Microblogging with your Constituents?

I recently discovered this very informative article on Microblogging on the NonProfit Times website. As this article defines, microblogging is

posting concise snippets of text, images, videos, or other content online that are then delivered to subscribers (sometimes called "friends" and "followers") via text messages, desktop widgets, and Web sites that either feature or enable microblogging.

The most popular microblogging tool is Twitter, which allows users to post up to 140 characters (text only) from their computer or via cellphone text messages. Each message is called a "tweet." For more basic information about Twitter, check out our previous blog post on the subject.

I found a couple of things interesting about this article. First, they mention the reality that there are lots of tools out there nonprofit organizations can potentially use to reach out to (and listen to) their constituents…and no organization has the time or the resources to focus on them all. They key is to consider your overall communications strategy and determine which tools fit this strategy the best. The fact that one of the tools mentioned in the article - Pownce - is already out of business since this article was published is another sign to consider the use of these tools carefully!

Second, the article mentions that the best time to use microblogging is when

you have regular news, tips or updates to share, and if these can be communicated in a couple hundred characters or less.

For example, some camps are beginning to use Twitter while at camp when they see a particular camper or group of campers do something interesting or extraordinary. This allows parents to read in real-time what their children are doing at camp. It may even reduce the number of phone calls from anxious parents who want to make sure their children are enjoying themselves at camp!

As I mentioned in my previous blog post about Twitter, URJ Henry S Jacobs Camp has been microblogging for awhile, and have received lots of great feedback from their alumni and other constituents. This effort, as well as Jacobs Camp's other creative Alumni Outreach strategies will be highlighted in our next Grinspoon Institute Webinar. Check it out!

Also, another form of microblogging is using the Status update feature in social networking site Facebook. For example, Celia Baczkowski, the Development Director of Surprise Lake Camp recently used this short status update to help with their latest fundraising campaign. Throughout the campaign, she used her Facebook status updates to direct all of her "friends" (including many camp constituents) to their website to learn more about the campaign and donate with an online form; update the progress of the campaign; and even thank all of her friends who donated to the campaign.

Have you used microblogging to communicate with your constituents? Please let us know about your experiences (or questions) in the Blog Comments or in our Discussion Forum.