Following

These are the people that you are interested to know more about. People that you follow cannot see your personal tweets in their Twitter stream.

Followers

These are the people who would like to know you, to connect with you, or simply a person who likes your links, updates and what you shares. Followers can see your personal tweets in their personal Twitter stream.

The 140 characters

You have a maximum of 140 characters per tweet. If you go further than that amount, the system will advise you to reduce your tweet. The reason why Twitter uses 140 characters is because of SMS, they use 20 characters for your @username and 140 characters for you to play with!

Here’s the FAQs about the 140 characters.

@reply

It’s a tweet conversation of two people or more. You’ll know a tweet is an @reply, if a person’s @username is located at the first part of the tweet.

@mention

It is how you refer or call out on someone and mention their @username in your tweets. You can identify a @mention tweet, because the @username is located any part of the tweet.

Retweet Button (RT)

This is one of the wonders of Twitter, retweeting a person’s tweet. A Retweet Button or “RT” is a message that has been passed by a person down to his followers. Think of it this way, it’s like playing a game of “pass the message”. Instead of whispering you have to shout the message out to a group of people. Once they got the message, each individual in the group will shout it out to their own group of people and vice versa.

Direct Message (DM)

If you want to speak to a person privately, use a Direct Message. If you want to send a Direct Message, make sure that the person is following you. If you want the conversation to be in a DM, you have to follow the person in order for him to reply to you.

Hashtags (#)

You’ll know its a hashtag, if the first letter is a number sign (#).

People use hashtags for:

a. Group discussions and chats.

b. Supporting a group or a person.

c. Sharing something on Twitter.

Now that you understand the basic functions, keep in mind that both connecting and communicating with followers, fans and catalysts is the most important lesson to learn on Twitter.

Do you have a question about Twitter? Ask us in the comments below. 

In this blog, we’ll talk about building your fan base by quality and also quantity!

Here’s our advice and suggestions:

1. Add a Facebook Like button on the main page of your website

Adding a Facebook like button on your main website is a good idea for building your Facebook Fan Page, because people who are interested in your organization, visitors, and supporters would likely be going to your main website to check you out. If they’re interested enough, they’ll go search your social media networks, especially Facebook and Twitter.

Here’s the code to get the Facebook Like Button.

2. Include a Facebook link in your E-Newsletters.

Adding a facebook link in your E-Newslettter, can help you increase your fan base, because if these people take the time to read your stuff, they’re probably interested in joining your fanpage as well. Put the Facebook link somewhere that doesn’t distract your subscribers from reading.

3. Invite your supporters, staffs, and friends to join in your fan page

4. Find supporters offline

Just don’t stay on Facebook, you can take a walk and ask people to join your fan page. Talk to your offline friends to participate, include your Facebook fan page address in events, campaigns or any other fundraising activities that your organization is doing.

5. Upload videos and photos

Supporters love to view the organization and the activities that are going to be launched! Using this, the community will feel closer with your organization.

6. Engage with your supporters

Talk with them. If they leave a comment on your wall, talk to that person. If they post something, give your thoughts or give a comment about it.

7. Update regularly

Be consistent, always. Post content about your organization, post news that relates to your charity, and post updates about your current activities, events and projects that your organization is working on.

8. Encourage your community to post to your Fan Page wall

Isn’t it exciting to see your supporters posting on your wall, talking about you and your cause.

Put them in your shoes and let them know that they’re also part of the organization. Ask them questions and exchange ideas. Your fan page will be lively and energetic while you’re asleep in bed.

9. Be creative

Find ways to make your community happy.

Think about these questions:

a. What do they like about your organization?
b. What makes them feel that they are a part of your cause?
c. What inspires them to do more?
d. Do they like events, fundraising, volunteering or having fun presenting your organization?

That’s it, I just ran out of juice!

How about you, what ideas do you have that can make your community cheerful and happy?

Photo Credit: National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru

Here are the new changes that we’ve seen so far:

1. Recent Photo panel above the wall – This feature is handy for events, campaigns, and activities for your organization.. It’s kind of cool Facebook added this feature.

2. Tabs moved to the left panel, below the Page profile picture

3. Profile picture is reduced from 200 x 600 pixels to 180 x 540 pixels

4. Your fan page can “like” other fan pages.

5. Featured Pages and Admins - You can feature your administrators and fan pages that you “like” in your Facebook Fan page.

6. Admins can use their Facebook Fan Page to share posts and comments on other fan pages.

7. Admins will be notified by email when users post or comment in a Facebook Fan Page.

How to switch on or off email notifications: You can switch it on or off by just going to “Edit Page”, “Your Settings”, and checking or unchecking the box in “Email Notifications”.

Photo credit: juanpol

So what do you think of the new Facebook pages?

