Social Media Why should we bother Carrie Brookes

Social Media Why should we bother? Carrie Brookes Communications Manager VONNE

• Introduction • 5 reasons why we should bother • How VONNE uses social media • Challenges • Useful resources

VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East) • Charity established in 2000 • Regional support body for VCS orgs • Over 600 members • Ebulletin, website, third sector jobs • Projects – health policy, policy forums, social impact bonds • Campaigns – Surviving not Thriving • North East VCS Awards

Why bother? • Your supporters, stakeholders, service users already are • 41 m Facebook users in UK • 10 m Twitter users in UK www. socialnomics. net/2013/01/01/socia l-media-video-2013/

5 ways the 3 rd sector is using social media 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Campaigning Awareness raising Fundraising Lobbying Building relationships

1. Campaigning • • • Reaches greater numbers Engages a younger audience Saves money (but not always time) Can work outside of your group’s ‘reach‘ Increase your speed of communication Good ideas go viral Examples: Pasties tax, #giveitbackgeorge #spit 4 mum, Dance. Aid

2. Awareness Raising • Educational slant • Informing about your cause and changing behaviour Examples: Greenpeace deforestation - Ken and Barbie breaking up British Heart Foundation - Vinnie Jones ‘staying alive’

3. Fundraising Donating online now normal justgiving. com virginmoneygiving. com Text ‘Donate’ to *** to give £ 5 Link your website, Facebook, Twitter and You. Tube so supporters can easily donate • One ‘like’ on Facebook can be worth £ 5 • • Examples: Children North East @Seb 4 Chuf Movember

4. Lobbying • More charities lobbying MPs and Ministers to legislate for change • Never been so easily contactable and public • Journalists use Twitter to gather stories Examples: Disabled activists use #spartacusreport Twitter storm to help inflict welfare reform defeats on government in Lords

5. Building relationships/communities • • • Reach your supporters, service users Networking – local businesses and groups Online support networks Volunteers Journalists Examples: #northeasthour #nefollowers Most influential NE tweeters list #riotcleanup

How VONNE uses social media • Twitter: Relationships with journalists, sharing content, interacting with policymakers, promoting North East charities • Blog - ‘behind the scenes’ • Facebook - awards • You. Tube - awards videos, speeches, • Linkedin - networking

Challenges • • • Finding the time Figuring out how it works What to write Growing your audience Getting the chief exec on board

Useful resources www. vonne. org. uk blog. vonne. org. uk Twitter: @VONNEnews Social media guides and advice: www. charitycomms. org. uk ‘About that first Tweet’ practical guide for charities: www. unity. co. uk/guide