Social Media And Non Profits: LIVESTRONG.org Case Study

Posted by: Krishna De | Posted on: October 2nd, 2009 | 11 Comments | Posted in: Business blogging, Facebook, Ireland, Marketing online, Social media, Social media and nonprofits, Twitter

Many non profit organisations are considering how to use social media as part of their marketing and communication plans.

During the last week I’ve had the privilege to speak on a panel at a non-profit conference and also deliver a social media marketing and communications workshop for some of Ireland’s most well known non-profit organisations.

Of all the case studies I covered, one of my favourite and most comprehensive programmes of the adoption and integration of social media platforms by a non-profit organisation is that by LIVESTRONG.org.

In August 2009, LIVESTRONG.org hosted their first ever Global Cancer Summit in Dublin which was attended by 500 delegates from 60 countries.

At the end of the Global Cancer Summit I had the opportunity to meet with Brook McMillan the Online Community Evangelist for LIVESTRONG.org about how they use social media from Facebook to Twitter, from blogs to YouTube, from Flickr to Ustream.tv.

Today is LIVESTRONG Day, a global day of action to raise awareness in our communities about the fight against cancer and the founder and patron of LIVESTRONG.org, Lance Armstrong commented in the Austin American Statesman:

A new Economist Intelligence Unit study commissioned by the Lance Armstrong Foundation pegs the global economic impact of the disease at more than $300 billion in 2009 alone.

If you are a non-profit and are wondering how social media can support you in outreach to volunteers, raising donations, advocacy or stakeholder engagement, I hope you find this interview inspiring.

And remember – you don’t need to have as an extensive programme as LIVESTRONG.org – choose one platform that will help you achieve your communication goals and do that really well.

You can find LIVESTRONG online at:

• LIVESTRONG Blog
• LIVESTRONG on Facebook
• LIVESTRONG on Flickr
• LIVESTRONG on Twitter
• LIVESTRONG on YouTube
• LIVESTRONG on Ustream.tv

What non profit organisations in Europe do you think provide inspiring examples in their use of social media to help them achieve their goals?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

Here is a great example of a post that LIVESTRONG has on it’s blog sharing ideas and ways on how to participate in LIVETRONG Day – it’s a model you too could use to help your community actively participate in your social cause.