We all know that simplicity and transparency is important in many industries, but this can be especially important for a nonprofit organization. An organization that shares everything from it's strategic plan to financial statements is often called an inside-out organization in the PR world. Sharing this information with the public allows people to feel more connected and trusting of the organization. People need to have the opportunity to participate anyway they can without constant supervision, whether it be at superior level or even entry level. Everyone has their own way of making things happen and helping out, so why ruin their efforts when they really can make an impact in society?
For example, in the case of Safe Harbor, as a class we were independent in deciding ultimately what we could collaborate to help out the organization. So far, with our homecoming efforts of setting up a informational booth, distributing purple ribbons and promoting through social media, we have done a great job of raising domestic violence awareness! Congrats to us-we can now be called free agents (yay!)- for spreading the organization's message throughout numerous networks. Hint Hint: Free agents are individuals who "...combine their media savvy with their passion for social causes to accomplish amazing things."
Our class was even recognized on a recent Safe Harbor's blog post!
Embrace Social Media
The power and use of social media has increased rapidly in the past few years, providing marketing tools such as instant messaging, texts, blogs, videos and social networking sites. These tools allow people to share their own views or personal stories about a topic that is hot off the press. Nonprofits need to utilize these usually free tools to promote their causes since many nonprofits do not have a lot of extra cash to spend. Hello! Not using these tools, is like throwing away dollar bills! Many nonprofits will argue that they don't have the skills or knowledge to use these tools correctly, but overtime, anyone can become social media savvy. As it states in the book, "Social media use is a contact sport, not a spectator sport." The more time people spend creating, discovering, and planning with these tools, eventually it will become second nature to them. As you can see, Safe Harbor has embraced numerous social media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Social Media, Social Networks, Social Change
Human beings love connecting with other people, period! How do most people create these meaningful connections? Usually, through social networks. These social networks are then able to form the power to make social change within society. When organizations utilize social media, they are unwrapping conversations that are the key to successful change in society. "Conversations are the lifeblood of social change efforts." With these conversations, people have the ability to share information online, whether it be a picture or a news story. People have the opportunity to explore social issues, take a stand and map out their plan of how they would like to help these issues. Organizations need to be right there when people figure out what kind of help they want to distribute.
A Closer Look
Certainly we see social media influencing social change everywhere we look in today's technological world. For example, Occupy Wall Street has used Facebook and Twitter to win the support of thousands of people. What was once talk of an Egypt revolution has turned into Occupy Wall Street, with more than 450,000 Facebook followers.
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| Occupy Wall Street-Utilizing Social Media for Social Change |
Since Occupy Wall Street has taken over numerous channels of social media by protesters, the idea for social change here has blown up! More and more people are joining together through social media to protest and share their idea's and view's on the situation. This example just goes to show you that social networks have a great ability to get attention from mainstream media, with an extreme potential to create social change.
Occupy Wall Street information from Huffington Post
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