This document discusses strategies for building an online community to support a cause. It outlines 3 goals of becoming a trusted voice, extending communications, and inspiring action. It recommends starting with easy online tools like blogs and social media to engage sympathizers, then adding more specific actions like donations as supporters become activists. While many tools require resources, an organization needs a range of tools to reach different audiences. It also provides examples of an organization's online presence and growth on MySpace and blogs.

1. Building an online community of supporters Priscilla Brice-Weller Connecting Up, May 2007

2. http://www.antar.org.au http://seaofhands.antar.org.au

4. Who are we engaging online? sympathisers activists Simple actions: Web 2.0 Professional activists Active members: attending meetings, becoming passionate Sympathisers will start using Web 2.0 tools to engage with your cause early on, and continue using them through to the activist stage. Easy actions: writing blog posts about issues, emailing a politician Advocates: engaging other people Specific, tangible actions: donating, volunteering, downloading and using online materials offline

7. myspace.com/nonprofitorganizations: The first 5,000 friends took 5 months and 25 days to achieve. The second 5,000 friends only took 2 months and 5 days. myspace.com/ant4r: After about three months, we had just over 200 friends. MySpace friends

8. MySpace age demographic Source: http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1019 Total audience, August 2006 Age % of audience 12-17 11.9% 18-24 18.1% 25-34 16.7% 35-54 40.6% 55 + 11.0%

9. “ Corporate” website: antar.org.au challenges opportunities

15. The future?