Quick click: Facebook for association execs
I still have some posts from Great Ideas that I need to write, but I thought I'd get this post up first: Lee Aase, who kindly wrote an article for the Associations Now social media supplement to help readers better understand social media, has posted some material on how association executives can use Facebook. (He presented at the Chicago Forum's Holiday Showcase on the topic.)
If your association has ever wondered, "Should we be doing this Facebook thing?" Lee's two posts should be interesting reading.
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Comments
Associations should realize that their future members are probably on Facebook right now, and will be expecting this level of interactivity when they're (hopefully) applying for membership in several years. Your "older" members might be too busy or technologically-impaired to take much interest in your blogs or discussion forums right now, but you can be sure that will change when the new generation joins your rosters.
I work for a medical association and found students at several medical schools had created groups on Facebook with titles like "(Name of My Association) at (Name of School)" and are using our "member" logo. In one of these groups' discussion forums, someone had posted a bizarre statement linking us to something we have no affiliation with. It was an opportunity for me to verify the info with our executive director and post a response setting the record straight.
Facebook presents opportunities to engage existing and potential members, as well as the public, and create relationships.
Posted by: Mark Forstneger | December 11, 2007 3:50 PM
Thanks for this post, Lisa. I also work for a medical association and recently spent some time reading up on Lee Aase's Facebooking strategies and am working to create a precense there for my association.
If all else fails, I will use the scare tactic to market to my execs - "We must secure a Facebook group name NOW before someone else does and slanders us!"
Mark - I completely agree with your post as well. Who will our associations be 20 years from now if we don't embrace change?
Posted by: Stephanie Saltzberg | December 11, 2007 4:36 PM
I appreciate the link, Lisa, and that I had the oportunity to participate in the Knowledge Lab at the Holiday Showcase. We had several good sessions with lots of engaged association execs interested in knowing more about Facebook and social networking sites. I think many businesses would do well to have a presence in Facebook, but for associations - which are by definition in the networking/people business - I believe it is absolutely essential.
Posted by: Lee Aase | December 12, 2007 9:45 AM
Here's another great article about what the Lupus Foundation is doing to leverage networks such as Facebook to build online community among their constituents...
http://www.infoinc.com/articles/BLB20071206_030056.html
Posted by: Rick Johnston, CAE | December 12, 2007 1:04 PM
Mark and Stephanie--Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and plans. It is so important for associations to be where the conversation is--I think sometimes we expect the conversation to come to us, when in fact, people will talk about the association wherever is most convenient for them.
Lee--Thank you for stopping by! It's great to hear that there were a lot of engaged execs at your session in Chicago. I'm hoping to hear some great success stories (and lessons learned) once folks have a chance to implement what they learned ...
Posted by: Lisa Junker | December 12, 2007 1:53 PM
Loved the Lupus article! Definitely a blueprint for what I'd like my association to do.
Posted by: Mark Forstneger | December 12, 2007 4:23 PM