Email Marketing Masterclass

21 August, 2008
6:30 pm	to	8:30 pm

One of our special Nodestone colleagues Mr Jim Callender is running a session soon that can’t be missed. Well, except by us as we will be swanning around in France having a well earned break!

For those of you who will be around, do get along. Email is one of the most tried and true, low cost and high response online marketing / social media tools to use. Do it well, and it might even go viral.

Jim will be co-presenting with the now-famous pure360 - total email marketing solution people. Great resources available on their site.

Thursday 21st August, 18:30 - 20:30

Payment by donation to The Werks.

Full details and register here.

Why I Love Social Media

Sometimes (like now) I am up late tapping away, when I could be back in bed with Ian McEwan - or my husband at least. I start wondering why I’m so big on this social media stuff. Well here’s a response I wrote to a post on Will McInnes’ blog that reminds me why.

It started a long time ago.

Scholarships available for next course

30 June, 2008

5:00 pm

Our Social Media for the Third Sector course is starting soon. Keep 11 July free for the group learning day, and make a commitment before early July so we can work with you on your learning needs analysis.

That’s if you want a taste of a truly educational, capacity building package, and not just a quicky training day.

We are looking for two motivated people / organisations to award 80% scholarships for Part One (and potentially, Part Two).

If you ‘get’ that social media is essential knowledge to:

• build stronger relationships with your stakeholders
• get attention online and in real life
• raise funds
• collaborate creatively and build innovative approaches to social and environmental challenges

.. then apply here.

Find out all about the way we give and support real learning here.

Any questions, just pick up the phone and talk to Libby on 07968 687 107.

As of today, there are still places available, and we won’t decide on the sponsored places until 30 June. But the earlier you apply, the better.

Power of You Tube meets Izzard

What must this 3 minute clip have done for Eddie Izzard! I loved him already, but after viewing and sharing this countless times, I have to wonder how Lego / Playmobile and other simple animation techniques could be used to create great, viral, social media. If you happen to have some genius talent lying around you can call on.

Enjoy!

If you one of the 4 million who have already viewed it and loved it.. enjoy all over again.

Opportunities & Risks for Third Sector & Online Communities

A thoughtful piece of research from Megan Griffith, David Wilcox and many other fine folk at NCVO.

While it concentrates on community and volunteer organisations, the implications are there for others in the Third Sector, including charities and social enterprises.

We were impressed by the clarity of their executive summary - looking at the risks and opportunities presented by the rapid growth and expectations of online communities - along with other web 2.0 behaviours (eg. the expectation of participation and dialogue).

To download or purchase a printed copy of the executive summary (2 pages) and full report, click here.

Their suggestion is these trends apply to younger stakeholders, but it is also interesting to note the increase in social media uptake by the 50+ group.

“Boomers, silver surfers, 50+, third agers, the mature market - whatever you call them, they’re a group that can’t be ignored. They have good incomes, great social networks and they’re getting online like never before.” New Media Knowledge

They also have more time on their hands and are closer to the age when bequests and other forms of giving and participation become more poignant.

Coming soon… latest analytics on who is actually online, what they are doing and how the trend forecasters are suggesting we look ahead. Important stuff to share and consider.

All about Social Media Integration

Third Sector - Is The Internet Friend or Foe?

Despite what some might think, even Africa is getting online.
(Click the image to access individual site links.)

Nick Aldridge, CEO of MissionFish helps charities raise money on eBay. He also writes inspiring, informative pieces about the potential and pitfalls of social media and web 2.0.

On the Social Enterprise Magazine website, Nick talks about why social enterprises (and by extension you could add other Third Sector organisations - charities, non-profits, community organisations and other social/eco innovators) should be thinking hard about how to handle the new paradigm emerging.

Authenticity, yet again, is seen as a priority. Something we need to explore more in practical ways. In essence, think “do what you are”, “be who you are”. A congruent, human, appropriate identity emerges.

