Last fall, Youth Design was given the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Future M: College Face-Off “Social Media For Social Good.” It was a competition that provided area college students with the opportunity to give back and provide support to local nonprofit organizations through the development of online marketing strategies to help them increase awareness across their target audience segments through the use of social media. Students who participated in the “College Face-off” were exposed to “real” online marketing challenges facing many nonprofits today.
Youth Design was teamed up with an amazing group of students from Harvard University who came into the challenge with the background knowledge needed to help Youth Design develop a robust social media strategy that supported our online marketing objectives. The Harvard students were given 1 hour to create a strategy to better market Youth Design through the various social media platforms available.
The team identified tactics which were included in their overall strategy that would ultimately increase traffic to the Y0uth Design website and to our Facebook page. The presentation of the strategy painted a vivid picture of how Youth Design could be marketed more effectively through the strategic use of digital communications.
I came into the event having little to no knowledge on how much marketing through social networks can impact an organizations’ awareness and engagement efforts. While listening to the presentations that each of the college teams crafted on behalf their assigned non-profit, I was exposed me to the many different ways organizations can approach their online marketing strategy in order to deliver intended results.
With endless platforms to choose from that are “cheap to free,” there is a wide-array of digital communication tools organizations’ can tap in order to effectively engage their target audiences and keep them coming back for more – content that is!
As the program coordinator for Youth Design, the use of social media platforms to raise awareness, disseminate information and keep our alumni and supporters engaged is critical to our overall success.
So take it from me, don’t be afraid to explore your organizations’ use of social media. It may seem daunting at first glance, but I assure you with upfront investment in the development of a sound online marketing strategy your organization will receive the much sought after return on investment!
Until Next Time,
Ivan Richiez
Youth Design Class of 2010
Special thanks to the Harvard University Team and Future M
Browse Timeline
- « Think BIG Dream BIG: Youth as Agents of Change @ Town Hall
- » Young Men’s Success Series: Fueling Your Success Through Healthy Living