Static FBML (Facebook Mark-up Language) is a Facebook application that uses HTML/CSS and Facebook codes (See Facebook Developer’s Website). Using FBML for your Facebook Fan page, you can customize, design and create a whole tab for your fans to view. It’s like your making a website inside your Fan Page.

Steps on how to use Static FBML:

Step 1: Get this Static FBML app here.

Step 2: Once you’re there, click “Add to my Page” and a pop-up window shows up.

Step 3: Next, pick a Fan Page that you want to install the app to and click “Add to Page”

Step 4: Go back to your Facebook Fan Page. Go to “Edit Page”, click “Apps” and you’ll see that the Static FBML application has been added. Finally, click “Go to app”

Step 5: Done! You can now start creating a customized page. With enough basic knowledge of HTML styles, you can create a great fan page for your organization!

Extra Tip! You can have a maximum of two Static FBMLs for your Facebook Fan Page. If you like to add one more, click here.

Examples of FBML Pages by Nonprofit Organization:

Here are some examples of Charities using Static FBMLs for the Facebook Fan Pages:

1. Welcome Page – March of Dimes

2. Donation Page – Slow Food USA

3. Join Us Page – ONE.org

4. Gift Shop Page – WWF

5. Video Page – Camfed

Here’s more nonprofit organizations who are using Static FBML for their Facebook Fan Pages:

1. Make a Wish Foundation
2. Oxfam
3. Environmental Defense Fund
4. World Hunger Relief

How could you see you nonprofit using Facebook’s Custom page option?

Step 1: Edit EVERYTHING!

Let’s go and click “Edit Page”, you can find this link below the Profile Picture of your organization. Once we’re there, we are now ready to begin customizing our Facebook Fan Page. Our first stop is to customize “Manage Permissions”.

1. Manage Permissions

Restrictions

Page Visibility – This option allows you to publish or unpublish the page.

Country Restrictions – If one or more countries are listed in this option, then they are allowed to view the page. If this option is left blank, the page will be viewed to everyone.

Age Restrictions – This option prohibits a specific age from finding the page.

Wall Settings

Wall Tab Shows – This is where you set your wall post visibility.

“All Posts” – All posts and comments made by the administrators and fans are visible to everyone.

“Only Posts by Page” – Only posts made by the administrators is visible to everyone. All posts and comments made by fans are hidden from view.

Default Landing Tab – This option sets the default landing page to everyone who are not a fan of your Facebook Fan page. Remember, the landing page for all fans is the Wall Tab not the Default Landing Tab.

Posting Ability – Do you want your users to have the power to post on your wall, upload a video, and add photos to the page.

Delete Page – You can delete your Facebook Fan Page permanently by clicking this option.

2. Basic Information – You can edit your organization’s information here.

Tips and Suggestions to include in the Basic Information tab:

• Staff or people who are in charge managing your fan page
• Important Links (events, partnerships, sponsors, and etc)
• The Organization’s Twitter account and any social media network that you currently have (Flickr, blog site, Youtube, and etc.)
• Contact email

3. Profile Picture – This page is where you can upload your organization’s profile picture, so don’t forget to upload a picture!

4. Marketing – You can find here the advertisement materials that you need to promote your site, to give an update message to your fans, and also the steps on buying Facebook ads.

5. Manage Admins – This option allows you to add or remove admins from the page. You can add them by typing their Facebook name or by email address. You can remove them by clicking “Remove”.

6. Apps – You can edit your applications and its settings here.

7. Mobile – You can go to this option to connect your mobile phone with your Facebook account  to update your status and upload your profile picture.

8. Insights – This is also known as “Facebook Analytics”, this is where you can analyze and measure your data.  Facebook also sends you a weekly insights report through email.

Step 2: Publish your page

Remember, Don’t forget to publish your page. You can publish your Facebook Fan Page by clicking “publish this Page” or you can go to “Edit Page”. Next, go to “Manage Permissions” and uncheck the box “Page Visibility” and there you have it!

You’re Facebook Fan Page is now up and running!

Our next part of the series, we’ll help you define and teach you how to use an FBML for your Facebook Fan Page. So stay tuned!

What are your thoughts and ideas about editing a Facebook Fan Page? Let us know your suggestions in the comments.

In this blog, we’ll tackle the difference between a Community Fan Page and an Official Fan Page. Next, we’ll teach you how to create your Facebook Fan Page!

The difference between a Community Fan Page and an Official Fan Page:

1. Authority and Control

Official Fan Pages are controlled by a representative of a business, product, or an organization.

Community Fan Pages are controlled by the Facebook Community or user. Users can create and control a Community Fan Page but when the page gets popular, Facebook has the authority to take over and control the page.

2. Source of Information

In Official Fan pages, the information that is displayed and shared comes from the company or the organization itself.

In a Community Fan page, Facebook automatically pulls the information from the people who mentions the topic.

3. Difference between their pages

The main difference between an Official Fan Page and a Community Fan Page is their posts.

