2 1 D I G I TA L S T R AT E G Y T I P S F O R C O M M U N I T Y O R G A N I Z I N G
B U I L D I N G N A R R AT I V E P O W E R - C C I S C O / P I C O N AT I O N A L N E T W O R K
T H I S M U S T B E A D E E P PA RT O F Y O U R O R G A N I Z AT I O N A L C U LT U R E : F R O M F R A M I N G , T O Y O U R W E B S I T E , T H R O U G H P R , A N D H O W Y O U
T E L L Y O U R O W N S T O R Y O N S O C I A L M E D I A A N D W I T H C O N T E N T C U R AT I O N
1. Digital and Communications strategy should be seen as central to any organizing strategy today
– J O H N N Y A P P L E S E E D
2. Use the Story Based Strategy Centers “Battle of the Story” and Center for Media Justice templates and trainings
to develop framing with leaders, clergy and organizers
3 . C R E AT E C L E A R , A S P I R AT I O N A L , FA I T H I N S P I R E D M E S S A G I N G
A N D I M A G E S
4 . T E S T C A M PA I G N L A N G U A G E W I T H L E A D E R S , C L E R G Y A N D M E D I A C O N TA C T S
5 . P U T L E A D E R S S T O R I E S AT T H E C E N T E R O F C A M PA I G N S , S O C I A L M E D I A A N D Y O U R W E B S I T E
6 . G R O W Y O U R S O C I A L M E D I A P R E S E N C E S T E A D I LY O V E R T I M EE S P E C I A L LY O N : FA C E B O O K , T W I T T E R , I N S TA G R A M A N D L I N K E D I N
7 . P H O T O S W I L L A LW AY S B E T H E M O S T P O P U L A R T H I N G T H AT Y O U S H A R E
• A Good formula is :
• Always lead with the right photo
• Add text - translate
• Add tiny url for more in depth story after text
• Tag public figures, organizations and leaders in the post and photo
8 . P U B L I S H Y O U R R E P O R T S A N D T R A I N I N G S O N L I N E U S I N G :
• ibooks author, kindle
• Slide Share
• ISSUU or
• Scribd
9 . V I S U A L I Z E Y O U R D ATA
• Using platforms like:
• Keynote, ibooks
• Picktochart
• Blackbaud
• visual.ly
1 0 . D O N ’ T N E G L E C T T H E E M A I L A N D T U R N O U T F LY E R S
• Understand how the digital divide exists in the communities you live and work in
• Make sure your email blasts and website are mobile compatible
• Also consider using text messaging for turnout
1 1 . S E N D P R E S S R E L E A S E U S I N G M U LT I P L E C H A N N E L S
• Call Assignment desks and reporters personally
• Tweet reporters and newsrooms
1 2 . D O C U M E N T Y O U R A C T I O N S T O T E L L Y O U R S T O R Y
• Photography is the most important
• Record the audio of the action to pull quotes for the photographs
• Film and Live stream if possible - most labor intensive for least return
1 3 . I N S E R T Y O U R M E S S A G E A S A C E N T R A L PA R T O F T H E A C T I O N
1 4 . T E L L T H E S T O R Y O F T H E A C T I O N W I T H P H O T O G R A P H Y T H AT S H O W S E M O T I O N
1 5 . S E N D P O S T A C T I O N P R E S S R E L E A S E T O A D VA N C E T H E N A R R AT I V E
1 6 . L E A R N D E S I G N H A C K S
• Learn to use simple design tools and photo editing for non-designers
• Keynote, Haiku Deck
• Apps: Pic Stitch, Camera+, Over, Snapseed, Phoster, Photoshop
1 7 . C U R AT E Y O U R C O N T E N T B Y C A M PA I G N F O R M E D I A A N D F U N D E R S
1 8 . R E B E L M O U S E I S Y O U R F R I E N D A U T O M AT I C A L LY U P D AT I N G Y O U R S I T E W I T H E V E R Y S O C I A L M E D I A U P D AT E Y O U M A K E
1 9 . B U I L D A W E B S I T E T H AT B R I N G S I T A L L T O G E T H E R : S T O R Y C E N T E R E D , S O C I A L , C A M PA I G N B A S E D , A N D F O R L I S T B U I L D I N G
2 0 . R E C O G N I Z E T H E C L E A R C O N N E C T I O N B E T W E E N D I G I TA L S T R AT E G Y A N D O N L I N E F U N D R A I S I N G + M A K E I T E A S Y T O D O N AT E O N Y O U R S I T E
2 1 . D E S I G N D Y N A M I C E N D O F Y E A R R E P O R T S A S I N F O G R A P H I C S , V I D E O S O R E B O O K S
Stories are everywhere around you, just be creative!
and pay attention to the details… !here’s one last example
“Getting ready to get out the vote from Richmond Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church”
“Neighborhood Strategizing with Melahia and Pat Douglas”
“These were our friendly guides to one Richmond neighborhood”
“Sometimes you have to do a bit !more than knock on doors,!
time to fix the chain !while we work at fixing these!
broken political systems!”
'Oh I know these guys I will take you there’
