Comments on: What Are the Challenges to Social Network Fundraising? http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/ Thoughts on Social Media Engagement for Non-Profit Organizations Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-1180 Debra Askanase Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:03:56 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-1180 Great points, John! So now, we've got a list started...information on what people are saying about you, information networks gain, information about the users, relationships, influence... Like the way this post is morphing and growing. Thanks for contributing! Great points, John! So now, we’ve got a list started…information on what people are saying about you, information networks gain, information about the users, relationships, influence…
Like the way this post is morphing and growing. Thanks for contributing!

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-2968 Debra Askanase Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:03:00 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-2968 Great points, John! So now, we've got a list started...information on what people are saying about you, information networks gain, information about the users, relationships, influence... Like the way this post is morphing and growing. Thanks for contributing! Great points, John! So now, we’ve got a list started…information on what people are saying about you, information networks gain, information about the users, relationships, influence…
Like the way this post is morphing and growing. Thanks for contributing!

]]> By: John Haydon http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-1179 John Haydon Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:40:15 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-1179 I agree with Paz. Two other returns I can think of are: 1.) Information on what people are saying about you. Brand awareness, reach. 2.) Relationships. John I agree with Paz. Two other returns I can think of are:

1.) Information on what people are saying about you. Brand awareness, reach.
2.) Relationships.

John

]]> By: John Haydon http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-2967 John Haydon Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:40:00 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-2967 I agree with Paz. Two other returns I can think of are: 1.) Information on what people are saying about you. Brand awareness, reach. 2.) Relationships. John I agree with Paz. Two other returns I can think of are:

1.) Information on what people are saying about you. Brand awareness, reach.
2.) Relationships.

John

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-1170 Debra Askanase Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:23:21 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-1170 Hi Paz- nice to see you here! Good point that the "cash value" of social networks is the updated information. Social networks are both considered one-sided networks (the socializers gain more value as more socializers are attracted to the networks) and two-sided networks (as you mention- both the network and the participants gain value with higher participation rate). I do differ with you slightly in that I would define the "cash value" of a social network <em>for an organization</em> as the updated information that participants get about each other (e.g. twitter followers get information from each other, facebook Page owners gain insights into their Fans). So, taking this one step further - a key asset when trying to raise funds (for an organization) using social networks is measuring/determining the influence/connections that followers bring to the specific organization. Really interesting thinking, Paz. Thanks! Hi Paz- nice to see you here! Good point that the “cash value” of social networks is the updated information. Social networks are both considered one-sided networks (the socializers gain more value as more socializers are attracted to the networks) and two-sided networks (as you mention- both the network and the participants gain value with higher participation rate). I do differ with you slightly in that I would define the “cash value” of a social network for an organization as the updated information that participants get about each other (e.g. twitter followers get information from each other, facebook Page owners gain insights into their Fans). So, taking this one step further – a key asset when trying to raise funds (for an organization) using social networks is measuring/determining the influence/connections that followers bring to the specific organization.
Really interesting thinking, Paz. Thanks!

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-2966 Debra Askanase Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:23:00 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-2966 Hi Paz- nice to see you here! Good point that the "cash value" of social networks is the updated information. Social networks are both considered one-sided networks (the socializers gain more value as more socializers are attracted to the networks) and two-sided networks (as you mention- both the network and the participants gain value with higher participation rate). I do differ with you slightly in that I would define the "cash value" of a social network <em>for an organization</em> as the updated information that participants get about each other (e.g. twitter followers get information from each other, facebook Page owners gain insights into their Fans). So, taking this one step further - a key asset when trying to raise funds (for an organization) using social networks is measuring/determining the influence/connections that followers bring to the specific organization. Really interesting thinking, Paz. Thanks! Hi Paz- nice to see you here! Good point that the “cash value” of social networks is the updated information. Social networks are both considered one-sided networks (the socializers gain more value as more socializers are attracted to the networks) and two-sided networks (as you mention- both the network and the participants gain value with higher participation rate). I do differ with you slightly in that I would define the “cash value” of a social network for an organization as the updated information that participants get about each other (e.g. twitter followers get information from each other, facebook Page owners gain insights into their Fans). So, taking this one step further – a key asset when trying to raise funds (for an organization) using social networks is measuring/determining the influence/connections that followers bring to the specific organization.
Really interesting thinking, Paz. Thanks!

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-1168 Debra Askanase Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:35:59 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-1168 Shuey- you raise some interesting points, especially defining the relationships as either "follow" or "optional friendships." Aren't all relationships "optional?" By following a friend on facebook, I think I'm signalling that I'm interested enough in what the person is doing to be updated. The difference between a friend, and a cause/group/page on Facebook may be what you are getting at, and it IS a difference of the kind of relationship you want versus what you get. Especially on Facebook, we "friend" people we know or want to know better, personally. (However, some people ARE their brand, so we cannot expect to know them on a more personal level given the challenges of managing many friends as a brand - and this an exception to the Facebook "friend" idea.) As you write, when you "fan" a page, you are expecting to be solicited in some way. You are signalling to that brand that you are interested in being updated. That said, I agree that it is tricky to solicit "friends" unless the relationship is clearly personal enough that it is not seen as an abuse of the friendship, or a "friend" is really a business aquaintance that is clearly seeking business/professional connections. I love that you have differentiated between these two types of following/friend requests - it's an important differentiation that will make a difference in thinking about fundraising through social networks. As for the challenge you pose at the end - I think nonprofits that create Pages and Groups and Causes ARE creating those "follow" relationships you mention. Are they not? Shuey- you raise some interesting points, especially defining the relationships as either “follow” or “optional friendships.” Aren’t all relationships “optional?” By following a friend on facebook, I think I’m signalling that I’m interested enough in what the person is doing to be updated. The difference between a friend, and a cause/group/page on Facebook may be what you are getting at, and it IS a difference of the kind of relationship you want versus what you get. Especially on Facebook, we “friend” people we know or want to know better, personally. (However, some people ARE their brand, so we cannot expect to know them on a more personal level given the challenges of managing many friends as a brand – and this an exception to the Facebook “friend” idea.) As you write, when you “fan” a page, you are expecting to be solicited in some way. You are signalling to that brand that you are interested in being updated.

