Grassroots.org

If you've ever felt the need for a social media tool specific to nonprofits, this week's review on Thrive offers a solution and reveals why nonprofits have different social media goals and needs.

As always, our list of web development best practices grows with each new tool we discover! Check the archives for our previous reviews.

What kind of tool is Thrive?
As a “one-stop shop that simplifies, organizes and measures your social media efforts," Thrive manages your social networks while attracting supporters and donors to your cause.

Created by Small Act, a company dedicated to helping nonprofits "make a big impact in social media," Thrive’s user-friendly hub streamlines your efforts. Similar to other tools, you control when you Tweet or update your status on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube (other networks coming soon), target and engage those who care about your work and receive stats on all accounts.

Small Act understands that social media should be about engaging your followers, fans and friends, and that cultivating these authentic relationships helps recruit donors and advocates. That's why Thrive boasts features that sets it apart from other social media tools. With it, you can engage and understand your fan base by viewing entire conversation histories while checking for complete contact and demographic information.

How has Grassroots.org used Thrive?
You may have noticed our latest Tweets or Facebook updates being “sent from Thrive”. We’ve been using it to update our own social media networks and checking how many of you actually click our links! Don’t worry, we only check these stats and browse for relevant nonprofit news to understand how to best deliver useful content to you.

All this is possible through Thrive, but we especially love the ability to tag and write notes about our contacts based on our interactions with them. Doing this recently helped us locate new nonprofits and technology experts!

How should my nonprofit use Thrive?
Geared towards nonprofits, Thrive features granular scheduling, keyword search capability, contact management with tagging and in-depth reporting. What does all this mean?

Use Thrive to help you schedule posts and check all incoming messages, replies, mentions simultaneously. Keep an eye on who is posting what and read the latest #nptech or “education” Tweets. Pinpoint your superfans or donors by organizing your contacts list and tagging them. And with Thrive, there’s no excuse to not know how many people your posts reach every week.

How can my nonprofit sign up for Thrive?
Tell SmallAct about your current social media situation for a free trial of Thrive. Complete this form to start making your big impact in social media. While you're there, sign up for a free demo of the tool in action!

This week, we're sharing how SlideRocket helped us display our presentation online and how it could change how you present Powerpoints. Check out our growing list of tech tool reviews and Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices for more insight.

What kind of tool is SlideRocket? SlideRocket is Microsoft Powerpoint meets Google Documents and Analytics. Helping you create and share smarter presentations, the tool prepares them for the social web.

How do we use SlideRocket?

We first discovered SlideRocket while looking for a way to embed an interactive, clickable guide for new members on our site. We found only presentation sharing tools that supported view-only capability. SlideRocket was able to share our presentation as we intended it to be used--members can click on each slide and be redirected to an external link or another slide.Our new member guide is now sent to approved nonprofit members to help them navigate services within the Toolbox.

How should my nonprofit use SlideRocket?
With SlideRocket any member of your team can collaborate on a presentation. You can add vivid graphics and visuals, import and recreate old Powerpoint files and even host HD web meetings. The service goes full circle by offering statistics for your online presentations so you can gauge visitor interest and measure your impact.

How do I signup?

All new users receive a free trial of the fully featured service after signing up. After the trial period, you can continue to pay for the edition that best suits your organization or revert to a free account with reduced capabilities.

As always, this week's tool review on Google Checkout comes from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for previous reviews and more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What kind of tool is Google Checkout for Nonprofits?
Google Checkout for Nonprofits is a fast and convenient way to process online donations that helps you attract donors and increase online giving. Google Grants recipients are eligible to process donations using Google Checkout for free until 2011! Google Checkout users store debit/credit card information in their Google Account, so that they donate to nonprofits (and shop online!) at the click of a button. Google Checkout allows nonprofits to track the status of their donations and includes fraud protection as well.

How have we used Google Checkout at Grassroots.org?
If you visit our Donate page, you'll see that we use Google Checkout to collect online donations on our site. Since we also receive a Google Grant, our donations are processed for free.

How should nonprofits use Google Checkout?
Nonprofits should use Google Checkout in tandem with Google Grants (in-kind Google Adwords donations). After 10 business days of linking your Grants account with Checkout, you will receive an email confirming that your Checkout account has been approved for free transaction processing. Google Checkout accounts that are not linked to Google Grants will be subject to a low transaction fee.

How can my organization sign up for Google Checkout?
You can register by visiting this page. When signing up for an account, you will first be asked for your organization's basic information (contact, website, EIN). Then you will be required to identify your organization as an IRS Certified 501(c)3. Once your account is set up, you'll see an option for Checkout "Donation Buttons" under the Tools tab. Then you can place these donation buttons on your site and start receiving donations!

What kind of tool is Makeuseof.com?

