#NPMC chat - July 30, 2015

One of my fave chats, the nonprofit marketing chat, starts in 5 minutes! Woot! #NPMC

#NPMC Chat starts now. To make including/following the hashtag easier, try tweetchat or twubs

Welcome to #NPMC chat! Our topic today: the importance of digital skills for nonprofit marketing success  http://nonprofitmarcommunity.com/digital-skills-npmc-chat/ …

Hope Spring is here and ready to participate in #npmc

Let’s start with introductions. Please tell us a little about you. Even if you think you’re going to be quiet, please say hello! #NPMC

Expect a rise in marketing talk for the next hour. I'm about to join this month's #NPMC chat.

Plz forgive the temporarily excessive tweets. It's the #NPMC chat on nonprofit digital marketing skills. Join us!  http://bit.ly/1OR34GN 

Josh from the @EdFoundationPBC. Participating in my first #NPMC chat today.Looking forward to learning from fellow #nonprofit marketers.

Hi #NPMC! I'm Joyce, Communications Lead at TechSoup Canada. Excited for today's topic on digital skills :)

We are UK water charity. Joined this chat to lean more and share our knowledges too #npmc

Hi everyone, I'm Nicola, the Comm Coordinator at TechSoup Canada! I'm excited to hear from nonprofits @ today's #NPMC chat :)

For those new to #NPMC chat, we’re using Q/A format - we post questions using Q1, Q2, etc. You respond by using A1, A2, etc. Thanks!

Remember: use #NPMC tag and if you want to be RTd, make sure your tweet is 120c or less to give room for the RT!

@hopespringH2O Hi Hope Spring Water and welcome to our #NPMC chat! So glad you could join :)

@techsoupcanada thanks. This is our second chat #npmc

@JoshHirsch1 @EdFoundationPBC Welcome to your first #NPMC chat! We're happy to have you :)

Hi all! I'm Mike from Be like water web design. Glad I could make it this time. #NPMC

Hi, #NPMC - I'm RoiAnn, Comms Manager for @HealthConnctOne - We're all about peer support for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding & parenting.

Q1. What digital skills do you use as a nonprofit marketer? #NPMC

Hi #NPMC ! I help nonprofits (esp. those w/ Latin America and/or human rights focus) w/ websites and communications.

#NPMC I'm Lauren, marcomm consultant, writer & trainer in San Francisco. p.s. #16NTC session voting ends tomorrow!  http://bit.ly/1fnPH58 

#NPMC Amy, Mgr of Cmns at an autism info. services non-profit in Vancouver, Canada.

Hi all! I'm Kelly, mktg specialist for small nonprofit. Excited for this one! #NPMC

A1. I find I use basic HTML/CSS, graphic design, writing and video editing skills a lot in nonprofit marketing #NPMC

Hi, all! Seneca from Seattle Chamber Music Society, where I do marketing and communications. #NPMC

A1 Lightning-fast typing. Persistence. Instinctive user empathy. Solid analytical skills. A smidgen of coding. #NPMC

A1 Having worked as a one-man shop, I've had to manage both development and marketing needs for my #nonprofit.Graphic design is key. #NPMC

A1. In charity section: "Almost 60% of charities lack basic digital skills". So it is very important to use digital skills #npmc

A1 Lots of graphic design & photography/photo editing #NPMC

Hi I'm Temi. Part of the team at @hopespringH2O #npmc

Hi folks, just tuning in for our #npmc. Comms Coordinator at @threadsoflifeca.

@girardinl love your wording! And it's so true re: persistence. Persistence is key #NPMC

A1. I make websites, so HTML/CSS/JavaScript; CMS expertise; social media; UX design... #NPMC

@girardinl I get made fun of for my fast typing! Had to learn as a journalist when re-typing hard copy press releases #npmc

A1 Listening! Which in digital, means things like Google Analytics, TweetDeck, podcasts, stuff that aggregates... #NPMC

A1 For #nonprofits that can't afford Photoshop, Pixlr is a great free photo editing resource.  https://pixlr.com/  #NPMC cc @pixlr

@Kelgon What kind of programs do you use for graphic design/photo editing? #NPMC

A1. For us very important: A)Good writing skills B) Photo and editing C) HTML D) Development E) Social media F) PPC #npmc

Hi #NPMC chat. Couldn't resist setting up this pre-scheduled tweet. I am most likely on a beach. Not online, but thinking of you. :)

@margaux_om Well put! Can't succeed without listening in our world! #NPMC

@JoshHirsch1 @pixlr Agreed!! & for those who can install programs, GIMP is a good free alternative as well  http://bit.ly/1DSCVRE  #npmc

#NPMC A1: html for sure, photography skills (both taking and editing).

