There's no question about it: We've all been thrust into the role of "geek" at one time or another. Maybe you relish the opportunity, or you think to yourself, "How can I be a marketer/fundraiser/strategist/nonprofit-guru and a defacto technologist at my organization?"
As you grapple with this existential self-inquiry, consider this: You're already doing a bang-up marketing job by talking about your organization online, offline or some combination therein. It's OK to talk about your organization (at length). And have other people talk about it. And have their friends talk about it--not just in Second Life, but in REAL life.
In this "back to basics" article, we'd like to share a few practices of how to get your word-of-mouth marketing away from your dinner table and into the marketplace where it can thrive:
- Find other people to talk about you. Just because you're on the payroll doesn't mean that you can't talk shop outside the office--make sure co-workers are doing their part, too. Get your Board out there. Court bloggers. And, of course, tap into your pool of volunteers.
- Give 'em something to talk about. Turn your talkers into story-tellers. You and your web of supporters have passion about what your organizatino does. Let your advocates explain why.
- Give 'em a way to talk about it. Give your story-tellers outlets: handouts, collateral and online opportunities (message boards, blogs, etc.). Remember: Social proof is a powerful tool.
- When people talk back, yell at them. Wait. Strike that. Don't yell at them. LISTEN to them. What are people saying about you? What's the public's impression of your organization or your current campaign? Pay attention, and then...
- Join in the conversation again. You and your band of merry men/women got the ball rolling with your word-of-mouth campaign. Now it's time to engage the people who are responding. Be tactful and true to your organization, but most of all, be real. You enlisted people to spread your message. Now, show them that your organization is full of people (not a marketing machine) who care about their response. (Here are few tips for showing yourself in the online realm.)
Keep in mind that you can apply both offline and online tactics to the above strategy. Being a marketer means getting the message out it--whether it's at computer or over coffee--and engaging with those who hear it. Good luck spreading the word!