I recently scaled back my business after contemplating and praying about aligning myself with a nonprofit organization. I wanted to give back. I accepted a position in development with a nonprofit organization I have known and loved for years, the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches. The Ranches provide a place to call home for about 60 children, ages 6-17, per year in family-style foster care facilities, housed on a huge ranch near the White River. I couldn’t be more excited about contributing to fulfilling the Ranches’ mission.
Fulfilling your mission: Brand awareness via social media management
One way I help fulfill that mission is by building brand awareness via social media. I’m no newbie to social media management; I have used it to communicate with students, clients, and donors since joining Facebook and LinkedIn almost 15 years ago.
What’s different about managing social media for a nonprofit organization? Typically, a nonprofit’s organization’s target audience is more varied. It includes potential and existing donors, employees, volunteers, clients/customers, board members, and community members. Creating and managing content for a varied audience can prove challenging but isn’t impossible. Focusing tightly on the organization’s mission, and highlighting examples of mission fulfillment, appeals to all audience members.
But the biggest difference? Social media engagement is a gift.
Social media management: A gift?
As a nonprofit organization, you rely heavily on donations and in-kind gifts to fulfill your mission, to serve clients, and to operate as an organization. Thus, each click, follow, like, comment, and share on social media platforms aids in fulfilling your mission, increasing brand awareness, and encouraging financial giving.
Are you optimizing your organization’s use of social media? Do you understand that a 20 year-old college student who repeatedly likes and shares your content may eventually choose to volunteer to tutor your students, to host a fundraiser online, or to pledge a monthly gift? Keeping the big picture in mind when managing social media is crucial for successful nonprofit social media management.
Contact me to schedule an executive coaching session or keynote presentation on mindful social media management.
And one more fatal error: She thought she had things figured out. Ah, yes… the ego. In fact, she had already hired a graphic designer to create a logo. And she’d settled on her business name. During our first meeting (there were not many afterward), I cautioned her that both the logo and name would not attract clients. In fact, they would serve as deterrents. However, because of the money invested and the bruised ego, maybe, she decided to forge ahead.
The difference between these two entrepreneurs is humility. The first lacked humility and clung to ego. The second humbly sought help and acknowledged her need for assistance immediately. The first was unwilling to admit she might be wrong and would not give up her ideas or creative work. The second is honest with herself and can see her own deficiencies. She is constantly revising based on feedback and doesn’t take constructive criticism personally. The first considered herself the ultimate expert. The second understands the need to hire experts in certain areas to save herself time, effort, and money.