solutions to 6 common nonprofit digital storytelling challenges

WELCOME STUDENTS!

What is Storytelling Summer School?

• 6 weekly Facebook Live videos with actionable ways to use storytelling to raise awareness and funds for your nonprofit;

• Freebie downloads, checklists, planners, and more;

• Invitation to the Private Facebook community, where you can exchange ideas with other nonprofit professionals and ask for my personalized advice.

Sign up for Storytelling Summer School: www.jcsocialmarketing.com/school

UPCOMING LESSONS –FRIDAYS AT NOON EST ON FACEBOOK

Week 1: 5 types of stories to collect and to share on your digital channels (website, email, social media) during your next fundraising campaign

Week 2: How to craft stories that will take your community from passive to PASSIONATE

• Week 3: Solutions to the 6 biggest digital storytelling challenges faced by nonprofits

• Week 4: 10 specific ways to use digital storytelling in your next fundraising campaign

• Week 5: How to fill in a Digital Storytelling Calendar to stay on track and never run out of ideas

• Week 6: Battle-tested tools to rock your digital storytelling


STORYTELLING SUMMER SCHOOL IS SPONSORED BY

Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits

Now available on Amazon!

More info: http://amzn.to/2vF5RPF


Click on the book!

GET THE DOWNLOAD – STORY COLLECTION WORKSHEET PART 2

• Storytelling Summer School students – keep an eye out on your inbox as you should have received it in your weekly email.

• You can also download it here: http://jcsocialmarketing.com/storyworksheet/


CHALLENGES ARE RAMPANT!

• By now you should be incredibly excited, enthusiastic, and motivated to collect fantastic stories and share them on digital channels.

• Good for you!


CHALLENGES ARE RAMPANT!

• Even the most resourceful and creative nonprofit marketer runs into challenges and obstacles along the digital storytelling journey.

• In this lesson, I will address the 6 most common nonprofit digital storytelling challenges, and propose some solutions for you.



Source: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/to-the-busy-heart

KEY POINTS

• Last week, we covered the 4 steps required to stand out online and get your audience from passive viewers/readers to PASSIONATE!

• Videos featuring the authentic stories of real people in real situations are without a doubt the most effective and engaging types of content online.

• Some nonprofits do face unique and particular challenges when collecting and sharing stories about their work on digital channels.


CHALLENGE #1 – WE’VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE

• Nonprofits like to keep their heads down and do their work.

• We feel entitled to donations and attention because of our impact.

• We are all media companies.

• It is not impossible to change the culture of your nonprofit.

• It’s mandatory.


SOLUTIONS

• Collect and share lots of examples

• Get outside help or professional training for the entire staff on working as a storytelling team

• Start each staff meeting and volunteer gathering with a story

• Share stories in internal communications


CHALLENGE #2 – CLIENT CONFIDENTIALITY

• This challenge often stops nonprofits before they even start!

• I’ve been there, and I understand this challenge very well

• Look at what you do have and what you can use

• Do not focus on what you do not have


SOLUTIONS

• Shield personal details

• Use a creatively-staged photo

• Use stock photography strategically and thoughtfully.

• WARNING: Do not use an image that you have seen a million times or one that is very generic looking and uninspiring.


SOLUTIONS

• Use Canva.com

• Use WordSwag (mobile app)

• Beth Kanter’s Ultimate List of Free or Low Cost Image Collections


CHALLENGE #3 – MY NONPROFIT IS TOO NEW OR SMALL

• Incredibly motivated and passionate fan base

• Closer proximity to donors and supporters

• Less bureaucracy, more nimble

• Celebrate your difference from the “big guys”


SOLUTIONS

• Start small – Founder’s Story

• New Player in Town story – what is the need?

• Future Plans story

• Be authentic

• Get personal


CHALLENGE #4 – OUR CAUSE ISN’T “SEXY”

• Real talk – a LOT of the work we do in the sector is thankless, controversial, and certainly not sexy!

• Stop comparing yourself to others

• Embrace your cause and your tribe


SOLUTIONS

• Examine your advantages

• Niche audiences require less information

• They are more vocal

• Make your cause sexy!

• Survey your supporters

• Activate your supporters


REAL WORLD EXAMPLE

• “When a disease is so rare, and there are no folks in your town, and few in your state who are going through what you are going through, you need a support group that encompasses people from all over the world.

• Getting to know people through the disorder has been an amazing experience and has created incredibly wonderful friendships and ties.”

• Source: http://www.pewinternet.org/2011/02/28/peer-to-peer-health-care-2


THE SOHANA RESEARCH FUND

• A tiny charity trying to find a cure for a very rare disease called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) - #EBTongueTwister


CHALLENGE #5 – MY SUPERVISOR DISTRUSTS SOCIAL MEDIA

• This is very common

• Respect their opinion and listen

• Fear of the breath-taking pace of change

• Don’t assume this though – older generations are using social media

• Change with data and results


SOLUTIONS – INTERNAL SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

When developing this policy, answer the following:

• What information should always be confidential and why?

• What do breaches of confidentiality online look like?

• What are the consequences of violating this policy?

• What behavior is encouraged?

• What behavior is discouraged?


SOLUTIONS – INTERNAL SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

• Nonprofit Social Media Policy Workbook, Idealware

• Social Media Policy Templates, Idealware

• 10 Must-Haves for Your Social Media Policy, Mashable


SOLUTIONS – MODEL AND ENCOURAGE

• Model appropriate behavior on social media

• No hard and fast lines anymore

• Hold trainings

• Demonstrate productive uses of social media


CHALLENGE #6 – CLIENTS DO NOT WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORIES

• Never assume

• Always be respectful

• Stories may be a way to heal


FIRST: EXAMINE WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON

• They may have had their trust broken before.

• They may feel exploited, used, or unappreciated.

• They may not want their experience to define them.

• They may not be sure how sharing their story will help others.


SOLUTIONS

If you absolutely cannot share past or present client stories:

Review Lesson 1 of Storytelling Summer School and collect the other 4 stories!

• Donor

• Volunteer

• Staff

• Community


HOMEWORK

• Review the Story Collection Worksheets you filled out in Lesson 1 and Lesson 2.

• Identify the areas where you may run into challenges and pushback.

• Commit to enacting a solution to each challenge.

• Be sure to let us know how you overcame your biggest digital storytelling challenges, over in the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/socialmediastorytelling/


UPCOMING LESSONS –FRIDAYS AT NOON EST ON FACEBOOK

Week 1: 5 types of stories to collect and to share on your digital channels (website, email, social media) during your next fundraising campaign

Week 2: How to craft stories that will take your community from passive to PASSIONATE

Week 3: Solutions to the 6 biggest digital storytelling challenges faced by nonprofits

• Week 4: 10 specific ways to use digital storytelling in your next fundraising campaign

• Week 5: How to fill in a Digital Storytelling Calendar to stay on track and never run out of ideas

• Week 6: Battle-tested tools to rock your digital storytelling


STORYTELLING SUMMER SCHOOL IS SPONSORED BY

Storytelling in the Digital Age: A Guide for Nonprofits

Now available on Amazon!

More info: http://amzn.to/2vF5RPF


Click on the book!

solutions to 6 common nonprofit digital storytelling challenges

Government & Nonprofit