Post by mirzayanbh on Oct 2, 2014 20:59:28 GMT -5
This week, I watched a Google + Hangout with Paull Young from Charity: Water. This particular nonprofit is a leader in the field of social media, and especially in visual social media like Instagram. Their success, in my opinion, comes from two areas. First of all, I strongly believe in Young’s philosophy of “do it wrong, fast.” If you try a new strategy on a social media platform, you may as well be the first to do it even if it’s wrong. Otherwise, and more importantly, I am in full support of their dedication to consistency – they post very often and always put a strong emphasis on quality of visually interesting, heart warming content.
A really distinguishing factor in the social media campaigns of Charity: Water is that their values come through in their execution. Young made a point to talk to us about the values of the organization, and how that plays into their employment of social media tactics. They don’t want to make any people uncomfortable. They don’t put a lot of money into paid advertisements of placements. They don’t buy their way into peoples’ hearts – they simply, like Young said, “inspire through content.” This was their tactic as soon as they started using social media, and it quickly proved to be the right way to do things. Sometimes you can “do it wrong, quickly,” too.
Otherwise, the emphasis on quality that Charity: Water has when it comes to their Instagram profile is truly a key factor in the attention their page receives. Not only do they focus on consistency in messaging with photo content and captions, but the content that they post is always their own. Sometimes, they even get freelancers to take quality photos overseas and offer some type of reward for that. I think the authenticity that comes through in their photos is really a highlighting factor in their entire campaign because it helps different audiences relate to the cause in ways that, if their content seemed contrived or forced, would not shine as brightly.
With more than 227,000 followers on their Instagram profile, more than 1,000 posts, and a great amount of likes and engagement, it’s no wonder that Charity: Water continues to be so dedicated to their Instagram page. A lot of nonprofits struggle with finding interesting, relevant content to share with their audiences, but Charity: Water is so committed to sharing genuine, relevant content that it seems to happen with ease.
A really distinguishing factor in the social media campaigns of Charity: Water is that their values come through in their execution. Young made a point to talk to us about the values of the organization, and how that plays into their employment of social media tactics. They don’t want to make any people uncomfortable. They don’t put a lot of money into paid advertisements of placements. They don’t buy their way into peoples’ hearts – they simply, like Young said, “inspire through content.” This was their tactic as soon as they started using social media, and it quickly proved to be the right way to do things. Sometimes you can “do it wrong, quickly,” too.
Otherwise, the emphasis on quality that Charity: Water has when it comes to their Instagram profile is truly a key factor in the attention their page receives. Not only do they focus on consistency in messaging with photo content and captions, but the content that they post is always their own. Sometimes, they even get freelancers to take quality photos overseas and offer some type of reward for that. I think the authenticity that comes through in their photos is really a highlighting factor in their entire campaign because it helps different audiences relate to the cause in ways that, if their content seemed contrived or forced, would not shine as brightly.
With more than 227,000 followers on their Instagram profile, more than 1,000 posts, and a great amount of likes and engagement, it’s no wonder that Charity: Water continues to be so dedicated to their Instagram page. A lot of nonprofits struggle with finding interesting, relevant content to share with their audiences, but Charity: Water is so committed to sharing genuine, relevant content that it seems to happen with ease.