Charity Chatter

Social Media Survey Fail

I recently received an email request from a hospital foundation asking me to do a survey and as I worked my way through it, I was shocked to discover that this great charity is surprisingly bad at social media. 

I should start by saying, I'm mostly impressed by this hospital and their foundation fundraising.  They do great work.  That's part of the reason I'm surprised by some glaring errors in their survey - which was delivered (and I assume crafted) via Ipsos.

I ignored the first email they sent. The subject line read: "Important Donor Survey - please share your opinion".  I was busy and couldn't be bothered (arsed for my UK friends).  The next reminder email said "iPad draw closes May 31".  WELL - if I can win an iPad, I may as well fill it out.  Plus, I'm always interested in seeing what other charities are up to with their surveys.

The survey progressed with a series of questions about what sectors I give to and which ones I prioritize.  I was very pleased to see animal welfare included in the options.  (Kudos on that one guys!)  Soon they began asking about how I give and why I give.  This is where I began to scratch my head.

They gave me many options, but not one question about social media, Twitter or Facebook.  I donated to Haiti, largely because of Twitter and I've made several donations via Facebook Causes. I've also donated to and for people that I've never met, but know via social media.  And yet - not a single option in any of their questions included social media answer options.  The closest was "via credit card online" or words to that effect. There were several areas where an answer of "social media" would've been relevant, but not one of them provided me with that option.

I'm surprised that a survey offering an iPad prize, wouldn't include questions about social media.

Another survey section asked about the mail they send me.  The truth is, I don't read their mail.  Unless it's from the government, I don't even open most of my mail.  I sometimes go more than a month without checking my mailbox. I wanted to respond that I don't read their (or anyone's) mail... but that wasn't an option.  Several areas of feedback assumed that the respondant reads their mail. Not a single option for "I toss your stuff in recycling without reading it".  One question asked how hard or easy their mail is to understand.  I have no clue... because I don't read your mail.  So I said it was hard to understand. What's really hard to understand is why I couldn't tell you that I don't read it.

I went to their website to get their Twitter name so I could give them some feedback, and when I looked at their feed , I realized they don't talk to people on Twitter, they just spam/broadcast messages. To make matters worse, nobody had bothered tweeting for 12 days.  They seem to use Facebook more frequently, but, they don't communicate there either - just more broadcast/spam.

I don't know if Ipsos or the hospital foundation  are to blame for these errors, but it seems to me that Ipsos should've known better.  If you're reading this unnamed hospital foundation - I hope you ask for (and receive) a big discount on the survey. I suspect you paid well for this survey... and I don't think you got your money's worth.

Good Goes, but Falls Short.

Save the Children, recently launched their Good Goes Campaign.  They've built an outstanding website campaign that really involves the donor in how their funds are helping to make a difference.  In many ways this is a stellar campaign, but in their social media efforts, they've fallen short.

The Good is Goin'on with the GoodGoes.org Website

• I'm greeted by the big eyes and bright faces of health care workers and the children they care for.  BAM!  I see who I'm helping... fantastic!
• When I click on different health care workers or children, I see where they are located on the map.  Again... BAM! I know who and where.  Wonderful!
• The "Our Progress" section on the first page is fantastic.  I see real change being accomplished.  Success... BIG BAM.  I give to make a difference and this lets me see it.
• If I click on the "Our Progress" Link, I get more details and learn about how I can help in an area that appeals me.  I'm shopping... for something I like and care about to support. AND... I get options!
• • I can sign up for updates to learn more.  
  • I can sign a petition.
  • I can share on various social networks.
  • I can support a health care worker for a predetermined amount - or I can give an amount I choose.
  • I can organize an event, people... whatever.  A great menu of ways for people to get involved and be engaged. 

There are so many great things I could say about this website and the way they've communicated their work and success.  I really like the pictures of their facebook supporters and the "Great Wall of Good".  The only change I might make to the website, would be to add a "Give/Donate" link along the very top menu, but that's fairly minor.

This team has done a great creative job of appealing to donors and really inviting the donor in to share in the work they do.   Kudo's for that.

Falling Short

Sadly, I can't give them top marks for the entire campaign.  They really fell short on their social media offering.  The minute you leave the website and go to their Twitter and Facebook accounts, all you find is key message spam.  There's no conversation, only 1 thank you on the Facebook page... and I"m not sure if it's an employee or volunteer who posted it - or just one of the page's followers.

I'm baffled that  created such an inspiring and engaging website and then allowed their social media to be so bereft of "socialness".

Don't Fail at the Finish Line

People love to be engaged and get involved online - but they don't engage with key messages spewed AT them.  They engage with people who talk with them.  They want to hear thank you.  They want to be acknowledged when they follow you or "like" you.  They want to know the person behind the program.

I feel like they got to the finish line and collapsed, just before crossing.

Hopefully the Good Goes team gets a real live fundraising, social media professional to run their social media, so we can enjoy watching their "Good Go to Great".

All in all a great, creative and thoughtful effort... but a real opportunity to inspire and interact with donors and supporters is lost, if they continue using social media as an outbound billboard.

Youth Don't Care? This One Does...

We hear a lot about why young people aren't your target audience. I disagree. They are and they should be.  This young lady cares and volunteers her time to raise funds for ALS.

 

Do you care enough to support her efforts?

 

At only 25, Kinga Njilas has been through more than many will in a lifetime.  She could've let life defeat her.  She could've tried to forget. She didn't.  She's fighting to raise awareness, hope and funds to end ALS - forever and for everyone. Will you help Kinga succeed?  

 

Kinga's Letter

Four years ago, my whole world came crashing down, when my Mom, Erika, was diagnosed with ALS.  

My Mom… the woman who protected me from monsters under the bed,  kissed my hurts all better and made everything ok – was dying.  There was nothing I could do to save her.  I felt lost, angry, useless and sad. I didn’t know what to do.

I quickly realized that now it was my turn to make Mom OK.  It was the hardest thing I’d ever had to do, but she needed me and my Dad, and it was up to us to make the best out of every day we had left.  And that’s exactly what we did.

This January, my mother took her final breath.  I miss her so much that it hurts.  But I refuse to stop fighting for those who still have ALS, and those who will be diagnosed in the future.  We must end ALS, forever and for everyone.

Recently I qualified for the Mike & Ike’s contest for the “Canada’s Most Inspiring Young Leader”.   Winning this contest will help spread awareness about ALS – and provide a $2500 donation to ALS Canada to fund ALS research.

Please take a moment to vote for me, Kinga - and help put an end to this horrific disease.  I can’t do it without you.  I need your help to make sure that nobody else has to see the person they love most in the world, die slowly – right before their eyes.

If you will lend me your vote today, together we can change tomorrow.  Please take a moment to vote for me (Kinga), so we can help put an end ALS, once and for all.  All you have to do is:

1.   Click here to vote for Kinga.  http://www.mikeandike.ca/listen-up/ante-up

2.   Share the link with others via email, Facebook, Twitter or anywhere else and ask them to vote and spread the word.

Thank you SO very much!

PS – Please remember to share this link with your friends.  It is critical that we all ask others to vote and spread the word.  Let’s show the world what family and friends can accomplish when they care.