Web 2.0 Badges

It seems that almost everyone today has a blog, MySpace account or website. These pages are easily customizable and offer internet users a place to express themselves. Why not give your supporters something to decorate their space with?

If I had one piece of advice for all non profit organizations that want to increase their online presence, it would be to design and create a Web 2.0 badge. Now some of you may be reading this and have a blank stare…what is a web 2.0 badge?

A web 2.0 badge is simply a graphic people put on their website, blog or social networking site to express themselves. Web badges are generally small and come in all shapes and sizes.  Organizations post the badges on their website, usually as a .PNG, .GIF or .JPG, which visitors can download or copy from the site.  Then post the badges on their blog, social site or web page.  A couple of badges I came across ask visitors to link the badge back to their website or include their web address in the badge (see below).

Recently, I found a website called GreenJobsNow that incorporated web 2.0 badges into their marketing plan.  The website promotes this idea of building a sustainable economy from green jobs. For instance, erecting wind turbines, installing solar panels and planting gardens.   To show support for the idea they created the following badges that anyone can download and post on their various pages to show support.

Putting these badges on my blog was simple, all I did was:

- Download the image

- Upload the image to WordPress by selecting insert image

ASPCA is another organizations that uses Web 2.0 badges to promote their cause. From the ASPCA’s MySpace page anyone can copy the code of the banner below then paste it on their MySpace page or into their blog.

Providing the html code on your page is great because all people have to do is copy the code and paste it where they want it- no download no uploading. The downside to only providing a code is some people may not know where to paste the code so that is show up as an image.

While your organization is going into planning mode for the fourth quarter why not incorporate these simple Web 2.0 badges into your marketing plan. Here are a few ideas:

- email the badges to past and present donors and encourage them to add them to their blog or social networking pages
- Post the badges on your website, blog and social networking site with instructions for adding them to a blog, website and social networking page
- create more than one badge, give supporters a variety

- Host a design contest and have supports select the ones they like best

- Give the badges as gifts to donors

- Post a video on GoodTube or YouTube then create a badge that links to the video or your organizations video page

The possibilities are endless.

Tell me about your organizations success or failures using web 2.0 badges and post your favorite badges here and we will all vote on our favorites.

Harsh Economy Equals Fewer Donations. How Can Your Non Profit Survive?

The sluggish United States economy is affecting millions of people across the country. We are all searching for areas to cut back and save money. Non profit organizations are feeling the pitch as well, finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds. An estimated 29 percent of individuals say they will decrease their charitable giving this fall, according to a study conducted by the Grizzard Communications Group.

Only 13 percent of the 500 individuals surveyed said that they planed on increasing their giving from the previous year. An important consideration for non profits becomes who are these people and how do I reach them. Respondents between the ages of 25-34 are the most likely to increase their giving the study found. Gizzard’s vice president and senior strategist, Terry Barber, emphasizes the importance of attracting these young philanthropist. Younger people usually don’t have as much invested in the stock market so they are less affected by falling stock prices. People age 25-34 are also less likely to have families and mortgages.

Reaching this younger audience will require non profits to rethink their marketing strategies. Those organizations that take advantage of the new media will be more successful than those organizations that don’t have an online marketing strategy.

Social marketing is key to reaching people between the ages of 25-34. Non profit specific sites like change.org and idealist.org are a great place to get your organizations message out and increase donations. Not only will you introduce your organization but also start a conversation about what your organization can achieve with their support.

Non profit marketers must rethink how they are delivering their message online. A great new technology is online video and web users have responded to this medium in a profound way. YouTube’s non profit program and GoodTube.org are video sites specific to non profit organizations and chartable causes.

Videos allows people to connect more emotionally with your organizations cause. You are no longer limited to text and photographs, you can now take potential donors where you work and introduce them to who they can help.

Blogging is another new technology non profit organizations should take advantage of to start a conversation about their organization.

The best thing about all these new technologies, they are all accessible and affordable. The people you reach with these mediums are not only younger but they are seeking out causes to support.

I would love to here is any success stories of non profit organizations that have incorporated blogging, videos or social networking into their marketing.

Clean Water

When it comes to water the hardest thing we have to do is decide between Smart or Fiji, sparkling or still. A bottle with a sports top or twist top. We have no idea what it would be like to go thirsty or die of dehydration.

This is not the reality for 1.1 billion people in the World today. People have to walk miles to collect water for their families, the water is dirty and full of disease. It is the sad reality of many developing countries.

Luckily, for some of those 1.1 billion people Scott Harris founded charity:water. A charity devoted to bring clean water to third countries around the World. The organization sells twenty dollar bottles of water, with all the proceeds going to a fund that build wells in developing countries.  Clean water improves health, hygiene and overall quality of life. Having water accessible saves families time allowing mothers to work and children to get an education.  

Check out charity:water’s new video starring Jennifer Connelly  and directed by Terry George (director of Hotel Rwanda).

The video is great because it takes a situation happening in African villages everyday and brings it home. It shows what we would have to go through each day, what our children would drink if we didn’t have clean water in our taps, fridges and shelves. 

This year the World Health Organization dedicated World Health Day to “Protecting Health from Climate Changes”. As the climate changes due to an increase in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere our water supply is affected. While most developed countries don’t notice, the countries who get their water from rivers and streams do notice. Flooding, sporadic rainfall and drought all affect the water supply and the spread of water born viruses.

Water is a necessity of life, H2O is used in nearly all of humans cellular functions. It’s great to see an organization be so successful in bringing water to those who need it most. You go charity : water!