Social Media for Social Good :: Your Nonprofit Tech Checklist

At the end of the Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits is a nine-page “Nonprofit Tech Checklist” which I have copied and pasted below. Each item on the list is discussed in the book and some items won’t make sense unless you have read the book, but most will. I hope you find it useful. That was my number one priority when writing the book… to create a comprehensive, useful social and mobile media how-to guide for nonprofits. Oh, and the book tour thus far has raised more than $14,000 for nonprofits. The IRS is still trying to wrap it’s head around that one… a book tour fundraiser. 🙂

Getting Started: Organization and Planning

Subscribe to, like, and follow large organizations with a mission that is similar to yours.
Subscribe to social media and mobile technology blogs.
Define your goals and objectives.
Get the necessary training (HTML, digital photography, video, social media, and mobile technology).
Create a master login sheet.
Define metrics of measurement and create a social media ROI spreadsheet.
Create a Google account.
Sign up for Google Alerts.
Experiment with social media dashboards.
Write social media and mobile technology policies.
Hire a graphic designer to design a square avatar(s).
Purchase a smartphone and/or tablet.
Purchase a digital camera.
Purchase a pocket camcorder.
Create an e-mail signature that includes your website, blog, and social networking links.

Web 1.0 :: The Broadcast Web

1) Website

Purchase .org domain name for website and e-mail addresses.
Purchase website hosting package.
Select a website vendor.
Write content and secure photos for website pages.
Hire a graphic designer to prepare website banner(s) and custom graphics.
Add e-newsletter and text alert subscribe functionality.
Add “Donate Now” button to your home page.
Add social networking icons.

2) e-Newsletter

Select an e-newsletter vendor.
Design an e-newsletter template.
Add e-newsletter subscribe functionality to your blog.
Add e-newsletter subscribe functionality to your social networking communities.
Add e-newsletter subscribe functionality to your mobile website.
Add a website, blog, and social networking pitch to your “Thank You for Subscribing” e-mail.
Add a website, blog, and social networking pitch to your “Thank You for Subscribing” landing page.

3) “Donate Now” Fundraising

Select a donate now vendor.
Create a “Donate Now” landing page with your nonprofit’s branding inside of your website.
Add charity ratings graphics to your “Donate Now” landing page, if applicable.
Add a “Donate Now” button to every page of your website.
Add a social networking pitch to your “Thanks for Your Donation” landing page.
Add a video or slideshow to your “Thank You” landing page, if applicable.
Add a social networking pitch to your “Thanks for your Donation” e-mail.
Launch a sustainer program, if applicable.
Launch a gift donation program, if applicable.
Launch a peer-to-peer fund-raising campaign, if applicable.

Web 2.0 :: The Social Web

1) Facebook

Create a Facebook Page.
Design custom tabs.
Find your Facebook voice.
Find and monitor your Facebook Community Page, if applicable.
Claim your Facebook Places Page, if applicable.

2) Twitter

Create a Twitter Profile.
Design a custom background.
Find your Twitter voice.
Create Twitter lists.
Create an account on Bitly.
Create an account on Twtpoll.com.
Create an account on TwitPic (or yfrog).
Create an account on TwitVid (or yfrog).
Create a Twibbon for your nonprofit.
Experiment with HootSuite (or TweetDeck).
Experiment with Twitter social good apps and portals.
Launch a Twitter fundraising campaign, if applicable.

3) YouTube

Create a YouTube Channel/Google Account.
Design your YouTube Channel.
Create and upload videos.
Subscribe to funders and partners.
Friend local media and supporters.
Create an Animoto Account and apply to Animoto for a Cause.
Apply to the YouTube Nonprofit Program.
Design a custom banner, sidebar column image, and video page banner, if applicable.
Create a “Thank You” video, if applicable.
Add Google Checkout button, if applicable.

4) Flickr

Create a Flickr account.
Upgrade to Flickr Pro.
Create and organize photos into collections and sets.
Format collections and sets.
Set up Flickr Profile.
Add funders and partners as contacts.
Join and participate in groups.
Create galleries.
Create a “Thank You” slideshow, if applicable.

5) LinkedIn

Create and complete your personal profile.
Reserve your LinkedIn Public Profile URL.
Make connections.
Give recommendations.
Join and participate in LinkedIn Groups.
Experiment with LinkedIn Answers.
Create and set up a group for your nonprofit, if applicable
Publish group rules.
Set up group templates.
Claim and set up your nonprofit’s LinkedIn Company Page.

7) Blogging

Select a blogging platform.
Design your blog and upload a banner.
Add e-newsletter and text alert subscribe functionality.
Add “Donate Now” button.
Add social networking icons.
Write content and secure photos for blog pages.
Add “Share” functionality.
Add search functionality.

Web 3.0 :: The Mobile Web

1) Mobile Social Networking

Download Facebook app.
Download Twitter app.
Download Foursquare, Gowalla, Yelp, Google Latitude, Loopt, and other location-based community apps.
Select mobile photo-sharing app and download.
Select mobile video-sharing app and download.
Download USTREAM (or Livestream) app.
Select a mobile browser and download.
Select a mobile payment app and download.
Select a group texting app and download.
Download a QR code reader app.
Download Google app.

2) Location-Based Communities (if Applicable)

Check in on Facebook Places/Location.
Claim your Facebook Places Page.
Create a Foursquare personal profile and check in.
Claim your Foursquare Venue Page.
Create a Foursquare Business Page, if applicable.
Create a Gowalla personal profile and check in.
Claim your Gowalla Spot Page.
Create a Google Places account.
Check in to Google Latitude.
Check in to Loopt.
Unlock your Yelp Business Page.
Launch a “Check In for Good” campaign, if applicable.
Create a 6- × 6-inch hard copy of your nonprofit’s avatar for photo check ins, if applicable.

3) Mobile Website

Select a mobile CMS.
Write content and secure photos for mobile pages, or import via RSS.
Design and upload a banner.
Create a “Donate Now” and/or “Text-to-Give Now” landing page.
Add e-newsletter and text alert subscribe functionality.
Add social networking icons.
Set mobile website to m.domainname.org or .mobi URL.
Experiment with QR codes.
Create a QR code campaign.

4) Group Texting

Select a group texting vendor.
Create text-to-subscribe graphic.
Add text-to-subscribe pitch to desktop website, blog, and print materials.
Add text-to-subscribe graphic to mobile website.
Promote text message campaigns on social networking and location-based communities.
Create a Bitly account to track mobile click-throughs, if applicable.

5) “Text-to-Give Now” Fundraising

Select a text-to-give vendor.
Create five text-to-give images.
Add text-to-give pitch to your desktop website, blog, and print materials.
Add text-to-give pitch to your mobile website.
Add text-to-subscribe pitch to your smartphone and tablet apps.
Add text-to-give pitch to your smartphone and tablet apps.
Upload text-to-give images to Facebook and TwitPic.
Take photos of your text-to-give images with your smartphone for mobile social networking.

6) Smartphones Apps (if Applicable)

Select a do-it-yourself app vendor or hire a developer.
Submit your app to app stores for approval.
Create a “Download Now” graphic for your e-newsletter, blog, and print materials.
Create a “Download Now” landing page on your desktop and mobile websites.

Nonprofit Tech for Good

A Digital Marketing and Fundraising Resource for Nonprofits