That said, I agree that it is tricky to solicit “friends” unless the relationship is clearly personal enough that it is not seen as an abuse of the friendship, or a “friend” is really a business aquaintance that is clearly seeking business/professional connections.

I love that you have differentiated between these two types of following/friend requests – it’s an important differentiation that will make a difference in thinking about fundraising through social networks.

As for the challenge you pose at the end – I think nonprofits that create Pages and Groups and Causes ARE creating those “follow” relationships you mention. Are they not?

]]> By: Debra Askanase http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-2965 Debra Askanase Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:35:00 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-2965 Shuey- you raise some interesting points, especially defining the relationships as either "follow" or "optional friendships." Aren't all relationships "optional?" By following a friend on facebook, I think I'm signalling that I'm interested enough in what the person is doing to be updated. The difference between a friend, and a cause/group/page on Facebook may be what you are getting at, and it IS a difference of the kind of relationship you want versus what you get. Especially on Facebook, we "friend" people we know or want to know better, personally. (However, some people ARE their brand, so we cannot expect to know them on a more personal level given the challenges of managing many friends as a brand - and this an exception to the Facebook "friend" idea.) As you write, when you "fan" a page, you are expecting to be solicited in some way. You are signalling to that brand that you are interested in being updated. That said, I agree that it is tricky to solicit "friends" unless the relationship is clearly personal enough that it is not seen as an abuse of the friendship, or a "friend" is really a business aquaintance that is clearly seeking business/professional connections. I love that you have differentiated between these two types of following/friend requests - it's an important differentiation that will make a difference in thinking about fundraising through social networks. As for the challenge you pose at the end - I think nonprofits that create Pages and Groups and Causes ARE creating those "follow" relationships you mention. Are they not? Shuey- you raise some interesting points, especially defining the relationships as either “follow” or “optional friendships.” Aren’t all relationships “optional?” By following a friend on facebook, I think I’m signalling that I’m interested enough in what the person is doing to be updated. The difference between a friend, and a cause/group/page on Facebook may be what you are getting at, and it IS a difference of the kind of relationship you want versus what you get. Especially on Facebook, we “friend” people we know or want to know better, personally. (However, some people ARE their brand, so we cannot expect to know them on a more personal level given the challenges of managing many friends as a brand – and this an exception to the Facebook “friend” idea.) As you write, when you “fan” a page, you are expecting to be solicited in some way. You are signalling to that brand that you are interested in being updated.

That said, I agree that it is tricky to solicit “friends” unless the relationship is clearly personal enough that it is not seen as an abuse of the friendship, or a “friend” is really a business aquaintance that is clearly seeking business/professional connections.

I love that you have differentiated between these two types of following/friend requests – it’s an important differentiation that will make a difference in thinking about fundraising through social networks.

As for the challenge you pose at the end – I think nonprofits that create Pages and Groups and Causes ARE creating those “follow” relationships you mention. Are they not?

]]> By: Paz Cohen http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-1167 Paz Cohen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:40:39 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-1167 Very interesting. The cash value of social networks is the updated information. I think the profit should come when the network has enough "friends" that supply enough information and a third party can benefit from that data. I.e. LinkedIn earns from those who are searching for new employments. Facebook earns from relevant adds (just like Gmail). Twitter is starting to earn money from selling tweets to Google and Microsoft searching engine etc... Donations from friends may be much difficult... Very interesting.
The cash value of social networks is the updated information. I think the profit should come when the network has enough “friends” that supply enough information and a third party can benefit from that data.
I.e. LinkedIn earns from those who are searching for new employments. Facebook earns from relevant adds (just like Gmail). Twitter is starting to earn money from selling tweets to Google and Microsoft searching engine etc…
Donations from friends may be much difficult…

]]> By: Paz Cohen http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/10/27/what-are-the-challenges-to-social-network-fundraising/#comment-2964 Paz Cohen Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:40:00 +0000 http://www.communityorganizer20.com/?p=1809#comment-2964 Very interesting. The cash value of social networks is the updated information. I think the profit should come when the network has enough "friends" that supply enough information and a third party can benefit from that data. I.e. LinkedIn earns from those who are searching for new employments. Facebook earns from relevant adds (just like Gmail). Twitter is starting to earn money from selling tweets to Google and Microsoft searching engine etc... Donations from friends may be much difficult... Very interesting.
The cash value of social networks is the updated information. I think the profit should come when the network has enough “friends” that supply enough information and a third party can benefit from that data.
I.e. LinkedIn earns from those who are searching for new employments. Facebook earns from relevant adds (just like Gmail). Twitter is starting to earn money from selling tweets to Google and Microsoft searching engine etc…
Donations from friends may be much difficult…

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