Social Media for Nonprofits

Some nonprofit leaders have asked me why they need to have a Facebook page if they already have a website.   To them, it seems to to be an unnecessary duplication.  It’s not.

Think about how many visitors come to your website every day.  Now think how many people go to Facebook in a day. By creating a page on Facebook you can quickly reach those who are fans of your organization when you have news to pass on.  In the past, on Facebook, users would only see updates from their friends, and by that I mean actual people. Now, things have changed and if you’re a fan of a group, that group’s updates will appear with all the other news.

Facebook can also be quickly updated.  Unlike most websites, you don’t need to know computer code or pay someone who does.  So your website can remain a bit more static (with things like mission statements, contact info, and staffing info) and you can use Facebook to promote more timely news.  This could include pictures from an event, updates to your latest fundraising campaign, and news about your organization’s area of expertise.

Think of Facebook as an extension of your web presence that can help strengthen the ties between you and your supporters.  If you have good news to pass on, don’t wait to send it out to the world.