Best practices in using Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook to promote youth businesses and support mentors. It is based on research interviews with seven member organizations of Youth Business International in seven different countries. A segment from my longer presentation at the YBI Global Forum 2010 in Mexico City.
11. YBI network practices Notes from the field: Israel, Bolivia, Trinidad and Tobago, Scotland, United States, Canada, Argentina http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieqro/2193709382/sizes/m/in/photostream/
12. Using Linkedin: giving mentors space to thrive Comfortable online space for older mentors Expands mentor network Offers youth businesses wider access to expertise
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14. Knowledge-sharing and support PSYBT (Scotland): 50-50 mix of businesses and mentors in the group, asking questions and offering advice PSYBT bonus result: mentors and businesses began writing each other’s recommendations
15. Connections across the network Open to all mentors in Latin America: Cross-country connections and knowledge-sharing
16. Deepening involvement Private Linkedin Group for YBI Forum Attendees: Offering real participation in shaping the agenda
17. Facebook: utilizing features to create engagement, attract loan inquiries Keren Shemesh (Israel): custom Welcome Tabs, email capture, photo contests, photo catalogue Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago: attract new entrepreneurs through events, cross-promote with Youth Council Canada Youth Business (CYBF): engagement, cross-promoting webinars and events
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19. Israel: success using it to promote the businesses, attract new loan inquiries Custom welcome tab, email capture
20. Businesses add a representative photo The photo with the most number of “likes” in July won a prize Brings in new fans!
25. USA: using Facebook to promote a new organization and attract initial interest
26. Canada: the online space talking about youth business, many private loan inquiries, #1 or 2 loan referral source
27. Twitter: awareness, recruitment, engagement Canada (CYBF) is using Twitter to connect with entrepreneurs very successfully. A lot of private questions and loan inquiries through Twitter. Pushes youth entrepreneurship in Canada, not the program.
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29. “The person they can lean on when seeking information, become a personality behind the name”
30. Thinking about YBI as a networked nonprofit Image courtesy of Beth Kanter: http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2009/12/win-a-book-help-us-pick-a-subtitle-for-our-book-the-networked-nonprofit.html
31. A networked nonprofit Co-promotes and cross-promotes Refers to and supports each other Breaks down walls between the organization and the stakeholder Shares and learns from each other, and the industry The entire network benefits from each others’ successes
32. The complete picture Define your goals Choose your platforms Create an engagement strategy on each platform Experiment, engage, move people to action Integrate into communication goals How can you network your nonprofit? http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbarahona/56382606/sizes/m/in/photostream/
GhadahBaaqil from Saudi Arabia is the founder of Ghadah Medina Autism Centre in Medina. She was helped by The Centennial Fund and was named YBI Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2009.
Karen Shemesh – website gets about 5% of referrals from FB
CYBF: a LOT of private questions on Twitter, loan inquiries. there are a lot of entrepreneurs on Twitter in Canada. How are using social media: try to become a resource for people “the person they can lean on when seeking information, become a personality behind the name.” They don’t broadcast. They are very personable, interpersonal. Want people to know an actual person is using the social media. Push entrepreneurship, not the program.Promote local networking events a lot through FB and Twitter. Have also recently started webinars: sold out (25) in first webinar. G20 live tweeted event: Live-tweeted the event (showed hashtag live on the screen). Had a social media contest and asked questions and gave winner access to the two-day summit. Had 50 people apply, some submitted videos. In 250 words or less, let us know what social media means to you. Four people won and came. Gave hotel to two people. G20 event at 150 people on twitter, after event jumped 250 people, and FB numbers span is double from January. YouthBiz America has a twitter account but it is very new.