@fuuyin Thanks! I do like to wrangle words. Persistence is undervalued digital marketing skill. Sharing once is not enough. #NPMC

A1 Photo/Video/Text editing, re-packaging messages/content, very minor HTML ... essentially Jane-of-All-Trades but skimming surface #NPMC

@techsoupcanada Mostly @Photoshop & @InDesign but also fun online tools like @canva and @piktochart #NPMC

#NPMC A1 and I"m working on learning Google Analytics using their training modules. Working on more database skills in general.

@Kelgon My laptop keyboards wear out too fast from my furious typing! I really should get a separate keyboard. #NPMC

Is there a digital skill you’d like to learn more about or improve on? #NPMC

@duckdeux Google Analytics is very important for each organisation that has a website. You must know the source of your visitors #npmc

@OPgrrl My phrase is "wearing many hats" #NPMC

Hi! Joining #NPMC for 1st time, Am agency owner/president of @RampedUp  http://ramped.ca/  Ramp Communications specializes in #nonprofit

It's all about digital marketing for nonprofit right now. On parle de l'importance du marketing digital dans les #OBNL. #npmc

@mo_flow You're the best! Enjoy your vacation 🌴☀🍹 #NPMC

@shelleymayer @RampedUp Welcome Shelley! So glad you could make it #NPMC

@techsoupcanada Since everything in online world is updating day by day - there are many skills that must be improved #npmc

@OPgrrl Re-packaging messages and content is a useful skill. So much of digital marketing is being a content DJ! #NPMC

I'd love to brush up on my coding skills, but that means I have to crave out time to learn it -- easier said than done! #npmc

<3 this - being a "content DJ"! :) #NPMC  https://twitter.com/girardinl/status/626803657065918464 …

@duckdeux Have you learned anything particularly surprising about Google Analytics in those trainings? #NPMC

@hopespringH2O @duckdeux So true! We're currently completing our Google Analytics Academy training! #NPMC

@hopespringH2O @techsoupcanada Well said! Just curious, how do you personally prioritize which skills you improve on first? #npmc

THIS x 100! #NPMC  https://twitter.com/margaux_om/status/626801932884148224 …

A1. I agree analytics extremely important. Understanding where you are at is important foundation to where you want to go #NPMC

girardinl: OPgrrl Re-packaging messages and content is a useful skill. So much of digital marketing is being a content DJ! #NPMC #ContentMa…

I just because certified in Google's Tag Manager Fundamentals course. Very happy about that! #NPMC

@fuuyin With you there: I'd love to learn more coding. Also interested in which stats/reports are most useful to drive the work. #NPMC

@fuuyin @techsoupcanada It is not easy to identify.We just try to be on top in our field and learn as much as possible #npmc

@mikemella oh man! That was on my to-do list. How did you find the course? #npmc

@fuuyin I wouldn’t say it was easy. Very comprehensive! #NPMC

Q2. What are you looking to accomplish with these digital skills? #NPMC

@fuuyin @mikemella Interesting! I was thinking about certifications for hard digital skills. Are clients impressed? #NPMC

A2. Our main goal - donations. So we must know where our donors are coming from and make more afforts to increase them #npmc

@fuuyin I learned HTML/CSS by doing. Built a personal blog. Figured out a lot I wouldn't have picked up from passive course taking #NPMC

@OPgrrl @fuuyin I agree but I still need to learn the basics #NPMC

@girardinl @fuuyin That remains to be seen. I haven’t tried to impress with certifications yet. #NPMC

@girardinl @fuuyin @mikemella we have a certified Adwords partner in our team @MrGarkaviy. Yes it is not easy to pass exams #npmc

@girardinl @mikemella Our members always appreciate when we bring in speakers with Google certification, if that helps #npmc

@girardinl @fuuyin Any specific resources you used to self-teach? #NPMC

@fuuyin @girardinl Good to know! #npmc

@fuuyin @girardinl @mikemella that always give more trust to the speakers. #npmc

A2. Want to amplify community partner voices, build field for community health workers in maternal/child health, secure $$ to sustain. #NPMC

A2 I stay sharp in digital skills so I can better support my clients. Ex: knowing code, SEO, analytics makes me a better writer. #NPMC

A2 I want to remain relevant. Still young in my career so I have to keep up! #NPMC

@shelleymayer Thanks for the follow and welcome to #NPMC

Q2. I'm looking to stay current. The Web changes fast and no one can afford to fall behind. #NPMC

#npmc A2: I use the digital skills for storytelling: to our users, our board, our funders

@techsoupcanada Canva can be a good choice as well. #npmc

@Kelgon @OPgrrl If you ever succeed me in finding time to learn, check out @codeacademy  http://bit.ly/1DSFAux  #npmc

@Kelgon @fuuyin I think we learn it all as we go - on parallel tracks - the basics in some areas, deeper skills in our strong areas. #NPMC

#npmc A2: I also use the digital knowledge to appropriately hire and prioritize projects (so as project mgmt)

@girardinl Same here! My HTML days started way back on geocities, where ppl forgave my bad backgrounds and awful tables #npmc

@mikemella absolutely agree. Improving your skills will improve you as a person! #npmc

Stuart here, happy to be joining my first #NPMC chat today.

