Don’t Underestimate the Staff Factor

Do you want to give your nonprofit a presence on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, or some social network combination?

Use a nerdy young intern? Absolutely not, according to nonprofit marketing consultant Michael Puican in this article from the Philanthropy Journal.

Here’s what Michael says you need, human resource-wise, if you’re serious …

  • Two hours a day (10 hours a week): Post bulletins on your organization’s sites, visit other sites and respond to postings on other sites.
  • Four hours a day (a half-time staff person): Establish a regular blog, become an active voice on the internet about the key issues involving your mission.
  • Eight hours a day (a full-time staff person): Now you are social networking. Create thoughtful dialogues about key issues, develop opportunities for volunteers to interact and become involved, lead e-advocacy campaigns, regularly interact with bloggers, thought leaders, media and key organizations.

And those hours need to be devoted by someone who really knows your organization, its mission, voice and culture.

Michael’s numbers are pretty realistic; I know the time we spend on eJewish Philanthropy. Though if you have a medium to high profile organization (even a small one) I think his ten hour a week job is closer to fifteen.

2 Comments so far

  1. October 2nd, 2008

    | 8:20 am

    [...] you’re at it, if you have a new web initiative in consideration, check our previous post Don’t Underestimate the Staff Factor. Bookmark: Tags: educate, web 2.0  Email This Post   Print This [...]

  2. October 13th, 2008

    | 6:09 am

    [...] both have and properly maintain a social media presence. We first posted about this in August, in Don’t Underestimate the Staff Factor. As the economy moves ever southward, it is even more important to maintain a handle on [...]

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