Beyond the Basics: 5 Ideas for Social Media Overachievers!
Your Facebook and Twitter accounts are established and growing fast. You’ve got best practices down to an art. You know what works for your audience and how to move them to action. You’ve even got your tweet buttons and Like buttons integrated into your post-action and post-fundraising pages.
So what’s next? Now that you’ve mastered the basics, here are five ideas to help you take your social media strategy to the next level.
Changes on the horizon!
A year and a half ago I joined M+R Strategic Services as an Online Associate, and shortly thereafter transitioned into my new role as M+R’s first Social Media Specialist. This last year and a half has been an incredible journey – full of personal growth and professional achievement. I’ve learned more, and accomplished more, than I ever imagined I would when I originally accepted the position. Perhaps most importantly, I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such fun, insanely talented, and driven people. It’s been fabulous working alongside them to design and implement campaigns for so many amazing, critically important organizations and causes.
Celebrating César Chávez’s legacy? There’s an app for that!
César Chávez’s lifelong advocacy on behalf of working people changed our nation forever… which is why every year, America celebrates his legacy on César Chávez Day — today, March 31st.
Founded by César Chávez in 1962, the United Farm Workers (UFW) has marked this special day for the last 50 years. Last year, we were honored to work with United Farm Workers (UFW) to help increase the event’s visibility online.
When he was once asked by a union member how he wanted to be remembered, César replied, “If you want to remember me, organize!” With his directive in mind, we set out to create a Facebook application that would not only honor Chávez’s legacy, but also bring the farm workers’ struggles from the fields into the homes and offices of people all across the country. The strategy? Create an app where users could donate their Facebook status with a Chávez quote to honor the historic organizer’s legacy and mark his passing.
But with so many Facebook apps out there, what made this one a success?
McDonald’s & Food Education: A Match Made in Hell
It’s no secret that our nation is lacking in the food education department. I certainly never learned to cook in school let alone learn to cook quick, healthy meals. School also never taught me or my classmates to see through false health claims or decipher nutritonal information.
But never fear – McDonald’s is here!
You’re surrounded…!
…by food marketing, that is. Early last month, Teach.com released this disturbing infographic on food marketing and childhood obesity following the unveiling of the new school lunch nutritional standards. While not surprising, the amount of food marketing kids are exposed to on a daily basis is appalling.
Five Things You Must Do On Social Media!
As you’ve probably experienced yourself, the social media tactics that could help your organization are many, and they can be pretty difficult to keep up with. To make things easier, I wanted to share five things that definitely will help you succeed on social media.
So here it goes – five things you absolutely must do on social media. Keep reading over at Salsa Labs’ blog!
Vending Machines Talk Back?
When you were in school, how many times per week did you take a trip to the vending machine? How many times did the vending machine talk back?
It may sound like an episode out of Doctor Who, but that’s exactly what’s happening in Utah middle and high schools across the state.
Learning from Komen: [Social Media] Crisis Communications!
You’ve all seen the news surrounding Komen’s recent (now retracted) decision. Last Tuesday, the news broke that Susan G. Komen had pulled all grant funding for breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood. Just a few days later, Komen has lost staff and support, reversed its decision, and is in the midst of its biggest branding crisis yet — while Planned Parenthood has raised over $3 million dollars. As Kivi Miller lays out in her analysis, Komen is undergoing an undesired rebranding of the organization.
I’m not going to get into the decision-making process that led Komen to make breast cancer screenings more difficult to access in the near term (you can read my thoughts on that here) — instead, I want to focus on the mistakes Komen made that other nonprofits can learn from.
Sugar: to tax or not to tax?
Last week, sugar once again made the headlines when researchers from the University of California, San Francisco published an article in Nature arguing for a tax on sugar – a controversial proposal to say the least.
What’s next for Komen?
By now, you’ve seen the news about Komen’s recent decision to cut its financial support for Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides millions of women with critical early detection services like breast exams.
The outcry has been absolutely incredible, dominating every social channel known to man. Main stream media, blogs, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr (Fuck Yeah Planned Parenthood! and Planned Parenthood Saved Me), YouTube, Reddit…you name it. Even Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken a stand, pledging $250,000 to Planned Parenthood. Heck, even Komen’s own state affiliates are publicly revolting.
So yes, the organization associated with the pink products America has grown to know and love (ehem, pinkwashing anyone?) has once again captured America’s attention for something that seems to fly in the face of not only science, decency, and common sense — but also its mission.
About Megan
My passion lies in empowering people to become advocates for a healthier world. I truly believe we can make a difference in our communities and that belief empowers me to seek out new and creative ways to create change.
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