Makeuseof.com is an extraordinary website that is stocked with information about the technology world and provides many helpful tips and resources. It is updated quite frequently with multiple posts being published everyday by the staff. You can learn about such things as OpenOffice.org (a free alternative to Microsoft office) or Grab Them All (a Firefox add-on that allows you to easily take multiple screenshots.)

The site also contations a FAQ forum section on the site, called "Answers". This is a useful space to post questions and get responses from other knowledge "techies" visiting the site. The "Makeuseof.com Guides" section where visitors are provided pdf's on subjects such as Wordpress websites, Photoshop and more.

How have we used Makeuseof.com at Grassroots.org?

Although not a frequently used tool by our staff, still a very good source of information and resources. We make it a point to stay aware of Makeuseof.com and its useful posts.

How should nonprofits use Makeuseof.com?

The internet is full of possibilities and it's impossible to be completely aware of them all. But visiting this site routinely is a good way to keep up with new programs or other items that may be making a splash on the web.

How can my organization sign up for Makeuseof.com?

There is no registration required, just visit Makeuseof.com.

As always, this week's tool review on Twitterfeed comes from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for previous reviews and more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What kind of service is Twitterfeed?

Managing your social media, website and blog altogether is time-consuming, which is why we're spotlighting Twitterfeed this week. The quick three-step process allows bloggers to link content feeds to Twitter, Facebook and other social networking platforms. You don't need to install any software and can setup an account in less than five minutes. After customizing your account and adding your RSS, Twitter and Facebook info, your social networks get to preview each of your blog posts as they're published.

How does Grassroots.org use Twitterfeed?

Our blog posts get Tweeted and show up on our Facebook page. Not only does this generate relevant content for our social media accounts, but we also ensure our supporters stay updated with the latest stories from our blog.

How should my nonprofit use Twitterfeed?

If your nonprofit has a social network and a blog, you should take advantage of Twitterfeed to make sure all your posts are published to supporters. We suggest considering the add-a-link feature, which generates a URL to your blog post so interested visitors can be directed to the full post. You can also control when updates go out to your networks and add multiple RSS feeds you're interested in sharing. Auto-generating content for social media accounts can sometimes annoy followers or fans--ease this concern by customizing what information you want your updates to contain.

How can I signup for Twitterfeed?

Twitterfeed is entirely free. It only takes a few seconds to signup; visit their site and create an account!

Our growing list of tech tool reviews come from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for our previous reviews and come back next week for more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What kind of service is Causecast Mobile Fundraising?
Causecast Mobile Fundraising is a service offered by Causecast that allows nonprofits to collect donations via text message from donors anywhere at anytime. They are currently the only organization able to provide mobile fundraising to nonprofits earning less than $500K/year in gross annual revenue. An advantage to mobile donations is that they reduce friction and barriers to donating. Causecast enables a nonprofit to take advantage of impulsive, emotional, reactionary giving. Their services include: Text 2 Give ($5/$10 donations), Text2Pledge (where any amount can be pledged and donors receive a call to fulfill pledge) and Text2Broadcast (build a mobile donor base, send updates, news, calls to action, volunteer opportunities, polls and get more info from donors).

How should my nonprofit use Causecast Mobile Fundraising?
Your nonprofit can use Causecast to turn your volunteers and supporters into your biggest fundraisers by allowing them to activate new supporters anywhere they go. By using Causecast, when your supporters tell people about your nonprofit and share your story, that story becomes immediately actionable. The Text2Broadcast service can be used to keep your supporters engaged and active by sending them petitions, updates, news and volunteer opportunities. Since text messages have a 90% open rate, this is a great way to get into their pockets and into their daily lives.

How can I signup?
To sign-up, visit: this page. The full package, includes Text2Give, Text2Pledge and Text2Broadcast. The cost is $99/month for nonprofits under $500K in gross annual revenue (no setup fee) and $250/month for nonprofits over $500K (plus $250 setup fee). There is a $.50 charge per successful Text2Give donation/transaction.

Our growing list of tech tool reviews come from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for our previous reviews and come back next week for more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What kind of service is Meetup?

Meetup.com is an online service that helps you bring people together offline. With over 180,000 monthly meetups happening monthly, the site covers every cause or hobby and takes online groups a step further by creating a real, face-to-face community. As a visitor, you can either locate a group that suits your interests, or start a group yourself; the only requirement is that members of a group gather in-person.

How does Grassroots.org use Meetups?

As an organization, members of our staff are signed up for different Meetup groups within the nonprofit technology category. Being a member of these groups allows us to receive updates via email, participate on Meetup profile pages using message boards and comments, suggest ideas for topics or events and view photos from past events! Our participation at Grassroots Camp led us to sponsor the NY Social Change Camp last fall.

How should my nonprofit use Meetups?

Joining groups and networking is naturally the best way to gain public recognition for your organization. Do a quick search to see what events in your vicinity align with your mission. If you don't find a group that suits your nonprofit, there's always the option to start your own Meetup.

