wilderness.org/blog


Promoting Your Blog

RSS Feeds: Give visitors opportunities to subscribe to your blog’s RSS feed.

Add This: Encourages users to promote blog posts - www.addthis.com

Social Networks: Promote key articles to colleagues, listservs, reporters, your

followers on social networks like Twitter and Facebook.

Post Comments: Comment on blogs who are discussing similar topics.


Top Picks: Allyson’s Favorite Nonprofit Blogs

Tone and Voice: NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Network) - http://www.nten.org

Nonprofit Online Communications: Care2’s Frogloop - http://www.frogloop.com Connection Café - http://www.connectioncafe.com/ Epolitics - http://www.epolitics.com/ Techsoup Blog – http://blog.techsoup.org

Social Media: Beth Kanter - http://beth.typepad.com/ Care2’s Frogloop - http://www.frogloop.com

Compelling Blog Design: 350 - http://www.350.org, deals with climate change Carrots Creative - http://carrotblog.com/, communications firm.


Top Pick: beth.typepad.com/


Top Pick: blog.techsoup.org


Top Picks: Jason’s Favorite Library Blogs

Skokie Public Library Blogs - http://blogs.skokielibrary.info/ - The Answer - The Bookshelf, and more!

Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library - http://www.tscpl.org/ The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County - http://www.plcmc.org/ (internal blog) Pattern Recognition – jasongriffey.net ALA Techsource - alatechsource.org/blog TechSoup for Libraries Blog – www.techsoupforlibraries.org/blog


Top Picks: blogs.skokielibrary.info/


Top Picks: alatechsource.org/blog


Top Picks: techsoupforlibraries.org/blog

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Questions?

Submit your questions using the chat box.


Contact Allyson:• www.radcampaign.com• www.frogloop.com• www.womenwhotech.com• www.radicaltech.org• Email: [email protected]• Twitter: @womenwhotech,@radcampaign, @care2frogloop

Contact Jason:• www.jasongriffey.net • [email protected] • griffey on Twitter, delicious, flickr, friendfeed, just about everywhere• google voice - 423-443-4770• links/photos available at: delicious.com/griffey/techsoup


Continue the Discussion…

• Thanks to our presenters, Allyson and Jason!

• Thanks to Laura Newton for managing the chat!

• Twitter hashtag #tstblog

• Ask follow-up questions in the Emerging

Technologies Forum:

o http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/forums/t/28873.aspx


Get the Most Out of TechSoup

• At TechSoup, you’ll find a range of technology services to help your nonprofit:o Read helpful articles in our Learning Centero Get latest news and event info from the TechSoup

Blogo Request donated software, hardware, and online

serviceso Join our community forums to learn from your

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