“The fundamental idea is that the Internet is now a huge forum where people can interact with each other and generate their own content. A bundle of technologies, such as blogs, feeds and widgets (check Wikipedia!) have grown up to catalyse and spread user generated content.

“The result is that customers or donors are no longer passive recipients of marketing messages, which many now actively and vociferously challenge…

“This undoubtedly makes things more complicated for social enterprises, but also more exciting. A real-life supporter or client talking authentically about your work to a large network of friends is worth a dozen beautifully crafted press releases.”

Thanks for your perspective Nick. Thanks to all at Social Enterprise Magazine for putting together a great publication and website.

As an aside… Would be good to see some appropriate social media / interactivity come into Social Enterprise Magazine. I know this is going on in other places (eg. UnLtd World and Ammado), but there is still a chance here to engage on your specific content, even just to the degree that the Guardian, Times and client-specific publications like the RSA Journal are doing… but different. Perhaps focussing interaction between readers not between readers and editors.

Continues on the Social Enterprise Magazine website here…

Other items you might find useful:

Social Media for the Third Sector - at Shine Unconference 08

Social Media for the Third Sector

Gra Sutherland and I ran a session at the Shine Unconference for social entrepreneurs yesterday in London. What was billed as Authenticity in the Online World became Social Media/Web 2.0 for the Third Sector on Day Three, as the event unfolded and our awareness of what might be most useful came into focus.

Given it was one of the last sessions on a sunny Sunday afternoon, after nearly three days of the great shiny “happening”, we were delighted by the number, passion and knowledge of the people in the room.

Many were there to start scratching the surface of this new paradigm, this new way of making things happen in the world, others had already begun to engage more deeply and several were card carrying members of the converted and critically aware. Perhaps half were actively making part or most of their income directly through engagement with the social media space, which might explain the vested heat in the room. All were passionately involved in the debate that unfolded, whether they were talking or listening.

Questions People Asked

Initial questions asked included:

Why bother? Is it worth the 3rd sector getting into social media (back question here is about what is relevant to 3rd sector)

What is the current diversity of the internet? Who’s online.

Data on growth of social media for various groups, 3rd world, stakeholders of 3rd sector

What about reputation issues. How can we put stuff out there without losing our rights, our control of our message?

How do we build trust in each other online?

What are the sensible things to do in social media? How to start, put a toe in the water etc?

Why is there so much pressure to get onto facebook etc?

What will be left when the social media hype is over?

How can you make introductions safely online. How to replace the 20 min face to face ‘intuitive trust’?

Essence & Consensus

The key points we wanted to get across follow. Consensus was not sought, but to a large extent was experienced.

1. Web 2.0 / social media is a new paradigm emerging, not another internet fad or buzz word. It is changing the way we do things - potentially for the better. The pace of change is speeding up. New ways of collaborating, new economic models, new ways of building engagement and participation (think: fundraising, recruitment, contracts), new ways of communicating.

2. There are challenges and opportunities. It’s not utopia (yet). There are significant gains to be made, with wisdom and caution. Some often overlooked opportunities are for individual and group learning, collaboration and innovation. But it can be as simple as building dialogue tools into your website and partcipating in key online conversations that matter to you.

3. There is essential learning and initial or further exploration to be done by third sector people - leaders, communications/ fundraising people, HR and others. Case studies and other elements in a body of knowledge are already emerging to help in this (see UK Catalyst Awards for example). Professionals from a range of backgrounds are emerging to help.

4. The tools will keep changing but the key conceptual space is already starting to become clear (see We Think and CommonCraft for simple animated examples). Learning needs to focus on concepts first, tools second. This knowledge can be learnt and experienced without undue risk or brain drain, but a commitment is required to build capacity and embed the knowledge in specific contexts. There are no magic bullets or one size fits all.

