Social Media Success

4 (more) lessons from a successful Kickstarter Campaign

Maureen Carruthers 5 Comments
Kick starter

Get it?

As you might have gathered from the relative lack of activity here in the past couple of weeks,  my head has been somewhere else.   Specifically, it’s been over here in Kickstarter land.

I’m happy to report that the effort paid off, and as of last week, Mach 30 successfully met its fundraising goal.  More importantly (for you at least) we learned 4 more Kickstarter lessons since my last post.

Enjoy!

A good campaign generates more than money

A sprout in a lightbulb.

Image via Wikipedia

Like most people, we found our way to Kickstarter because we had a project and needed money.  We were pleased to discover our backers and potential backers had a lot more than just cash to offer. Continue reading →

Social Media Success Series: 7 Tips for Creating Viral Content

Maureen Carruthers 6 Comments
154 Blue Chrome Rain Social Media Icons

Image by webtreats via Flickr

This post is part of a series.  Catch up on other secrets to social media success here.

It’s ok to admit it–we’ve all been there.  At one time or another almost every organization’s social media strategy  basically boiled down to “we’ll make a video that goes viral and then everyone will know and love us.”

As many of us have learned the hard way, setting out to create a single video that goes viral and solves all of our marketing and fundraising challenges doesn’t count as a social media strategy–it counts as a pipe dream.  That having been said, creating the right content and sharing it in the right way can help you build a support base.  These seven tips will help you get started. Continue reading →

Social Media Success Series: Take Advantage of Selfishness

Maureen Carruthers 3 Comments
How we all secretly feel we ought to be treated

How we all secretly feel we ought to be treated

This post is part of a series.  Catch up on other secrets to social media success here.

People are selfish.

Even the amazingly generous people who give their time and treasure to help support your cause are fundamentally selfish.

You and I?  Absolutely selfish.

Ironically, this constant in human nature can actually help you and your organization attract more attention online and ultimately create more good in the world–you just have to know how to harness it. Continue reading →

Social Media Success Series: Become an Active Community Member

Maureen Carruthers 4 Comments

I’m starting a new series! The more work I do with non-profits around social media, the more I realize the biggest barrier between non-profits and social media success isn’t learning how to use the tech, it’s figuring out how to achieve traditional marketing goals in a new media culture.  The purpose of this series is to help nonprofit leaders like you make that leap.

Become an Active Community Member

In social media, giving comes before receiving

In social media, giving comes before receiving

I’m starting the series here because social media success is only possible after you integrate yourself into an existing community (or build your own).  The rest of my advice will fall flat if the community piece isn’t in place first.  Unfortunately, it’s also the piece of advice nonprofit leaders are most likely to skip. Continue reading →