In our latest case study, PIP-UK - a UK-based charity that raises awareness about Poland Syndrome and supports those that are affected - tell us about their experiences with social media. In particular, they talk about how they have discovered that people have been listening to the news they've been sharing without even knowing that those people were engaged...
"The Silent Audience"
"You post something on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram or anywhere in social media then begins the waiting. Will it get a like, will it get shared, will it be noticed?
We all at some time have wondered why some things we've posted to social media hasn't got the response we wanted or expected.
When you're a charity this can be particularly disheartening. You've just shared one of the best stories you've ever written. Perhaps you desperately need funding for something or maybe it's just about a message you want to get out.
Recently we read an article called "The Invisible Audience" by Next Web and started discussing the content at a recent trustee meeting. The basic premise of the article is despite the apparent lack of engagement there is a world of watchers. These watchers may not interact directly but do read and consider what you've said.
As the meeting discussion continued the trustees started to tell their own stories:
"I have been sharing stories from our charity page for months and hardly anyone comments or shares. But last week I spoke to a colleague who I barely know, who out of the blue mentioned how impressed they were about the charity I work for."
"I was contacted on Facebook by a friend I went to university with who is starting a new business. During the conversation she mentioned how great she thought the charity was. And if her new business venture took off she would do an event to raise funds for us. To my knowledge I have never known her to like or share one post. I was delighted and genuinely surprised"
"A lady who I met online through another group for my hobby said she regularly read our posts. But when I checked the list of "likes" on Facebook she hadn't even liked the page!"
This is just a selection of the few statements made during our meeting. It gave us, as a group some motivation to carry on. We are all now very aware that's important to keep posting and tweeting as there is a whole world of conversations and thoughts going on that we never see."
For more information about PIP-UK...
www.pip-uk.org
www.twitter.com/PIPManchester
www.facebook.com/pip.uk.org
We all at some time have wondered why some things we've posted to social media hasn't got the response we wanted or expected.
When you're a charity this can be particularly disheartening. You've just shared one of the best stories you've ever written. Perhaps you desperately need funding for something or maybe it's just about a message you want to get out.
Recently we read an article called "The Invisible Audience" by Next Web and started discussing the content at a recent trustee meeting. The basic premise of the article is despite the apparent lack of engagement there is a world of watchers. These watchers may not interact directly but do read and consider what you've said.
As the meeting discussion continued the trustees started to tell their own stories:
"I have been sharing stories from our charity page for months and hardly anyone comments or shares. But last week I spoke to a colleague who I barely know, who out of the blue mentioned how impressed they were about the charity I work for."
"I was contacted on Facebook by a friend I went to university with who is starting a new business. During the conversation she mentioned how great she thought the charity was. And if her new business venture took off she would do an event to raise funds for us. To my knowledge I have never known her to like or share one post. I was delighted and genuinely surprised"
"A lady who I met online through another group for my hobby said she regularly read our posts. But when I checked the list of "likes" on Facebook she hadn't even liked the page!"
This is just a selection of the few statements made during our meeting. It gave us, as a group some motivation to carry on. We are all now very aware that's important to keep posting and tweeting as there is a whole world of conversations and thoughts going on that we never see."
For more information about PIP-UK...
www.pip-uk.org
www.twitter.com/PIPManchester
www.facebook.com/pip.uk.org
Thank you to PIP-UK
We are very grateful for the time PIP-UK has taken to write this for us. Thank you!
Do you have a success story to tell?
If you have a story to tell about how you have used online communications to help with the work you do, we want to hear about it!
Get in touch via hello@communityonboard.org.uk or call 07949 248119.
Get in touch via hello@communityonboard.org.uk or call 07949 248119.
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