Twitter – Top Tips for TweetersIf your organization has taken the plunge into the super charged world of Twitter and you are still scratching your head about how it all works we’ve got some great tips for you. Non profit fundraising organizations need to be strategic in using their limited resources to position your organization (or brand) out in the Twitterverse. Different from Facebook, which is about building relationships among people who know each other, this new technology by contrast is designed to spread information and build relationships among strangers. But these strangers can ultimately become constituents to your organization through strategic engagement. Here are some tips that we’ve seen work for other organizations to help build your base:
These are great “first followers” because more than likely they will follow you back. What that means to your organization is that people who follow these groups may stumble upon. Use their icons to broadcast to the world that you are on Twitter and using this avenue to communicate. To build relationships you need to listen as well as talk to your followers. Reach out to them for advice, create polls (great service at http//twitter.polldaddy.com/ which is built for Twitter polling.) and ask them for direct feedback about what they like, how you’re doing, etc. Then, most importantly follow back up and report Set up your organization’s account so that you are notified when you have a new follower…and the follow back immediately. Your organization needs to be listening not just broadcasting. If you see or read something that your followers would be interested in help spread the word. There are two ways to tweet it forward – share their link directly or retweet what another user has said. Retweeting is abbreviated as RT and means you’re copying exactly what someone else has already tweeted. In this case, copying is OK and make sure to keep the username of the person you’re retweeting, so that they know your passing on their wise and insightful words or information. Another way to spread information is called a hat tip (h/t) or “via” when you want to share a great information or a great link with your followers that you have found but you want to repackage it in your own way. If you are lucky enough to have these types of people engaged with your organization make sure to tweet about it! Is a celebrity coming to your organization’s annual dinner? Can they tweet about it to their followers? Have a celebrity in your next PSA or web video and have them tweet during the activity. Ask them to recommend your organization’s username as part of
#followfriday.
Your followers want to feel like insiders, like they know the next “big” thing. By feeding them relevant, important, timely or even funny information about your cause or organization they feel privileged. They will also pass on this information for you. If your tweet isn’t moving some goal or providing value to your followers – erase it. In Summary Twitter is a brand new world for many non profit fundraising organizations. Be patient and strategic about adding to your base and engaging with your followers. The Twitterverse should just be one small part of your organization’s overall strategic communication and engagement plan. Be prepared because next month…there might be a new next thing!
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