FUNDRAISING WITH TWITTER(CONTINUED)

This is the reTools like TwitterFeed automatically broadcast your blog posts through your Twitter account. Then your blog posts reach both those subscribed to your RSS feed and those following you on Twitter. And if anyone of them like it, they may "retweet" it, broadcasting to the people that follow them.

Twitter's Not Just for Broadcasting

Be warned: Twitter is not just a tool to push your message out. The September 2008 BusinessWeek special report had a warning from H&R Block's experience: Amy Worley, who manages [H&R] Block's Twitter program, had to alter her approach. "I went in thinking Twitter was a free way to push our message out," she says. "Big mistake. We learned to listen. We started winning once we let people decide on their own about our services."

For people using Twitter, is has to be a two-way conversation. That is the genius of Twitter: you can form your very own "listening post" and hear what others are saying about the issues that affect your mission. This can help you generate ideas and tell your story better.

What About Fundraising with Twitter

Listening is one thing, but can Twitter really be used for fundraising?

Social media expert, Beth Kanter writes that people will not make a gift just because you tweet. Neither will they give because you start a blog or create a cause on. But, she points to a blog post by Avi Kaplan reporting that a Twitter idea called "Tweetsgiving" raised over $11,000 in just 48 hours!

Kaplan himself gives some great measurements on how "Tweetsgiving" spread around the world. What would it cost your organization to get over 100 press and blogger mentions in over 100 countries using traditional media? On Twitter, it was free.

But NTEN (the Nonprofit Technology Network) reminds us that Twitter isn't the point. Relationships are the point. Relationships have always been the point. The most basic of fundraising secrets is that "people give to people." Twitter is simply one more tool to help people connect with each other. Can your nonprofit afford not to explore all the tools available?

Jump In, the Twitter Stream's Warm!

Why not test it out? Setting up an account is easy and free. Twitter's more interesting if you start following people right away. Nonprofit blogger Mark Hayward (@mark_hayward on Twitter) has a list of 97-yes, 97!-people he suggests following on Twitter. Check them out and follow the people that interest you. It's ok. You're not being invasive or nosey. You are supposed to follow people.

Other ways to find people that work in your field are tools like Search.Twitter.com or Twellow. Search "fundraising" or "nonprofit" or whatever else you're interested in. Whatever your cause is, you can search on to see who is talking about your cause. Simply follow those you find interesting and join in the conversation that's already going on. At first, you'll probably want to just listen. It's amazing how just listening will help you tell your nonprofit's story.

It's as Simple as Having a Conversation

Do not let all the tools confuse you. Twitter is as simple as having a conversation. Like anything else, it's odd to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, it is fun. You may raise money because of your tweets, but more importantly, you will learn a lot about the people that choose to support your cause and other causes. And that will help you get more effective at your nonprofit storytelling. What do you have to lose?mainder of the article by Marc Pitman on Twitter and fundraising.