5. Authenticity has never been more important.

6. Experimenting with tools like blogging, forums, flickr, facebook, YouTube, MySpace twitter, discussion lists etc is essential. You need to get your hands in there having real life experiences to get a feel for things. That doesn’t mean you have to be on facebook nor reveal all, anywhere at anytime.

7. We can now more easily be thinking and connecting with words, images, music, videos, photos, animation. It’s good to explore when and how to use a range of media to communicate. Different tools are more or less supportive of different media.

8. It can all be very confusing and time consuming! Even for seasoned specialists.

9. Small steps might be all it takes. One step at a time. As long as the path is clear.

10. Social media should work in support of, not as a substitute for, face-to-face, “real world” interaction.

We are well aware real consensus cannot be achieved in such a short time, nor was this an intended outcome of the session. To ensure your views at this point become clearer to yourself and others, participate in the ongoing debate.

Who Was There

Some of the people and organisations represented in the discussion included the very knowledgeable Dave Dawes (Foundation of Nursing Leadership), David Wilcox (Social Reporter. Much involved with building up social media around the Shine event and very active in this space. Do check out his blog and coverage of the event), Angela Walker (Neru - Brand & Marketing), Parag Shah (Art Switch), Alison Coward (social entrepreneur), David Floyd (Social Spider), Chris Prior (Franklin Waugh), Eszter Kun (social entrepreneur), Ben Matthews (Bright One Communications),

In the true spirit of the unconference and web 2.0, we collaborated with whoever turned up, rather than delivering a one-way, “we have the knowledge, sit there and eat it” presentation. Which of course can be very useful and inspiring to receive. But not empowering, nor making the most of the opportunity rare “face time” offers for deeper human interaction.

Social Media for the Third Sector Video

We see our job as offering time and cost effective training and ongoing support to help the Third Sector find out what is really worth knowing and doing within their own context.

To find out more about the approach we are offering in our next learning programme in Social Media for the Third Sector, view this short interview David Wilcox invited me to do.

At the end?

We were all intent on making sure the Third Sector (social enterprise, charities, non-profits) are not left behind in gaining this knowledge, if it can be used in meaningful ways that lead to genuine social impacts. No-one’s in it just to get “friends” in facebook or waste their time, to be sure.

How will we create these impacts? Well, we might need to dip a toe or two in the water. Maybe even plunge in at some point.

Let’s continue the conversation…

…in our social network to explore these ideas further… If your questions need expanding or clarifying, if you want answers or to help others find them, get in there. All with an interest are welcome. There are already many posts and discussions in the Ning that start to cover some of the question above.

Never joined one before? No time like now to experiment… You can watch for a while, explore when you are ready.

Social Media - A Learning Journey

By Michael Leunig

Suggestion 1: Think of your blog and other social media in this way.

Suggestion 2: Always relate things back to the real world, meeting yourself and others face to face.

Catalyst Awards & Social Web Innovators Connecting

I rarely repost other people’s blog posts here, but this one needs sharing. David Wilcox recently came into focus when Tessy Britton invited him into our new online social network for social innovators.

David is what we call a “node”, a hub, a connector and maven. In other words, a kindred spirit. I haven’t even met him yet, back very much look forward to.

Here he writes optimistically about the new Catalyst Awards, about how change agents are using the social web and getting together. The Catalyst Awards are brought together by some great people with real form in this emergent area - like Mark Your Mark, UnLtd, NESTA and the Minister for the Third Sector.

“We’re looking for inspiring stories of people who help their community by using social technology* in new and exciting ways. Can you or someone you know show how technology is already enabling people around them to connect with each other in new ways and do good things?”

So glad there is such a large amount of energy coming into this space. Makes our job of creating and sharing a body of knowledge and positive practice a lot easier.

Spread the word about the awards, enter before 16th June 2008. and consider using them as a point of reference for developing your own best work.

A wealth of other information on David’s blog around this space. Check it out. Will definitely be adding David and Dr Dan to the blogroll on the new site.

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