Do Believe the "Hype": Tweeting v. Blasting -- Tip #2

Non-profit executives always have to be mindful of the bottom line. Budgets are tight these days, but the list of goals for the organization keep growing and the ideas keep coming. The name of the game is learning how to do more with less. If used wisely and creatively, social media tools can be a God-send for any non-profit staff.

Our second tool featured in this blog series, is like most social media, absolutely free. The only cost associated is the limited time you invest in putting 140 words together.

Twitter This and Twitter That

In the past few months, news reports have been filled chatter about Twitter. The newest social networking craze allows people, businesses, and organizations to post messages of 140 words or less online for the entire world to see. Recently, it seems Twitter has permeated every aspect of U.S. culture. Today, everyone tweets. Celebrities are tweeting, CEOs are tweeting, intellectuals are tweeting, and even members of Congress tweet incessantly.

If you are currently a tweeter, then you are probably familiar with the virtues of Twitter, and can likely imagine some of its' more practical applications. However, if the Twitterverse is new territory for you, you likely have a lot of questions. Above all, you are likely wondering how a site that limits you to 140 words or less could be useful. What could you possibly say in 140 words or less? Well, simply put, you can say a lot.

Why Tweet?

The beauty of Twitter is that it forces people to be as brief as possible. The user is only given enough room to communicate their message in a couple of sentences. This makes Twitter the perfect tool for getting out brief updates. Why write an entire email to communicate a thought as simple as a meeting reminder? Why not just tweet it out? This saves you both time and money.

Sites that send mass emails generally charge, limit the number of emails you are allowed to send, and have little formatting quirks that often take more time to fix then drafting the actual email. Tweeting gets simple thoughts out easily and in a matter of seconds. Instead of sending a meeting reminder with a fifth copy of the agenda, simply state:"Meeting Reminder: Tuesday, April 7, 2009 7:00pm at Statewide Office." No muss, no fuss.

Will My Tweets Fall on Deaf Ears?

Twitter is different from email because you are not sending messages to a person's inbox. While you can send direct messages to other Twitter users' profiles, you cannot send directed messages en mass. Rather, your message will be public for every Twitter user to see.

The best way to make sure your tweets are seen by the right people is to invite the constituents of your organization to follow you on Twitter. That way, your tweets will automatically show up on their profile. Even inviting people to follow you on Twitter is easy. Simply put a link to Twitter (www.twitter.com) on your homepage with the title: "Follow Us!" People will know what to do from there.

Ratings:

Ease of Use

Twitter is one of the easiest social media tools to use. It's as easy as 1,2,3..

1. Start by creating a profile. The information asked for to make up this profile is minimal and it only takes a few minutes.

2.Next you simply type a short message in the window at the top of your profile.

3. Click "Update." Your tweet is then instantly sent.

Interactivity v. Passive Engagement

Twitter's interactivity rating is moderate. Your followers can respond to your tweets through direct messaging, but they too are limited to using 140 characters. The beauty of Twitter is that it is an economical tool. It's easy on your bank account and your time. It's a great way to disseminate bits of information quickly and cheaply, but not the best forum for engaging in complex dialogue. Always remember that Twitter is a specialized communications tool. It is most effective when used judiciously.

Return on Investment

Accessing and utilizing Twitter is free and easy. The site is free and the time commitment is low. Additionally, there is the potential to reach thousands of people. If used wisely, the return you get from Twitter can be very high.

The Final Word

Try it out. Our firm tweets and we love it. With zero financial commitment and a low time commitment, there are few reasons not to try it.