New media whizz - Summer 2010

IT | Rob Dyson | 25 May 2010

Rob Dyson looks at some of the free web tools which can improve your social media activities.

Last time I talked about ideas for measuring your social media output. This time I thought I’d address some free web tools that could help even the smallest charity harness new media to make themselves heard – and stay in the loop.

AudioBoo is a web, iPhone and Android tool that supports free, do-it-yourself podcasting. Broadcast to the world your “citizen journalism” (or just tell everyone what you’re making for tea).

This has great potential for third sector organisations; report live from an event or campaign using a smartphone, interview a service user.

Combine it with ‘tweeting’ pictures and video live from the front line and you’re starting to build a multi-platform ‘campaign’.

Ipadio.com – another phone blogging (or ‘phlogging’ as they term it) tool – allows you to broadcast via the web from any phone, and also offers a transcription service.

Gravity

Another social network – this one based in discussion and forum-style exchanges – is Gravity.com.

Set up by three ex-MySpace executives, it mashes up forums and groups with elements of Google Wave and Twitter... and it’s pretty good. Currently still in beta, it’s got potential for charity early adopters.

Diabetes UK is already using it well to converse with people looking for information about the condition, and then providing bespoke advice to fellow ‘orbiters’ (the slightly cheesy term for Gravity users).

The ability to add images, video and URL links into the flow of discussion affords charities the chance to cross-promote and reference their output elsewhere.

Gravity may not be big now, but it’s worth considering a presence. I was able to secure an events fundraiser within a week of ‘orbiting’ so (cliché alert)...the sky could be the limit?

Journalisted

As a third sector PR I make it part of my job to know who is writing in the press or blogging about my area of work. One tool that allows me to keep tabs on this is Journalisted.com.

It’s a free resource which allows you to search by words, media outlet or journalist name – and lets you create an email alert every time that journalist is published.

You will soon find out who is worth an approach or has empathy with your cause. As tech changes and becomes more user-driven, it’s our sector with its lack of funds, and therefore increased innovation, which is often pushing the uses of these media to amplify our voices.

Rob Dyson is PR manager at Whizz-Kidz and a board member of CharityComms

Who's Who: Rob Dyson

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