It’s been sometime since my last post and my apologies for those of you who visited regularly. I decided today to make more of an effort to get back into the swing of things again.
Since my last post I’ve moved from my previous position from Canada Post as Director of Social Media and moved to the world of non-profit in the same capacity. Over the past 4 months I’ve been developing the digital strategy for a Canadian cause involved in the mental health space. It has been an exceptional journey to determine how social media can be applied to a cause that requires grassroots support from all Canadians. Many of the best practices, approaches, tools and technologies that are effective in the for-profit world apply in the non-profit space (probably more so…). I’ve discovered the ground is fertile for new and innovative approaches to moving social causes in the social media world. Now that I’m back online, I’m ready to share what I’ve discovered and strategized over the past 4 months – many of the post that will follow I’ll bring you through my journey. But what I’m more interested in is to know your thoughts in my approach and if there are opportunities that I may have missed.
The opportunity…
Digital communications and technologies are transforming the way organizations interact with the general public. Emerging social software tools enable broader and easier information access, sharing and consumption, so too are they imposing unprecedented transparency on people, organizations and issues, while disrupting traditional communication and information hierarchies.
But despite the challenges posed by this new digital landscape, new opportunities – previously unforeseen – are emerging as a result. Over the past 2 years non-profit organizations have approached social media with a “listen, fail informatively, and evolve approach” and our seeing tremendous results. These results are causing non-profits to change both in the way they work and as well as their relationships with supporters. Social technologies have enabled these organizations to build and deepen relationships, encourage individuals and small groups to self-organize, facilitate collaboration, and engage the public.
As a result, my recommendation to the foundation is to proactively embrace the full potential of social software and recognize the need to enable meaningful two-way communication and engagement between the cause and all Canadians to get involved in a meaningful way that leads to unprecedented improvements in mental health services, mental health project funding and the mental well-being of all.
The ‘Digital Strategy’ is intended to provide the foundation with a common-sense roadmap upon which to successfully deliver on the promise to catalyze a grassroots social movement that will transform the way people think about, and act towards people living with mental illness.
Let me know your thoughts…next post I’ll introduce some of the strategic consideration that will be considered in order to take advantage of the opportunity.
Filed under: Social Media Tagged: | mental health, social cause, Social Media, social opportunities, Strategy
