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Showing over Telling: Collective Lens

alexsteed — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:24:36 -0500

In somewhere around 100 different ways on this blog, I've tried to stress the importance of showing over telling. Very recently I was happy to speak with Bryan Tighe of Collective Lens, a beautiful and comprehensive web-based photozine that helps small nonprofits and causes show their stories and impact in powerful and touching ways. The site does a wonderful job of realizing and putting to work the impact of the visual, especially with regard to telling the story of an initiative, a people, and/or a country, and shows a lot of potential for helping organizations find support by sharing their impact visually.

Robin Parker, Oregon Red Cross Communications Specialist, talks shop.

alexsteed — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:10:55 -0500

Briefly, a poetic Tweet-of-truth brought to us by NetSquared family member Joe Solomon:

"Everybody's a social media strategist; the web needs social media soldiers too."

Now! Onto the meat.

Can SocNet Tools Kindle Face-To-Face Interactions Among Young People?

alexsteed — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:10:37 -0400

A few days back I spoke with a gentleman who works has worked as a staff member at a popular youth center based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We discussed, among many other things, how young people interact when they come into the center.

You say you [don't] want a revolution...

alexsteed — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:39:45 -0400

When putting together a social media strategy, be it your initial plan or a revamp, please (except in a few - very few - exceptional cases) stop offering me another movement to jump onto.

A while back, I worked for a woman for three months as a contracted employee - something of an odds and ends outreach person - and after finally putting some thought into her mission, she finally came up with an overarching objective: "I want you to use the Internet to start a movement around [the release of my book]."

The publication in question, which read like a textbook, was a heady and conceptual description of a particular element of global economics. Her goal was radically unachievable and immodest.

FriendRank and Fundraising?

Channing — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:42:13 -0400

Google has apparently applied for a series of patents that will enable it to a put a value on how connected you are, within your social network. Akin to the "pagerank" system used by the search giant for valuing the popularity of websites, "friendrank" would help identify individuals who are particularly influential within circles of friends.

Facebook Does Not Necessarily Equal Authenticity

alexsteed — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:05:30 -0400

Don't try too hard to crack the code of authenticity. Sometimes reaching out and connecting to "the kids" requires more than constructing a seemingly fail-safe online presence.

"We're really focusing on reaching out to kids," is an expression I am getting used to hearing when talking with outreach coordinators at nonprofits. "We're trying to connect with young people by reaching out to them on the Internet," is often uttered in the same breath. "We're really going to connect with them when we launch our social networking site later this year."

Noone Likes [What/Who] Appears To Be a Friend-Whore

alexsteed — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:21:43 -0400

Warning: The following inadvertently turned into something of a rant. The point, in the end, is that it is unwise to build a virtual social net without giving people context as to why you're trying to connect with them. In the end, it turned out to be slightly tainted with distain for social network whoredom. I'll be interested to hear about your take on the subject.

The Changeblogger Network Picks Up Steam

alexsteed — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:25:18 -0400

First of all, I just want to note how exciting it is that Amy Sample Ward has come on board as the new Net2 Community Builder. As you all know, Britt has done an amazing job of bringing some fantastic people around Net2's vision, she is loved and appreciated, and everyone is excited to see her stay involved with the Net2 community. At the same time, we're psyched to be checking out the great things that Amy is going to bring our way. Here's to the future.

Hear How to "Spark a Movement" through Facebook and Social Media

mhicksfacebook — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:13:30 -0400

Join Facebook and three leaders in using social media for social change for a deeper look at how to spread causes and organize real-world movement through online networks. The session is being held as part of Advertising Week in New York, and is free and open to the public.

Facebook Spark Series: Spark a Movement
When: Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, 9:00-9:45 am ET

Where: The Times Center, 242 W. 41st Street, New York, NY

Presenters:

Dwight Caines, Lead Digital Strategy, Stand Up to Cancer
Joe Green, Co-Founder, Causes
Oscar Morales, activist and organizer, One Million Voices Against FARC

Empowering Social Individuals - Interview with Susan Gordon from Causes

jedsundwall — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:59:15 -0400

A chat with Susan Gordon, Non-Profit Coordinator for Causes. She tells us a thing or two about how Causes works, how a medical student used Causes to create a 3.3 million+ strong campaign to fight cancer, and how to get your fumigator to join your Cause.