A free guide, About That First Tweet, on how to use social media for charities has been launched by Unity Trust Bank and Social Misfits Media, a U.K.company that helps charities use social media more effectively. In tandem, a survey was released revealing how small and medium-sized social impact organizations currently use new developments in social media for communication and fundraising.

The guide, which is free to download at unity.co.uk/guide, is a practical manual published specifically for the charity and social enterprise audience.

About that First Tweet shows organizations how best to engage with social media platforms, how to develop audiences and deliver online goals, supported by the best advice from some of the world’s leading social media experts including:

• Claire Diaz-Ortiz – Head of Social Innovation at Twitter
• Meg Garlinghouse  – Head of Social Impact at LinkedIn
• Libby Leffler – Strategic Partner Manager at Facebook

About That First Tweet includes four case studies – Save the Children, The Girl Effect, Child I Foundation and the New York Public Library  – showing how these organizations found their voice in social media and achieved their social impact aims.

Unity Trust Bank and Social Misfits surveyed 180 small to medium charities and social enterprises.  The survey found that while over 70 per cent retained a presence on Facebook and Twitter, over half of respondents (54 per cent) said their social media strategy was not very or not all at all integrated in the communications or fundraising strategy.

The survey found many charities and social enterprises found challenges in knowing what and when to communicate, establishing a following and measuring impact.