Getting the Personal – Professional Mix Right in Social Media

It’s a debate that anyone using social media these days is having: How much personal information do I share when I’m using social media for work, and how much work information do my personal friends care to know? What are reasonable expectations for a nonprofit to have about what staff members will say online? Should blogging, tweeting, etc. be official or unofficial? Do rules about social media at work impinge on staff’s freedom of speech?

If you and others at your nonprofit organization are wrestling with questions like these, you might find this slide show helpful in framing up some of your discussions. I don’t have the answers to all of these questions (the right answer for you is the wrong answer for someone else). But I do outline some of the reasons why we are debating these questions, describe five approaches nonprofits are using, share how the National Wildlife Federation, American Red Cross and Easter Seals are addressing some of these concerns, and offer some suggestions for how to be more personable, even when you are really using social media mostly for work.

Personal – Professional Mix in Social Media: For Nonprofits

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Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

If you are interested in hearing my commentary over these slides as well as my answers to specific questions, you’ll find the recording of the live webinar this slide show comes from in the All-Access Pass Holders Archive starting tomorrow.

http://www.invisibleillnessweek.com Lisa C

I think it’s finding what your “clients” want. I started using Twitter originally, because I could post my status in our Ning.com social network group. If they wondered why I had not answered their email in 24 hrs, they could see that I was having a rheumtoid arthritis flare, had had a doctor’s appointment and a program at my son’s school all within the last 12 hrs and understood. My basic Twitter is @lisajcopen and I post my illness articles info, health, etc. including Christian ministry info for my nonprofit restministries.org .

We sponsor Invisible Illness Week, however, and not everyone wants my personal info nor ministry stuff. I just post illness or health-related stuff to this. I also have @scrapbkadoption and @youcansellbooks. I use these for personal ifnromation as well, but it’s directly related to the topic.

For example, the adoption Twitter account has stuff on my son occasionally; the book selling Twitter will feature more personal experiments I am trying, successes, failures, etc. I think MOST people who follow someone on Facebook or Twitter, etc. do want some personal info so they feel they are connected to a person, not company, but the personal info should be directly related to the topic, not a catch all for whatever (odd or otherwise) crosses your mind.

I am seeing less helpful information lately on Twitter. Even the links people post are kind of pointless, not the “best of the best” and more people are using profanity and twitter follower services that just make me unfollow them.
http://www.BlackRiverActionTeam.org Kelly Stettner

I lurked about on Facebook and Twitter a lot before getting my own feet wet, so to speak. I totally agree that posts/tweets should be useful, clever, relevant or at least humorous. There is far too much profanity on FB and too much of the “hey, I got drunk last night!” stuff to be meaningful. If I sit there with nothing specific or pertinent to type, I won’t.

I see these tools as venues for putting a face/life to my organization. Volunteers, donors, and other colleagues can see what I’m up to, how I’m balancing (or failing to balance!) my personal life with the non-profit work I do. Also, potential supporters can get to know me a bit more before committing to volunteer or send a donation.

I see these networks as “friendraising tools,” not fundraising tools. Building the relationship with me, personally, and the organization secondarily. Long-term support can be built that way, but it can also be ruined by off-topic posts, too-personal posts, rants, or inappropriate language.

Kelly Stettner, Director & Founder
Black River Action Team
Springfield, VT

http://www. BlackRiverActionTeam. org
http://twitter.com/BlackRiverBRAT
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http://www.twitter.com/starfocus Danielle Brigida

Wow, fantastic post and presentation! We are honored by the mention, and intrigued by how other non-profits are approaching the personal vs. professional conundrum. I absolutely love that social media nourishes authentic marketing and some of the best authentic marketers are your staff (just by being passionate about their job). Figuring out how to empower not only your supporters but the organization’s staff while using social media is definitely one of my priorities. There is always so much to learn!

I’m looking forward to these comments!
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