NTC 2010: Can you meet me halfway?
Early-bird registrations are now open for the 2010 Nonprofit Technology Conference to be held in Atlanta on April 8-10.
I am really keen to go, however, there’s one problem. I need help getting there! The cheapest return flights to Atlanta cost $1970AUD, and the earlybird conference registration is $559USD. As the AUD-USD exchange rate is quite good at the moment (although that could change at any time), I need somewhere between $2500 and $2750AUD to get there and back, before accommodation and food is even considered.
So I’ve been sitting here thinking how to make this possible. I know my budget will allow for me to get a ticket either there, or back, but not both. Likewise, if I don’t purchase an earlybird ticket and flights soon, I run the risk of missing out on the conference entirely.
Why do I want to go?
To me, NTC 2010 presents an opportunity to meet the world’s leading nonprofit techies and social good changemakers. The opportunity to find out from the field’s leading thinkers the best techniques that I can bring back home and apply to my own organisation, and to also share these with the Australian nonprofit community as well.
What is a geek girl with a dream, a blog, and a handful of connections to do?
The proposal
If I can be met halfway, I promise to blog, vlog, phlog and tweet as much humanly possible during the conference. I will also take the time to meet and interview 10 nonprofit technology leaders at the conference, in order to discuss with them their views on where nonprofit technology is heading in the next 10 years – a 2010 Ten for 2020 Visions interview series. If these are not good enough reasons for you, I’m open to any other challenges you have in mind.
Can you help me get to NTC 2010?
Any money raised above the final 50% cost of my airfare and conference ticket will be donated to two organisations doing work I really admire – half to Social Actions and half to Epic Change.
Update 5 November:
Jasmin Tragas (@wonderwebby) made the great suggestion of approaching corporate sponsors. Do you know any companies that might be interested? I can be a walking, talking billboard during the conference, for the right company for the right price!
Exploring social media platforms
I’m presenting at Website Redesign: Managing and Working with Social Media next month, so I’m hurriedly trying to finish my presentation before the due date.
My topic is Exploring the different platforms – where I’ll be discussing the various social media platforms, how to maintain your presences there, and how social media can be incorporated in websites to make them more Web 2.0.
The audience will be mostly corporate types, and from the looks of the speaker list, I’m the only non-profit person presenting. Here’s what I’m hoping to impart:
Look (and listen) before you leap.
Find out where your audience are already. Using tools such as Forrester’s Social Technographics Tool, you can gauge the existing behaviour of your target audience in the social computing space.
Find out what people are already saying about your brand, products or services online. The tools are free and readily available, such as:
If you have the budget, sign up to social media monitoring services – two Australian-based services are dialogix and BuzzNumbers.
Be open. Engage.
Don’t lock your social presence down. Let people comment on your YouTube videos, write on your Facebook wall and leave comments on your MySpace. Opening your company up to positive comments and potential criticisms is a good thing. Respond. Interact. Be human. Put your name in your Twitter Bio, and sign off with your name on Facebook or MySpace posts.
You don’t need a huge budget to get social
Nor do you need to make a huge impact to get value from social media. My organisation has some pretty good follower numbers across various platforms, but we’re not after numbers. We’re after engagement. If we can inspire just a small group of followers to take action or make a comment on an issue, I’m happy.
Integrate social media into your website.
Your website is no longer the only touchpoint for your brand. That’s why it’s essential to reach out and connect on social networks. Be aware that people use social networks for different reasons, therefore adapt your strategy for each platform.
Conversely, people who do visit your website may not realise you’re on various social networks. Make your website visitors aware of this, and you can enhance their experience of the brand.
- Put social network badges prominently on the homepage.
- Create a “social media” page on your website.
- Make your media release section interactive. Embed YouTube videos and Flickr galleries in your online press releases.
- Embed Twitter Gadgets that automatically update with brand keywords on various pages.
What are you thoughts?
