Well, I've been away for a few weeks and have only just caught up with all our various communications. I've been particularly pleased to see more women's organisations embracing Twitter, Facebook and blogs. You can really see the difference in the way they can reach out to their supporters and new audiences - spreading campaign messages as well as interacting and responding to people's comments, concerns and input.
In the last week, Newham Action Against Domestic Violence (@NAADV) has tweeted about their new service for young people (would have been even better with a weblink for people to follow). Women's Aid got namechecked in a tweet from Sarah Brown (@SarahBrown10). If they'd retweeted it (twitter-speak for forwarding a post), their supporters would have known about this high-profile fan too. And I've been chatting on Twitter to @Bell_Bajao, an Indian organisation with an incredibly interactive website, campaigning to end domestic violence.
Do you know any other women's organisations using these or other online tools really well? Post in comments below or send me a tweet (@whywomen)!
Showing posts with label communications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label communications. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
A brief guide to Twitter for women's organisations
There’s been a lot of noise in the media about Twitter recently and you could get the impression that it’s just for self-promoting celebrities. But what is less reported is how useful it can be for charities and campaigns. WRC has been using Twitter since October 2008 and we (well, I) love it and think it could be a great tool for other women’s organisations.
From a very personal perspective, I like Twitter because people only get your updates if they’re actually interested in hearing from you. If they don’t find you interesting, they won’t follow you (or not for long). You can send out quick notices, let people know about interesting news, events or comments – all without cluttering up people’s inboxes. And you make contact with (and build relationships with) people you didn’t even know existed. It breaks down institutional barriers and opens up your organisation to supporters, potential supporters, peers and even policymakers.
What else can you do?
How to get started
Have a look at this ‘Twitter in plain English’ video (although it mostly explains Twitter’s benefits to individuals rather than organisations) and then this presentation. Then sign up to Twitter and find some people to follow (i.e. receive their updates). One way is to follow me, then see who I follow and if you’re interested in them, follow them too. There’s a list of charities on Twitter here, or try some US women’s organisations to see what they’re doing.
One last thing... I asked my 'followers' if they had any tips for women's organisations new to Twitter and here are some I received...
From a very personal perspective, I like Twitter because people only get your updates if they’re actually interested in hearing from you. If they don’t find you interesting, they won’t follow you (or not for long). You can send out quick notices, let people know about interesting news, events or comments – all without cluttering up people’s inboxes. And you make contact with (and build relationships with) people you didn’t even know existed. It breaks down institutional barriers and opens up your organisation to supporters, potential supporters, peers and even policymakers.
What else can you do?
- ask your network for help
- if you’re lucky, they’ll ask their networks to help you too
- promote campaign actions or other work
- get a dog a new home (or whatever your core activity is)
- get instant feedback
- engage with MPs, councillors etc
- learn from your peers
- add quick updates to your website or blog (you should see our twitter updates on this blog)
- even 'silly' Twitter actions can have a big impact - see Amnesty's snowmen for human rights!
How to get started
Have a look at this ‘Twitter in plain English’ video (although it mostly explains Twitter’s benefits to individuals rather than organisations) and then this presentation. Then sign up to Twitter and find some people to follow (i.e. receive their updates). One way is to follow me, then see who I follow and if you’re interested in them, follow them too. There’s a list of charities on Twitter here, or try some US women’s organisations to see what they’re doing.
One last thing... I asked my 'followers' if they had any tips for women's organisations new to Twitter and here are some I received...
- have a clear purpose or theme
- talk to people (be a real human being)
- be a good citizen
Thursday, 8 May 2008
How to deliver unpopular messages (and how not to)
Perhaps surprisingly for a communications officer, I don't get out much, so I always look forward to events that allow me to meet other charity communications people, swap stories and learn from people with more experience and - frankly - bigger teams and bigger budgets. And today I went to one of those events, Charity Communications 08.
There were lots of inspiring speakers there, although disappointingly fewer examples of successful comms "on a shoestring" than last year, but perhaps the most striking thing I came away with was the contrast between two of the speakers, Camila Batmanghelidjh (director of Kids Company) and Kelvin MacKenzie (former editor of the Sun).
Both very strong, determined personalities. Both fearless, outspoken, unafraid of personal criticism and prepared to deliver unpopular messages. But where Camila Batmangelidjh is prepared to speak out in defence of the young people she works with, often vilified in the media, however much that opens her to attack (she talked about speaking out at the time of the murder of Damilola Taylor, making the point that we as adults had failed not only Damilola Taylor but also the children who killed him), Kelvin MacKenzie really didn't seem interested in anyone but himself. MacKenzie perhaps didn't endear himself to the audience by characterising charity workers as overpaid, dishonest, crooks, at best "not bad people, but misguided", by showing a total lack of interest in the work of charities, and also by refusing to engage in any discussion he wasn't controlling (he refused point blank to discuss with a woman from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation why it might be necessary for a charity to work with paedophiles). But enough about him...
Batmangelidjh made a few really key points. Asked how she has managed to use the media for such positive effect, she says she speaks the truth and is not afraid to be attacked for it. When she speaks out, "it may not be in the best interest of me, it is not always in the best interest of Kids Company, but it is always in the best interest of the kids". She noted that a lot of charity chief executives feel vulnerable about speaking out, and that the voluntary sector has "disempowered itself in the search for money". Her message: "Get brave and refuse that equation". But she was realistic about how you get yourself in a strong enough position to do that:
(1) run an effective project
(2) get your work independently assessed to prove its efficacy, and
(3) stay true to your values
"Don't underestimate the power of the truth. Find the truth in what you're doing". Only then should you (in her words) open your big mouth.
It was certainly clear to me why her clear-headed and uncompromising stance has paid dividends in the media coverage she and her project have attracted over the years.
There were lots of inspiring speakers there, although disappointingly fewer examples of successful comms "on a shoestring" than last year, but perhaps the most striking thing I came away with was the contrast between two of the speakers, Camila Batmanghelidjh (director of Kids Company) and Kelvin MacKenzie (former editor of the Sun).
Both very strong, determined personalities. Both fearless, outspoken, unafraid of personal criticism and prepared to deliver unpopular messages. But where Camila Batmangelidjh is prepared to speak out in defence of the young people she works with, often vilified in the media, however much that opens her to attack (she talked about speaking out at the time of the murder of Damilola Taylor, making the point that we as adults had failed not only Damilola Taylor but also the children who killed him), Kelvin MacKenzie really didn't seem interested in anyone but himself. MacKenzie perhaps didn't endear himself to the audience by characterising charity workers as overpaid, dishonest, crooks, at best "not bad people, but misguided", by showing a total lack of interest in the work of charities, and also by refusing to engage in any discussion he wasn't controlling (he refused point blank to discuss with a woman from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation why it might be necessary for a charity to work with paedophiles). But enough about him...
Batmangelidjh made a few really key points. Asked how she has managed to use the media for such positive effect, she says she speaks the truth and is not afraid to be attacked for it. When she speaks out, "it may not be in the best interest of me, it is not always in the best interest of Kids Company, but it is always in the best interest of the kids". She noted that a lot of charity chief executives feel vulnerable about speaking out, and that the voluntary sector has "disempowered itself in the search for money". Her message: "Get brave and refuse that equation". But she was realistic about how you get yourself in a strong enough position to do that:
(1) run an effective project
(2) get your work independently assessed to prove its efficacy, and
(3) stay true to your values
"Don't underestimate the power of the truth. Find the truth in what you're doing". Only then should you (in her words) open your big mouth.
It was certainly clear to me why her clear-headed and uncompromising stance has paid dividends in the media coverage she and her project have attracted over the years.
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