Group events take a lot of coordinating and organizing. So, if your organization holds support groups, a professional Meetup group boosts awareness and advocates for your cause on the web. Meetup provides you access to features like social media integration, a built-in calendar, message boards and multimedia content. All this can serve as a basic web presence for your nonprofit.

How can I signup?

Visit http://www.meetup.com and search for a group to join.

You can also start a Meetup Group; group organizers must pay a subscription fee ranging from $12 to $19/month, depending on the plan you choose.

Welcome to this week's edition of "Grassroots.org Tool of the Week," our growing list of tech tool reviews from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for our previous reviews, and come back next week for more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What is AddThis?
AddThis is a bookmarking tool that lets readers instantly share articles, photos and links across a constantly growing database of social media and websites. The small icon appears at the bottom of any website or blog post; users can simply click the appropriate icon and share an interesting site with their friends and followers across multiple web channels.

How does Grassroots.org use AddThis?
We used a Drupal module to automatically place an AddThis icon on every blog post and news article on our site. This gives our readers an easy way to share information with their colleagues.

AddThis also guides our web strategy. Each month, AddThis sends analytics, which let us analyze the articles and posts that are the most popular and most shared among our readers. We use these stats to spot readership trends, develop ideas for new blog posts and expand our social media presences. Ultimately, this builds our credibility, our membership and, we hope, our base of supporters.

How should my nonprofit use AddThis?
Any nonprofit should sign up for AddThis! The tool is free and provides an easy way for your supporters to share information about your cause and further your mission.

Even if your site doesn't have an active blog or news section, AddThis is an inconspicuous way to spread the word about your organization.

How can I sign-up?
Go to www.addthis.com, install your favorite icon and start sharing!

Welcome to this week's edition of "Grassroots.org Tool of the Week," our growing list of tech tool reviews from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for our previous reviews, and come back next week for more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What is SEO?

While not a specific tool or online resource, search engine optimization (SEO) is at the top of every website's list of best practices. Search Engine Optimization broadly defines the different techniques used in order to boost visibility of your site on search engines. This means it's more likely your site will pop up on the first or second page of a Google search!

How does Grassroots.org use SEO?

Our main site is built using the Drupal CMS and our keyword module is installed there. This module shows up whenever we create new content or a new page, so we can indicate which search terms should yield your page. We also make sure our content is filled with plenty of rich keywords so that search engines pick up these pages and display them as results. Each week, more than 70 percent of our applicants indicate they discovered our site by searching the web. Being on the top two pages of search results for our keywords has kept a steady stream of members signing up for the free Toolbox each week.

How should my nonprofit use SEO?

Employing SEO tips on your site can result in increased traffic. Start by applying the tips on our to both existing and new content.

Grassroots.org also provides free SEO consultation as one of the services in the Toolbox. Once signed up, you'll receive a free two-hour consultation from an expert at SEO.com.

How can I sign-up?

You have to be a member of Grassroots.org in order to register for SEO consultations, so apply now!

Welcome to this week's edition of "Grassroots.org Tool of the Week," our growing list of tech tool reviews from Mike Mann's Web Development Best Practices. Check the archives for our previous reviews, and come back next week for more insight on the web’s best tools for nonprofits.

What kind of tool is Jotform?

From surveys to contact sheets, Jotform is a free, easy-to-use form builder tool. Jotform's drag-and-drop system lets users quickly create and wadd drop-down menus, check boxes, Captcha, birthdate picker, etc., to forms. You can also incorporate payment tools that sync up with your accounts such as Paypal and Google Checkout. Jotform gives you the ability to pick different themes and modify by simply dragging the tools. Once you have completed building your form, you can easily copy the html and embed it onto your site.

How have we used Jotform at Grassroots.org?

Often, members ask us about form-builder applications. The only relevant feature that is part of our services is the Doodlekit Form Builder upgrade, so we typically suggest Jotform. Because the Doodlekit Add-on Form Builder tool costs money (even for Grassroots.org Members), Jotform is an excellent and free substitute. Many members have used the Jotform service to create applications and forms they need to build on their websites -- even Doodlekit sites.

How should nonprofits use Jotform?

Like any business or organization, nonprofits need to collect information or have people to sign up for something (ex. mailing lists, fundraising drives, collecting donations, etc). Forms are an excellent way to gather that information efficiently. If you ever need to have people filling out forms online, you can create one with Jotform and click on the "Source" button to view the code. Once the Source page has been accessed, you can copy the code and embed it onto your site.

The Jotform website offers several helpful tutorials; watch them to answer any questions you have while creating the form.

How can my organization sign up for Jotform?

Visit Jotform, and sign up for a free account. There is an option to sign up for a premium account, but it is not required. The free account should meet your needs.