Charity begins on Twitter: tips for charities and supporters
Twitter has become the marketing tool of choice for the discerning charity these days - just think of a well known charity and I can almost guarantee you they'll be on Twitter. This trend has lead to some great case studies in how to use Twitter effectively, as well as a few well publicised clangers too.
What can charities who are just starting out on the long road to Tweetadise learn from these case studies? How can charity supporters do their bit to help out? Hopefully, this blog might give you a few pointers...
Site review: British Red Cross relaunch
The British Red Cross website has been relaunched this week, with the aim of simplifying the functionality, making information easier to find, improving accessibility, and providing greater integration with social media channels
I've been having a look at the new site, designed by Aqueduct, to see how well it explains the charity's aims and encourages donations...
Coke takes a jab at Pepsi by adding social elements to its Super Bowl campaign
Pepsi has opted out of Superbowl advertising this year, choosing instead to focus on digital and social media marketing. But here's the thing about social media campaigns — they can come together pretty quickly. And when Pepsi decided to pass on SuperBowl ads this year, there was one thing the company didn't account for. Coke adding social to its CBS ad buy.
Unscrupulous marketers target Haiti on Twitter
The devastation in Haiti has brought people from all over the world together online in what can only be described as an impressive display of generosity.
Not surprisingly, Twitter is playing a big role in disseminating information about the crisis. And it's playing a big role in fundraising for organizations providing relief to Haiti. Unfortunately, unscrupulous marketers are taking advantage of the situation to further their business interests.
Econsultancy Movember: Raising mo money for men's health
Team Econsultancy are taking part in this year's Movember, an international campaign that challenges participants to change the face of men's health.
Throughout November, the male members of our team (or our "Mo Bros) will be sporting their best 'tache to raise money for charity. Mo Bros are required to be clean-shaven on the 1st of November and then have the rest of the month to grow and groom their moustaches.
In effect, the Econsultancy team will become a walking billboard for men's health.
Q&A: Steve Heyes of LearnAsOne on using Twitter for charity
We've looked at how charities are using Twitter before; The Dog's Trust is one good example of how causes can be promoted on the site. Another is LearnAsOne, which will be aiming to Tweet from a community in Zambia.
LearnAsOne is a charity that has launched a project to build a community school in Zambia, and will be using Twitter, and its blog to promote the scheme and encourage donations, as well as showing people how their money is being spent.
The charity was set up by Steve Heyes; he is out in Zambia now and will be documenting the project for the next two weeks. I've been asking Steve about his use of social media.
Innovation in search: how Twitter is changing the way people search and engage
Companies, organisations and social media aficionados alike are discovering that Twitter is a great way to reach wide audiences though a long term investment in short sharp communication.
Should more charities be making use of Twitter?
A Twitter account is free to set up, and keeping it updated doesn't need to take too much time and effort, so some charities are now making to use the site for fundraising and increasing awareness of their causes.
In the UK, I have found Twitter accounts for Oxfam, War Child, Greenpeace, though there may be others. One charity making excellent use of Twitter for promoting its cause is Dog's Trust.
I've been asking Alex Goldstein, the charity's social media and community editor, about Dog's Trust's use of Twitter and her tips for other charities....
