Post on 16-Apr-2017
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Blogging
Using blogging to build supporter engagement
What is a blog
A blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. With the newest stuff on top.
They are great for small charities, because any one can do it, you don’t need to build a website or need lots of tech support!
How many read them? 66%UK Internet
users
17.8 millionIn UK
http://icanhaz.com/universal
Blogs – how to get started
http://icanhaz.com/blogplatform
http://wordpress.com/
http://www.blogger.com
Blogs – Your charities strategy
Plan the topics you will cover – your categories
You need commitment – once you start, you can’t stop!
Set yourself an ambitious target for frequency of posting & get into a routine
Write about things you’re passionate about
Don’t forget to read other people’s blogs too
You don’t have to be big http://www.youthnet.org/blog
It’s about telling a story http://blog.childsifoundation.org
Comments allow people to get involved
Search on Google blog search or Technorati for a relevant topic
http://blogsearch.google.com
http://technorati.com
Read
Comment
PR - ask for your charity to be on someone else’s blog
how *not* to ask a fellow blogger to feature your charityDon't have your office intern haphazardly send out a canned pitches, get to know the bloggers first
Don't have your first point of interaction be a request to blog about your charity
Don't overwhelm the blogger with requests and information
Do mention a post the blogger has previously written
Do comment on posts before making the ask – plan ahead
Email the right person, spell their name correctly
http://icanhaz.com/bethk
When online PR goes bad
“Unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with non-traditional media outlets,” a public relations person wrote to ShapingYouth.
http://icanhaz.com/targetPR
Learn from others’ success - PR WIN Blog
http://prwin.tumblr.com/
http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk
One last (great) example
The ultimate engagement
Things to do
Start a blog for your charity, write about your recent achievements or appeals
Email all of your supporters and tell them about it, ask them to get involved, suggest stories or appeals
Maintain the blog, keep it fresh,
Link it to all your charity website(s), Facebook, etc
Ask your supporters to write you stories! Or even start their own blog!