by jbreazeale on September 2, 2009
Earlier this month, I wrote about a non-profit who wanted to jump onto the Twitter bandwagon without really understanding the tool or having a strategy for using it.
See “So you’re going to join Twitter…” for a refresher.
Well, they must not have been reading my blog (not surprising since my current audience would probably fit in my car at this point… um, anyway…) because look what I came across today:
Wow, so I just have to forward my suggestion for a tweet to a committee for approval (via email) and then if approved, someone else will post it for me?
{banging head against wall}
Looks like this account may be quickly headed for the “Yeah, I have a Twitter account. I logged on once, but it was lame so I haven’t been back” crowd and while it may be too late to get some strategic planning around social media in this case, maybe we can still manage to salvage a little bit of dignity.
Here’s how I would start…
First, figure out who your Twitter personalities are going to be.
Who has the connections into the community and into the organization and can write reasonably well? Talk to those people first and find out if they have a (reasonably active) Twitter account already.
If they aren’t active on Twitter, then ping your network for Twitter gurus and hook them up with your new writers for a mini Twitternship. That’s going to be the fastest way to get the newbies up to speed.
Second, decide on some consistent content and put some tweets in the pipeline.
Even if you have experienced Twitter users writing for you, they’re still new to writing for your organization. Your org will have to develop it’s own personality over time and until then, you’ve got to start getting content out there.
Are you going to be conversational? Salesy/Advertising-focused? Are you trying to drive attendance to events or fundraisers?
Sign your account up for Tweetlater (or something similar) and start scheduling these tweets. This will be a consistent portion of your Twitter content, but should not replace your “live people” tweeting.
Finally, use TOOLS, not committees to manage activity.
Especially since this will be an organization account (versus a personal account or an @personATOrg account) with multiple people tweeting from one alias.
I understand, it’s a new tool and you don’t want people to go crazy with “teh Twitterz”, but asking for suggestions — for tweets — via email — for approval — by committee — is nuts.
Two options: CoTweet or HootSuite
What do you think? What other suggestions would you have to save this possible Twitter failure?
by jbreazeale on August 27, 2009
SnapImpact is a location-based volunteering app that pulls in feeds from organizations that don’t usually work together and after months of hard work from seemingly everyone in Boulder, it launched in the iPhone app store yesterday.
While the app itself is a great idea, I think the most unique part of the story is how the app was developed, tested, marketed, etc. An all volunteer effort from a huge group of people with a diverse set of skills and somehow, it all worked. Congrats to all of the SnapImpact team!
For more information, download SnapImpact from iTunes. check out their website, or follow @snapimpact on Twitter.
by jbreazeale on January 21, 2009
A friend was looking for some volunteer opportunities around kids & tech in the Denver Metro organization (specifically rebuilding computers and redistributing them to underserved kids), I didn’t find exactly what she was looking for, but I did find some great organizations such as:
LifeByte Computer Ministry
Lifebyte is composed of a group of spiritual techies who use the gifts and direction of God to acquire, restore and deliver free computers to those without. We are a mission who believes in helping our local Denver and world communities. Your support will give individuals and families in the Denver area and around the world hope and opportunities through computers.
So the religious angle can be a deal-maker or a deal-breaker for many people, but this group seems to be well organized and well intentioned and very effective.
Denver Tech for All
Tech for All makes available to individuals in the community the means to become skilled and competent in computer use; to gather donations, collect and recondition used equipment, identify qualified recipients and place the appropriate equipment with them solely for their use and at no charge.
Similar to LifeByte without the religious angle. Wow, they really need a new website though!
Third Way Center
Third Way Center’s mission is to provide a continuum of services in a home-like environment where high-risk, homeless, mentally ill and disadvantaged youth can work through their problems, learn to take responsibility for their actions and become productive members of society.
This one came from a reference of a local parenting group member who had volunteered at the Center. Like many organizations of this type, funds are always tight and must first be used to meet the immediate needs of their clients. Donations of time and technology are a welcomed perk and much appreciated.
KidsTek
KidsTek connects the resources and opportunities of the technology sector with the identified technology education needs of kids in Colorado’s underserved communities.
This group focuses on directing its support to existing school systems / technology programs. I like where they’re coming from — basically, we’ve solved the hardware and accessibility problem, but if you don’t maintain that infrastructure and continue to engage the kids, you’ll end up with old computers gathering dust on the floor — but it’s a pretty new organization and still getting up and running. I’ll be interested to see where they can take it.
