The 5 Commandments of Social Media:Strategy, Tools and Culture

Presented by Lisa Colton, Founder & President Darim Online

lisa@darimonline.org434.977.1170

Agenda

• Communications Revolution• Social Media Basics• 5 Stages of Social Media Participation

– Listening– Engaging– Social Content– Generate Buzz– Community Building

Goals

Demystify social mediaHelp you think strategicallyBuild vocabularyShow examplesTurn you on to resources

Warning: You may feel overwhelmed! (And excited, and inspired.)

COMMUNICATIONS REVOLUTION

COMMUNICATIONS REVOLUTION

WHERE

TO

BE

Between a PIONEER

&a TORTOISE

Is a FAST

FOLLOWER

Source: Flickr user ucumari

Source: Flickr user smitag4

AJWS

Source: mcommons.com/blog

AJWS

Red Cross receiving half of their donations by text msg.

$27m by 1/19

Characteristics of Social Media

The Term “Social Media” refers to online tools (web sites) that depend

on user contributions and interactions between people to build shared

meaning and value. It is:

• Participatory: It blurs the line between producer and consumer, media and audience.

• Open and Democratic: It encourages voting, comments and the sharing of information. For this reason it is seen as authentic and trustworthy.

• Conversational: Two (or more) way conversation rather than one-directional broadcast. Is personal, specific, and engaging.

• Communal: Supports formation, growth and strength of communities around a particular shared interest.

• Connected: Thrives on being connected, making use of links to other sites, resources and people, rather than being territorial and proprietary.

It’s a Tool

Success of the tool is if it helps you achieve your goals.

Thus, critical to know your goals and then determine which tool(s) to used in which ways.

GROUNDSWELL’s P.O.S.T.

1. PEOPLE: Identify audience(s)

2. OBJECTIVES– What are you goals and

objectives for this audience?– What are your audience’s

goals?

3. What is the STRATEGY to reach these goals?

4. Determine the specifics of the TECHNOLOGIES you’ll use. Implement, measure, refine!

A Tool Can Be A Game Changer

Traditional Media

Brand in control

One way / Deliver msg

Repeat message

Focused on the brand

Educating

Org creates content

Social Media

Audience in control

Two way / Conversation

Adapt the message

Focused on the audience

Influencing, Involving

User and co-created content

How are you adapting?

LISTENING

Source: Flickr user andyadontstop

HOW TO LISTEN

Keywords

Influencers

Staffing

Who’s talking about you?

Who’s talking about your field?

What’s most important to your audience?

Breadth, Depth, Reach

Are you on their radar?

What will they pass on?

Who is listening?

How do they respond?

What are they learning?

How do they pass on info?

Google Alerts

OpenYourEars

Temple Israel, Memphis Facebook Page

OpenYourEars

Temple Sinai, Oakland, CA

Twitter

#1

Social media is

continuing to evolve.

Fast.

ENGAGING

Red Cross

A Person, Not Just A Brand

Unofficial Outposts

Find places where your target audience goes.

Participate in the conversation. Add value, educate, include links.

Use your “listening” to identify these places.

Real Life Example

Social Content is Social Capital

• Social Capital is the value of the connections between and among social networks for increasing productivity, spreading information, and locating desired resources.

• Content should be newsworthy, unique, controversial, timely immediately useful and/or funny.

• 1:12 or 1:20 ratio

Invite User Generated Content

Examples:• CNN iReport• Tags in Flickr,

blogs, Youtube• Crowdsource by

asking questions (learn, connect, engage, respond)

• Guest bloggers• Hashtags on

Twitter

Allow Users to Remix

Generate Buzz

What is BUZZ?What is VIRAL?Remember POST

Lead Up To Events or Campaigns

BlogTwitter (#beth53)Facebook (Causes)

475 Tweets with the #beth5366 blog posts (others)2047 clicks on the link40% new donors

8 years -- guess total raised?

Use Multiple Channels

Beth Kanter is 53

John Fitch’s Steam Engine

John Fitch’s Steam Engine

Community Building

Source: Flickr user JYRO

Community Building

Source: Flickr user Rick Neves

Community Building

Source: Flickr user divemasterking2000

FINAL THOUGHTS

• Stay nimble - Change will continue• Know what you want to measure

and how you’ll know if you’re successful

• Think about staffing and guidelines• Address your whole culture, not

just marketing/PR.

IT’S NOT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY