I am morphing this presentation from a number of people and sources only briefly cited.
Full Progressive Presentation under development at
http://tbankert.blogspot.com/ . THANK YOU TO Kathy at Blogging for Michigan, ANDI03 at Flint Talk, Jeff at Facebook. tmmccullough at Flint Citizen.
In the either of the blogosphere our minds speak to one another free of the Baggage of time distance, access age social status and physical presentation. Find me an under 30 yrs person who does not text constantly. Presidential elections set fund-raising records on the internet, bloggers are treated like kings or at least get to meet them. These times they are a changing.
MY ASSUMPTIONS OF BLOGOSPHERIC STUFF
Blogosphere is a collective term encompassing all blogs and their interconnections. It is the perception that blogs exist together as a connected community (or as a collection of connected communities) or as a social network.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogspace
blogosphere (plural blogospheres)
(Internet) The totality of blogs, especially the unique jargons, cultures and shared interests created by their interconnection. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/blogosphere
- FREE IS GOOD AND EXPECTED
*Google Blogs
*Yahoo egroup
*email addresses
* boards and other vehicles created by others that you can ride on for free
**
-INTERNET CURRENCY Vehicles for internet communication are the currency of the blogosphere
* email address
*internet boards
*Commercial media that allows you by commenting on an article to broaden your reach
-INTERNET PROFIT MEASURE Blogospheric profit is measured by
*hits
*views
*Comments to your stuff
*accumulated friends (facebook, my space)
*people who show up to your internet advertised events
*people who join your cause
*people who contribute to your cause
-SPEED IS A TOOL. Speedy dissemination is a good thing
*beat the commercial media with your message
*supplement or correct the commercial media
–TRANSPARENCY IS A GOOD THING
-NOT EVERYONE IS ON LINE
* Find the people online who talk to the people not online.
*poor people who often are not on line can be reached through.
1.DHS 2.Churches 3.police 4.medical 5.other human service agencies 6.media 7. bloggers -The overall message, has to be used in conjunction with a plethora of other avenues. 1. in person 2.flyers with a webpage address 3.telephone other thoughts -Keep it simple and the contacts should look individualized
The recipient does NOT want to have a long list of people that are cc'd....ultimate turnoff. Write it just like a regular letter...only provide links to relevant information. Individualize your email, hide bulk distribution. Post to boards where area people congregate-misc thoughts
I get most of my information on line
I read multiple publications/ electronic newspapers on the same story. Google news
TAILOR YOUR MESSAGE:Tailor a message specifically for each group...
DHS is probably going to want to know where the monies are coming from,
Churches...well they are their own (are you going to coax us Lutheran ladies with coffee and altar wine?),
Police...depends on what department...they are most likely burned out.
Medical? Probably wonder if the food will interfere with the starving people's hypertension meds.
Other human service agencies?
Too busy doing what you are trying to do..get more food.
Media? Probably saturated market for sob stories.
Bloggers? Probably need to find a story that hasn't been told yet, that will break national news. Kind of tongue in cheek...but. If you try to please all of the people all of the time through one blog or two on the Internet, to get your message out, you will find yourself curled up in fetal position sucking your thumb somewhere in the comfort of your own home.Are you coming to the chicken dinner on Friday in Davison for the Chicken Dinner?......(a fine example). We can see if it worked, if you come to the Chicken Dinner...see the theme?
One thing about posting to forums.....you never know whom is lurking!! Trust me.
There is no one answer. Give a variety of results to different fact situations. You just answered your own question...there is NO one answer. Our posting could go on ad infinitum, ad nauseum, etc. You can't solidify profiles as to whom is using the internet to get a message out. People will find your message interesting, heartbreaking, etc. You have to put on your boots and pound the slushy pavement sometimes in order to get a message out in conjunction with a website addy.... Good luck....we can talk about this over chicken dinner on Friday and see if it worked.
INTRODUCE YOUR SELF TO THE COMMUNITY
Have the communication director introduce the non-profit by posting diaries on various blogs in the targeted area (or state-wide blogs) and ask the blogs to share the information.
The post should describe the organization and outline their goals.
Write it up like a press release so people can copy it and reuse it on their personal blogs with very little effort.
POST TO ALL THE BLOGS IN YOUR AREA
Don't limit yourself to independent blogs either. Most newspapers have bloggers too (Flint Journal, Lansing State Journal, etc.), so reach out to them through e-mail and encourage them to report on your efforts.
BEG FOR SPACE
Beg for free or reduced advertising space from blogs to get your name out there. I don't know if "fee" space is possible, but it can't hurt to ask!
ASK PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR INFORMATION
Encourage people to share the information with their churches, community organizations, unions or other groups that you feel would help facilitate your goals.
Finally, followup periodically with diaries that outline the organization's progress.
EVERY NON PROFIT IS HURTING
here in Flint especially, the "non-profit" community has taken mojor hits even before thennational meltdown. Many are struggling just to keep their doors open.
FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION NEEDED ALSO
The issues are quite severe and will require some form of face to face communications as well as the technical phase.
THE MOST IN NEED DO NOT HAVE COMPUTER ACCESS
Many of those affected donot have knowledgeor access to computers. Pleas keep this in mind. Somehow, the religious community needs to rally around this as well.
HOW MUCH OF YOUR NON PROFITS BUDGET CAN BE SAVED BY USING MORE EMAIL?
FROM THE NON PROFIT TIMES
http://www.nptimes.com/
http://nptimes.blogspot.com/
FROM COMMUNITY MEDIA WORKSHOP
http://www.newstips.org/
EXAMPLES OF GOOD WORK
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=Spotlight
SEVEN WAYS TO PITCH TO BLOGGERS
http://www.newstips.org/interior.php?section=PR+Tips&main_id=686
(Chicago--November 17, 2006) Pitching a story to a blogger on the Internet is a different animal than pitching to a print or broadcast reporter. Unlike the "traditional" media world, on the blogosphere you don't get to leverage your verbal agility to establish a relationship with a reporter over the phone first, and then ask if they'd like to see your press release. And you certainly can't spam World Wide Web bloggers with a single, impersonal press release that you've already emailed to the whole wide world.While traditional media and the blogosphere both rely on the integrity of honestly forged personal relationships, on the blogosphere more than anywhere reputations are built around endorsements by others: specifically, vouching from supportive bloggers and positive comments submitted by a community of interested readers. If your blogger pitches hit the mark, a buzz of third-party vouching can develop, where bloggers and their readers begin to debate your message among each other, with little additional effort needed by you. When that happens, you can even start pointing print and broadcast reporters to the hubbub around your message on the Internet, if they haven't found it already.To get that zeitgeist going, however, you'll need to establish a relationship with a blogger and disseminate your message at the same time--in one, carefully crafted email. And, given the amount of spam that floats around the Internet, you need to make that email personal and heartfelt--that is, if you don't want your pitch to immediately end up, unread, in the trash bin. With this in mind, you may want to consider the following seven strategies to put your best virtual foot forward when pitching to targeted bloggers:
Be on the Internet Yourself- Yes, this means you (or your organization). Bloggers give credibility to other bloggers. If you or your message aren't represented somewhere on the Internet, where a blogger can easily click through and read more--or, more powerfully, disseminate your link to other like-minded bloggers--you're starting out at a distinct disadvantage. So be a blogger yourself, have an organizational website, post a regularly updated news page, whichever means you prefer. Just do it, no excuses. If twenty million teenagers can figure out how to use MySpace, the adults in your IT department--or you--can figure out how to set up a blog. If you do choose to launch a blog, popular, free or low-cost resources to consider include the web-based blog services TypePad and Blogger for those who want someone else to take care of site design and hosting, and the stand-alone blogging software WordPress and Movable Type for those who'd rather take care of design and hosting on their own.
Be Personal with Your Pitches- Spending as much time on the Internet as they do, it should be no surprise that bloggers have a finely honed sense of--and distaste for--spam. Save your canned, impersonal releases for another audience. Bloggers can smell bull a mile away. If you want a personal relationship with a blogger (and those are the relationships that will get you prime coverage), best to start personal in your pitch. Let the blogger know that you've read their site and what you think of it. Share some of your own or your organization's back story, especially if you can highlight past efforts or web articles that could be relevant to your pitch or to the blogger's individual interests. You can certainly write a master blog pitch leaving space to personalize the pitch to different bloggers. In fact, in order to safeguard the consistency of your message, you probably should. But guard against wooden language, the hallmark of the hackneyed press release. Instead, imagine that you're writing to a friend. Be honest, open, and direct. Have a sense of humor and a sense of humility. Remember that you're essentially asking someone to risk their reputation by vouching for your cause on their website, so your initial pitch ought to reflect a level of respect appropriate to that kind of an ask. That respect, however, need not--and should not--be reflected in any sort of a formal "Dear Mr. or Ms. So-and-So" salutation. Address your pitch to Dear Bob or Sally or Sue. The blogosphere is run almost exclusively on a first-name basis, and we like to keep it that way.
Have a Heartfelt Message- Adjectives may be verboten in print releases, but they're absolutely necessary in your blog pitch. You want the bloggers you contact to be friends and supporters, to feel the same passion that you do about your message and your cause. So speak to them from the heart. After all, that's what most bloggers do: write from the heart about subjects of a particular, personal importance. So why not use their language and tell them, in moving detail, why they should feel as you do about your cause? Mind you, leave over-the-top sob stories for the afternoon soaps. But if your cause has emotional resonance (and if it's about human beings in any way, by definition it does), start beating that emotional bongo and resonate.
Join the Resulting Comment Debates- When a blogger takes up the invitation and writes about your cause, chances are that their readers will comment on the coverage. Some of those comments will agree with your cause, some will not. And, hey, there's no guarantee that the blog coverage will be favorable, either. Usually, a blogger will email you back and let you know if they intend to cover your story. If you're diligent, you'll monitor that blog--and all the other blogs you've emailed--to scan for coverage. When you find coverage, if that blog allows comments, enter the comment debate. If you're the first to post a comment, thank the blogger publicly for the coverage (see no. 7, below) and reiterate your message. If others have beaten you to the punch, respond to their opinions about your cause, both positive and negative. You may be surprised to find a heated debate going on about your organization and its message, and potentially even readers calling for you to respond. If you just hit-and-run with your pitch and don't come back to join the comment debates, your organization will seem missing in action to that blog's readers--and you may damage your budding relationship with that blogger. Remember, you never know when you might need to call on them again.
If You Blog, Allow Opposing Comments- If you've chosen to set up your own blog to help disseminate your message, by all means, enable the comments option. Don't worry, you'll always have the option to moderate comments before they go live on your website. Your readers will want to share their opinion with you about your message, and they'll enjoy the ability to discuss your message with each other.But fight the urge to keep negative comments in limbo. Unless a comment is hateful, needlessly provocative, or grossly misleading, let it go live and then post a response to it. Your message--and your integrity--will be magnified if you bravely debate detractors on your blog. Besides, for all you know, the dissenting opinion that you'd rather not post was submitted by, perhaps, a Chicago Tribune reporter to test your organization's character. Unless you wouldn't mind your blog appearing in tomorrow morning's paper with the word "fraud" in front of it, delete that dissenting comment tonight at your own risk.
If You Blog, Use All Available Content-Distribution Tools- If you've chosen to blog your message, your message deserves a blog that will help get the word out in as many ways as possible. These days, a multitude of online tools exists to help bloggers disseminate their content and build a community of readers. Among them are subscription feed services (like feedburner.com) that automatically push new content to faithful readers, and popular linkblogs (like technorati, digg.com, and del.icio.us, that let your readers share your content with others without any effort on your part. All of these services can also provide you with simple HTML or Javascript code to use in your posts to allow readers to email, submit, and discuss your content. If you've never heard of the above services, browse their websites. Now. Learn them, sign up for them, use them. Do Google searches for similar services. These resources are very powerful, but they're also a lot simpler to use than they at first sound; the learning curve is actually pretty gentle. So don't be afraid to explore them.
Express Gratitude- The last and simplest tip is probably the most powerful. If a blogger has honored your cause by taking the time--and risk--to put their reputation behind it and write about it in a supportive manner, you owe them your thanks. However, you'd be surprised how rarely such gratitude gets expressed. When you go out of your way to send a personal email thanking a blogger for going out of their way to write about you, you demonstrate that you care about the relationship you've forged with them. And best of all, you've made that relationship stronger for the future.There you have it. A book could be written about stewarding successful relationships on the blogosphere. However, these seven success strategies are a good foundation on which to begin forging solid links with like-minded bloggers who want to support your cause. They can't work miracles. But as I've seen happen, they and a diligent, steadfast outreach to traditional media by a skilled and scrappy communicator can help get your cause on the front page of The New York Times.That's a ringing endorsement if ever there was one. For the porous line between traditional and "new" (read: Internet) media relations is growing more imaginary by the day. While the approaches to each are different, the aim is the same: get your message out there and support your reputation while you're at it. The wisest of individuals and organizations with a cause to promote will reach out on both fronts, utilizing appropriate best practices and building supportive synergies between their traditional and Internet outreach activities. The less savvy will lose out on key opportunities to disseminate their messages.In 2006, the Pew Research Center showed that 31% of Americans turn to the Internet as a regular source for news, with more people turning to the web than watching the network evening news [L=http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=282](source)[EL] and bloggers are a key part of the mix. The days of waiting for new media to mature are dead. Long live the new medium. It can be a powerful, welcoming, and altogether useful medium if you take the time to explore it and learn how it can work for your cause, hand-in-hand with your more traditional media activities.And when you get right down to it, doesn't your cause deserve every opportunity to be heard? So no excuses. Ramp up on blogger outreach now. We're all ears and we'd love to hear from you.
COMPUTERIZED FUNDRAISING SYSTEMS
Advanced Solutions International (ASI)iMIS is the only membership, fundraising, and Web site management solution available in one upgradable software suite. Tel: 800-727-8682http://www.imis.com/
Agilon, LLCA full-featured donor management system to help you manage prospects, process gifts, track memberships, organize events, report endowments, track campaigns, and engage online donors. Manage workflow and optimize organizational efficiency with access to records right on your mobile phone!800-480-9015http://www.myagilon.com/
Blackbaud Inc. 2000 Daniel Island Drive.Charleston, SC 29492800-443-9441
Donor2/Campus Management. . . .800-548-6708 5550 77 Center Drive, Suite 160Charlotte, NC 28217 . . . . . . . . . http://www.donor2.com/
DonorPerfect Thousands of nonprofits large and small are using DonorPerfect to raise more money by growing relationships with donors, volunteers, foundations and other constituents. Free Demo. 800-220-8111
Dynamic Data ConceptsBased on fifteen years of experience and feedback from thousands of users across the globe, Fundraiser 360° is the complete donor managementsolution for nonprofit organizations who want simplicity accuracy, and control intheir data management tools.800-890-3962
MatchMaker FundRaising Software is a robust, results-oriented fundraising, donor management software package that meets the needs of nonprofits of all sizes. MatchMaker includes special event management, an extensive tickler note system, and unlimited capacity to manage donor contributions, profile information and more! Contact us: info@matchmakerfrs.com, 800-752-3100 or visit http://www.matchmakerfrs.com/
Metafile Information Systems Inc Results/Plus™ Fundraising & Special Events Software800-638-2445http://www.resultsplussoftware.com/
PledgeMaker Fundraising and Donor Management SolutionsSofTrek Corporation30 Bryant Woods North, Amherst, NY 14228 http://www.softrek.com/............800.442.9211
Portfolio™ by AmergentPlease see our listing under category, Direct Mail Consulting.
Straight Forward SoftwareLifeLine Nonprofit Management SystemPO Box 65317Burlington, VT 05406-5317802-865-0480For 20 years LifeLine Nonprofit Management Software has been providing incredible power, absolute ease, and great support to small and medium sized nonprofits. Get your free sample today and try out all LifeLine has to offer before you buy. Visit www.StraightForwardSoftwareInc.com, email LifeLineSoftware@aol.com, or call 802-865-0480 for more info.
Telosa Software, Inc.For Free Demo Call: 800-676-5831e-mail: info@telosa.com
FROM DIRECT MARKETING ASSOCIATION
http://www.the-dma.org/virtualseminars/newmedia/
Rise of social network sites and their vast potential for fundraising and campaigning.
Use digital photos, blogs, video, widgets and beacons to campaign, raise money, and build their own communities.
Peer to peer fundraising pages, audio podcasts, and supporter-created video as some of the ways to leverage fundraising in someone’s personal pages. We’ll also look at the current and future role of the cellular phone in fundraising.
explore the social network personal generation, their demographics, integration with the internet, mobile phones, and growing your own group of new media fundraising and campaigning zealots.
Use new digital photo and video fundraising tools e.g. cellular phones, www.youtube.com, Google video posting, and other video fundraising techniques to raise more money and improve relationships.
-----------
THE PANEL -The invitation
I'm writing to invite you to join a group of area journalists on a panel from noon to 2 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 5 at the William S. White building, southeast corner of S. Saginaw St. and Robert T. Longway. (Free parking in Lot Q). Our local partner is the University of Michigan Flint-University Outreach and the panel is part of an event produced with support from the C.S. Mott Foundation.
We'd love to have you to sort of represent the blogosphere, if you're willing. Of course we'll give you lunch! Others on the panel include John Foren from Flint Journal, Kevin Wilson from Channel 12, and invites not confirmed yet include Jennifer White from Michigan Television, someone from the Courier, and the moderator is former broadcaster and Flint native Michael J. Thorp.
This is part of a day-long Tell Your Stories mini conference--"Using New Media for Social Change" -- where we expect to work with about 50 nonprofit communicators (volunteeers and staff responsible for telling stories that advance their missions and strengthen their organizations). My nonprofit has been funded by C.S. Mott to produce a series of these workshops across the state of Michigan; most recently we completed a similar event in Battle Creek.
Gordon Mayer the guy who recruited me
gordon@newstips.org
Vita of Terry Bankert
http://attorneybankert.com/about.php
-internet vehicles I use
Flint Talk com
http://flinttalk.com/viewforum.php?f=2
This bulleting board allows my Thread " Good Morning Flint." with daily posts. Up for 2 years it has 107000 views. Monday post received two responses
-
Blogging for Michigan
Allows me to post daily" Good Morning Flint" # views unknown
http://www.bloggingformichigan.com/frontPage.do
On occasion I make it to their front page.
-
On My Space I post a " Good Morning Flint" daily to a blog , views unknown, and bulletin to 65 members.
My URL:myspace.com/terrybankert
-
On Facebook post I "Good Morning Flint" daily. I have 1007 friends, blog posted to their profile page.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Bankert/645845362
When soliciting friends here is the message I use"I write a daily blog from Flint MI USA. You are invited."
The Monday post attracted the spelling police. I need it.
-
Through my website I link to Good Morning Flint 2 ways.
http://attorneybankert.com/
1.Flint Internet Advocacy which has 187 members. This group has been used for political action.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Flintcitizen/
2."Good Morning Flint" blogspost 19927 views in the last year
http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
Community Blogs , posted to MLIVE ( Flint Journal)
http://www.mlive.com/blogs/flint/
–misc
My first egroup was a support group for parents in child protective proceedings
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/child_neglect_abuse/
There are 437 members. This began in 1999
-
I have a weekly radio program Saturday Morning 9 am WFLT 1420 am radio. I present family law issues and discuss on occasion Flint Poltics. I have guest speakers and invite organization to call in with information.
-
I write a weekly Column for the CPS Courier a weekly paper distributed in Flint Churches
-
I have an internet live radio show Flint Talk Radio
http://www.flinttalkradio.com/
http://www.flinttalkradio.com/terrybankert.htm
-
I am a twitter member and have subscribers from that.
On Monday I allowed twitter into my Yahoo email addresses 4,000 and sent this message.
terrybankert wants to keep up with you on Twitter
Monday, December 1, 2008 10:05 PM
From:
"terrybankert"
To:
b.....@....
To find out more about Twitter, visit the link below:http://twitter.com/i/274f191fecc8083cde8d00dfc1fcec574e134574Thanks,-The Twitter TeamAbout TwitterTwitter is a unique approach to communication and networking based on the simple concept of status. What are you doing? What are your friends doing—right now? With Twitter, you may answer this question over SMS or the Web and the responses are shared between contacts.This message was sent by a Twitter user who entered your email address. If you'd prefer not to receive emails when other people invite you to Twitter, click here:http://twitter.com/i/optout/18695c98f5ee08d6b96e05f63ff481779bbfa105
-
Youtube
I did 44 segments a year ago, here is one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GF_xgarIuk
-
Flickr Photos are included in articles of Good Morning Flint
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/
-
I am registered on about 20 local, state , international publication, television websites to make comments. If Good Morning Flint is carried I may post to these publications comment section.
-
I created an maintain a Democratic National Convention Blog. No charge, for State Representative Lee Gonzales. http://leegonzales.blogspot.com/
I have an alternative energy blog in development
http://energyalternativesadvisor.blogspot.com/
Blogging for Michigan has awarded me their press credential and I have covered several events to include the Flint visit of the King of Sweden.
I guess my weekly views or audience events to be 10,000. These are not unique individuals.
POSTS
Monday 12-2-08
GOOD MORNING FLINT 12/02/08 By Terry Bankert I have been asked to do a small part of a panel discussion on the use of the blogosphere for social change. Oh boy.... maybe I need a little help. It seems to be logical to ask you, the users of the blogosphere to help. Our audience are the communicators of non profits offering needed human services in these hard economic times. So what do you think? How can you use the blogosphere for social change or to get a non profits message out? Our collective presentation will "sort of " represent the entire blogosphere. I say we because I intend to present your comments. The entire blogosphere is a big intimidating description. Lets rephrase that. With our collective knowledge just what should a non profit do to spread its message. Maybe a hypothetical is in order. If you worked for a brand new non profit with a service area of Genesee County .How would your get your message out on the internet. Your product is 1 million dollars worth of canned food annually. How can you get your food to individuals in these counties through internet , blogosphere, communication. You cannot hand this over to an existing organization. Your communication budget is zero, you already own a lap top and an uplink. What do you do? If you share thoughts on this please describe the steps you would take . For instance my first step was to ask the question I just asked you and hoped for a result. This is a real project for a Friday Presentation. I will report in full on Saturday and blog what I have Friday for the presentation. Just how can we use this internet vehicle for social change or delivery of human service. Terry Bankert the "sort of" representative of the blogosphere. 107087***
Monday response
Facebook a spell checker, than you.
Flint Talk
comment:Depends on whom the change is aimed for...is it the poor? No internet access. response: Our approach will depend on our target. If free food goes to poor people wi no internet access then go to the people with internet access who come in contcat with the poor. 1.DHS 2.Churches 3.police 4.medical 5.other human service agencies 6.media 7. bloggers any other suggestions... ***Our audience are the communicators of non profits offering needed human services in these hard economic times. So what do you think? How can you use the blogosphere for social change or to get a non profits message out?*** comment:I am learning that the internet is only a portion of the overall message, has to be used in conjunction with a plethora of other avenues. response:What other avenues? 1. in person 2.flyers with a webpage address 3.telephone other thoughts ****Your communication budget is zero, you already own a lap top and an uplink. What do you do?***** comment:Google to the 43rd power, make a spreadsheet of all of the people that you are going to send e-mails to. The recipient does NOT want to have a long list of people that are cc'd....ultimate turnoff. Write it just like a regular letter...only provide links to relevant information. response:Individualize your email, hide bulk distribution. WHat about posting to boars such as Flint Talk? Any other? Comment:Dunno....can you provide a more in depth mission statement, perchance? response. There is no one answer. Give a variety of results to different fact situations.
