‘Blogging’ startup tips for project owners
When you just start blogging for your project, a good help is to think of yourself as a reporter! (nonprofitorgs.wordpress.com) The main goal of reporting in a blog on your own project is not in the first place to generate money: the first goal is to spread news about your project! Why do you think that your project can make a difference? Why should people focus their attention on your project, what help is needed from other people to make your project successful? By focusing mainly on informing, the crowd will by themselves get energized to become your supporters: What inspires you will probably also inspire others with the positive end result of them supporting your project.
If you want to use your blog for fundraising and you need the money right now: make the blog post short and enthusiastic, picture the situation on ‘why’ the money could be very well used ‘right now’. Don’t forget adding a link that leads to the website where the money can be donated.
A good way to crowd source information is to notify people through a blog. In order to successfully do this, it is important to let people know about the blog by going to where the people are. And in this digital age this means you have to approach them through different online platforms. You can best target people that you think you will be most successful with: like your friends, their friends and the people you work with. When you approach possible supporters through your online social networks (online-social-networking.com) like Facebook or LinkedIn, share information with people (or people that know people) that you think really might be willing and able to give or share money and/or expertise with your project. One attention point: don’t spam your friends! Be creative with the resources that you use in order to win the attention of your (possible) supporters.
Use your blog as a communication strategy other social media channels like Twitter and Facebook to promote your blog. You can post messages on Twitter about your project and also share the link to your blog their: just copy and paste. You can follow similar projects or funds that donate money to projects. Retweet their post or send them a Direct Message (DM) about your project (blog) or even ask them a question. Facebook : Ask your supporters to invite their friends on Facebook to invite or “Like” your project and/or blog. You could even use Facebook to collect money for your project (‘How to Raise Money on Facebook – 4 Tips for Effective Online Fundraising’- )
Blog content ideas for development projects
Blogging can very well be part of the communication strategy of a project. One merit you get from blogging is that it improves the search engine results for your project or organization. For example to promote and build your own E-newsletter list. You don’t need to blog everyday, you only should be able to regularly distribute new content on your project: but only when you have new interesting information to share! The following are some Blog content examples:
- Cover relevant articles or news in your blog instead of only sharing the link of the article: comment on it in your own blog post and use it for your own social media campaign.
- You can also write your own success story instead of waiting for someone else to! Name the blog: “nonprofit social media success story”: this will increase the search engine results of your project. Promote any media coverage you have gotten by linking to the article or video in your blog and add a few paragraphs.
- You can furthermore interview someone from your project: a board member or a volunteer on what drives him or her and his or her enthusiasm for the project. Ask them what they would advice others and add a picture of them together with the blog. Or write on something completely different to your project but what lies in the same area of expertise your development project is working on.
- The blog can also be used to report on events your project is involved with or events that you have attended to get information or inspiration. This can also be an event that takes place in the same country or region. Share this by adding photos or videos with small texts on the subject. Invite guest bloggers for your blog post to share their expertise or experiences with your project or similar projects. This can be someone from your organization like a volunteer or supporters. Even starting a discussion with someone or asking a good question can make people more involved in your project.
Sources: several recently posted Blogs
1. Dead-on savvy by James Sullivan (2010-07-29)
2. 10 Blog Content Ideas for Nonprofit Organizations (20-07-2010)
3. Why should institutions continue to invest in crowd sourcing and challenges?
Sokunthea Sa Chhabra (28-06-2010)
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