In an Official Fan Page, we can view a post called “Wall posts”, where a company or organization and fans share their experience, praises, complaints and etc.

While in a Community Fan Page, we can view a post called “Related posts”, these posts came from both of your friend’s wall and people talking about the topic.

Here’s an example of Oreo, an official fan page and Cooking, a community page.

4. Uses and Functionality

Mainly, an Official Fan Page is used to create a fan base, to share information and spread it to other people for businesses to promote a brand or a product, for artists, bands or a public figure to gather up their supporters, or for an organization to heighten the community’s awareness and to strengthen their cause.

Community Fan Pages are used to gather people with similar interest on a topic or cause. Community pages may be talking about a person’s hobbies and interests. Community Fan Pages are also used as an unofficial page. In this way of thinking, it makes a company’s Official Page distinct. Example of this type of use is Walt Disney World. It has both an Official Fan Page and a Community Fan Page that has been created by The Facebook Community or by some user, notice the lack of information and interaction on the community page in comparison to the abundance of engagement on the fan page.

Official Fan Pages:

1. Coca-Cola
2. SpongeBob Square Pants
3. Unicef

Community Fan Pages:

1. Music
2. Badminton

My Suggestion

I strongly recommend that you choose an Official Fan Page, because once a Community Page gets popular, it will be controlled by the Facebook community, leaving us with no control over that page. Also, it makes the page common or unofficial and making it less visible for users to find the organization that they were looking for. Speaking in comparison, Community pages are “sports shoes” and Official Fan pages are “Nike”. Your organization is visible and you have more control if you choose an Official Fan Page than a Community Fan Page.

Steps on Creating a Facebook Fan Page

Step 1: Go here and start “Creating your own page”

Step 2: Once your in the page, you’ll have an option to choose if you want a Community page or an Official Page. We all know the difference between a Community and an Official Page, then let’s create an Official Page, shall we?

Step 3: Assuming I’m a representative of an awesome non-profit organization. Since I’m the organization I’ll pick the second choice “Brand, product, organization”. Once we do that, a drop down box will appear beneath our choice and we’ll scroll down and pick “Non-Profit”.

Step 4: Next, is naming the organization. Remember, we can’t rename our Facebook Fan Page after we’re done creating it, so double check your spelling. Read and mark a check box of the Facebook Terms, and click “Create Official Page” and we’re finally done!

Have you setup a Facebook Fan Page yet? If so, let us know in the comments below.

Photo credit: lawtonchiles

Does your charity have a physical location?  It should be a venue on foursquare.  Add tips to your venue about the work your charity does.

Is your charity holding an event/fundraiser/meetup?  Create a venue on foursquare.  If you have more then 50 people check in to your venue  you will create a swarm.

What are your ideas for using foursquare with your charity?

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Fans, Followers, Catalysts from AJ Leon on Vimeo.

View the slides below used in our presentation

What do you think? How do you identify your own people and supporters?

Blogging, Vlogging & Thought Leadership from AJ Leon on Vimeo.

You can look at our slides below that we have used in the presentation.

In your own perspective, how do you view blogs as a component of your strategy to reach supporters? Comments and feedback are welcome!

I was sitting in a fastfood restaurant last week, I sat down on a dining chair waiting for my order stirring the straw in my cup while I observing the area around me. I was looking at a man in front of me as he munched a burger with his right and read a newspaper with his left. There it strikes me, websites and fastfood restaurants have similar goals: attract consumers and to keep them satisfied. Information is the food for your readers.

These are things that I have discovered with relative patterns between websites and fastfood restaurants:

Brand Image

Customer’s image of McDonald’s is about burgers and fries, Taco Bell is about Tacos, Starbucks is about Coffee. How about you? How do you want your readers to view you? Do you want them to view your site as a professional blog writer, a comedian, a skilled artist, a caring organization.

Provide Customers with Convenience

Put out chairs and tables, show them a big menu screen in front of the counter, display your products, design your space to make them feel relaxed and provide fast, reliable service. Make it simple, convenient, and hassle free for them to order.

When it comes to your site, your readers should be able to find what they want and if possible this should be a one click process.

This means:

• Where can I find your latest blog? “Click”
• Where can I find your popular posts? “Click”
• I like this post, where can I find more of these? “Click”

No, not this:

• Where can I find your latest blog? “Click” “Click” “Click” “Click”
• Where can I find your popular posts? “Click”… “Click”… “Click” “Click”
• I like this post, where can I find more of these? “Click”… “Click”

Display Posters and Advertisements

Don’t read this literally! What I mean is update your readers via email, feeds or newsletters. Let your readers know what you are up to, inform them that you have a new blog post for them to read. I call these updates posters and advertisements because it builds awareness and your community will know that you have new things for them.

That’s it! Your turn, what do you compare your website/blog with?

Photo credit: friend_faraway