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Social media management can be a full-time job, but rarely can small organizations afford that kind of staff time. Social tools can really engage donors or customers, recruit volunteers, or advertise a new service or opportunity in sites where people spend their time. Creating a social media team which mixes staff, board and other volunteers can really extend reach. The challenge then becomes managing all that effort in real time for measurable goals (often referred to as conversions in measurement tools like Google Analytics).

This session will dive deep into Hootsuite as one tool to manage scheduled posts, author roles, and monitoring channels for engagement. Ensuring consistent voice across authors and scheduling some posts for review will be discussed, as well as a brief overview of other platforms such as Tweetdeck and Buffer. Steve Boland of Next in Nonprofits will be available for individual tests and troubleshooting following the presentation.

Social media management can be a full-time job, but rarely can small arts groups afford that kind of staff time to really use the tools to engage donors, recruit program volunteers, or advertise a performance in channels where people spend their time. Creating a social media team which mixes staff, board and other volunteers can really extend a nonprofit’s reach. The challenge then becomes managing all that effort in real time for measurable goals (often referred to as conversions in measurement tools like Google Analytics).

This session will dive deep into Hootsuite as one tool to manage scheduled posts, author roles, and monitoring channels for engagement. Ensuring consistent voice across authors and scheduling some posts for review will be discussed, as well as a brief overview of other platforms such as Tweetdeck and Buffer. Recommended Hootsuite primer available here: http://mashable.com/2013/09/18/hootsuite-beginners-guide/.

Social media is a great tool to get the word out about your programs, but that’s only the beginning. Build strong communities through social media by creating meaningful conversations online and providing relevant, consistent information. This session will give you the tools to create your own social media plan, including tools for measuring success and templates for managing it all.

This breakout session is part of the full day conference. Registration for the full day is required.

This session is part of the MCN Communications and Technology Conference. Participants must register for the conference in order to attend.

Many nonprofits need access to specialized knowledge workers, but don’t have the budget or workload to justify hiring those skills as permanent staff. Solutions can be short-term gigs, outsourced contracts, or retainer agreements. How does a nonprofit work effectively with a consultant or contractor for specialized communications and technology needs? Three local consultants — two experienced in the field, one recently launched — share tips and recommendations for maximizing the opportunities of gig work while minimizing risk. Results of a qualitative research project gathering wisdom from local organizations will also be shared. This is a future-facing presentation equipping organizations to anticipate the full development of trends we are already starting to see.
Steve Boland, managing partner, Next in Nonprofits; Ruth Hamberg, lead consultant, Squaretree / Next in Nonprofits; and Lisa Tabor, owner, Culture Brokers