Social Media Tools And Resources For Nonprofits

Social media spreads awareness. It is a great way to to stay in touch with your supporters (and their friends!) and to share your nonprofit’s story and mission.




We've been talking about social media quite a bit the past few weeks.  We started by writing about the importance of being intentional about your social media footprint.  We talked about how social media planning is important, and specifically about deciding which platforms to use based on your audience and the time and human resources you have to invest in your digital and social media strategy.  Then we provided some back to basics about how to get started.

An outdated, under utilized social media footprint will say more about your organization than having no footprint at all.  On the other hand, having a well thought out and carefully cultivated presence will help you to build your brand and connect with existing or potential donors, supporters, constituents, staff and board members.

Now that you've decided which channels to use, this week, let's dive into the tools that can help you #GetSocial and manage your social media footprint.  

Tools 
There are many tools online to aid you in improving your social media plan, and to learn how to make the most out of these communication platforms.

Buffer is a social media scheduling tool.  They maintain an excellent blog that is loaded with content and specific pieces of advice for your social media marketing. Buffer is an easy-to-use scheduling application; it allows people to post from their social media accounts in bulk ahead of time.




SproutSocial is a robust scheduling tool that makes social media scheduling efficient, saving time and helping you stay organized.

CoSchedule is a tool we really like.  This tool allows you to organize your entire content marketing strategy in one place.  Your content marketing may include blogs, newsletters, thought leadership peices, appeals, and of course, social.  You collaborate with your entire team, and execute both your content social media promotion.



Attentive.ly, our sister product, is a social listening tool created especially with nonprofits in mind.  With Attentive.ly, you can identify your ‘social influencers’ and see what your supporters are saying on social media.  Then, you can easily personalize messages, asks, and ads based on what your members are doing and saying across the social web.  The goal is to help you personalize your content and drive engagement.  Getting to know the social side of your audience is super valuable - so you can segment your communications connect with them in a truly authentic way. 




Resources
If you’re not already familiar, definitely familiarize yourself with NTEN.  NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Network), is an organization of nonprofit technology professionals committed to helping nonprofits use technology more effectively. Their Twitter feed is full of useful articles and tips, and they are a great resource to stay up-to-date on the latest technology in the nonprofit sector.

Note that there are many free resources available for you to use. Nonprofit Tech for Good has webinars that are full of valuable information for nonprofits. The Foundation Center hosts live and virtual events for nonprofits to learn more about using social media and improving your email campaigns.
 
We recommend scoping out some of these tools so you can use them to your nonprofit’s advantage. There are many options out there, and we know that you will find the right ones for your nonprofit.
 
Ready for more?  Check out our webinar from last week on Finding and Mobilizing Social Influencers for Your Next P2P Event.