@Kelgon @fuuyin As a reader I'm a bottomless pit. I binged on code learning in '03 & '08. Fave both times:  http://SmashingMagazine.com  #NPMC

@duckdeux 1 good thing about digital is it gives us so many chances to tell stories! #NPMC

@fuuyin Oh the good ol' days! I started with a blogspot, then did a Joomla site (ick), then Wordpress. #NPMC

RT @Kelgon @duckdeux 1 good thing about digital is it gives us so many chances to tell stories! #NPMC

Hey guys! Lunch meeting ran late (because there were tacos) but I'm here now! Ready to talk digital marketing! #NPMC

@Kelgon @girardinl Code Academy has free, interactive courses on HTML/CSS (+more) if you're interested  http://bit.ly/1DSFAux  #npmc

@Kelgon @duckdeux Exactly! Digital storytelling is a great way to interact with supporters and share your story! #NPMC

@fuuyin @girardinl glad to know people who remember geocities like me are still around :) #npmc

I'm the Digital Marketing Manager for @FirstBook - happy to join #NPMC!

@mikemella Preach! That's why I walked away from building websites. I couldn't keep up without it becoming my only focus. #NPMC

Digital storytelling allows us to keep a story updated, and keep people updated on the story. #NPMC

@girardinl haha! Good to know I'm not the only one who doesn't like Joomla (sryJoomla!). I've found WP is a better fit for nonprofits #npmc

A2. Digital skills can help you to justify ROI on different initiatives and prove results #NPMC

Q3. How do you assess whether these skills contribute to the success of your nonprofit? #NPMC

@fuuyin @girardinl WP is much easier than Joomla! and at the same time more widely used. #npmc

And so many ways to tell stories. Visual, written, audio, mixed media... #NPMC  https://twitter.com/Kelgon/status/626806259988189184 …

@hopespringH2O @girardinl Yes! I find WP support forums are more active than other open-source CMS #npmc

@Kelgon #npmc a storytelling challenge I face is I compete with misinformation from Google! Need professional looking cmns. So many stories!

@fuuyin @girardinl and Joomla has much more paid extensions than WP. #npmc

@fuuyin @girardinl We're most likely getting onto WP this year! Very exciting. #npmc

Q3. I think measuring and reporting results and also tracking trends are key #npmc

A3. Google offers Ad Grants for nonprofits and we have a PPC specialist in our team. So PPC is very important for us. #npmc

@techsoupcanada quite easy to some extent. You assess which skills/platform is getting the best conversion you seek #npmc

A3 It all goes back to the listening and the numbers #NPMC

Q3. When my nonprofit clients say "we never thought of doing that" I know my digital skills are working. #NPMC

#NPMC is happening! It's on ways to maintain our digital skills:  http://nonprofitmarcommunity.com/digital-skills-npmc-chat/ …

A3. When our members repeat our brand messages back at us, we count that as a copywriting success :) #npmc

A3 #npmc How much it would cost to hire contractors to do the same ;-)

@fuuyin Exactly! The simpler the message, the clearer the message #NPMC

RT @fuuyin A3. When our members repeat our brand messages back at us, we count that as a copywriting success :) #npmc

A3. When you see positive results at the end of each month for your nonprofit - it is absolutely a good result! #npmc

A3:That's where the ROI and other measurables are so important. Can help reassess and refine strategy. #NPMC

@girardinl That picture made me laugh more it should! I also have a feeling Joomla will not be sponsoring this chat anytime soon :P #npmc

A3 #npmc It's numbers, but it's also qualitative feedback.

Hi, I am a Bilingual Account Manager at @techsoupcanada and I am doing my first steps in the blogging world. #npmc

@OPgrrl @fuuyin Congrats! Tho the route to a new site ban be bumpy, having that new WP CMS will be a major source of joy. #NPMC

@YaelMcEwaan And we're very excited for your blogging debut! #NPMC

A3. Success observed: Ppl attend events, write for or share from our blog, retweet, share, gain attn for their programs w/ our tools #NPMC

@girardinl @OPgrrl @fuuyin We've discovered that you can outgrow WP if you want specific customization that stretches the platform. #NPMC

@duckdeux Agreed! When a supporter is touched by your direct mail campaigns and sends a thank-you letter, these results matter too #npmc

MT @SeattleSeneca @girardinl @OPgrrl @fuuyin You can outgrow WP if you want specific customization that stretches the platform. #NPMC

A3. Another way to determine success is if you see others in the organization changing their mindset/embracing digital/social. #NPMC

@duckdeux Although I just realized I used an offline example. My bad! #npmc

A3 When my clients can say "YES!" to more things that advance their goals. When they are relieved instead of stressed... #NPMC

@SeattleSeneca @OPgrrl @fuuyin True 'nuff. I work with some orgs that have moved to Drupal for that reason. #NPMC

Q4. How do you plan on developing you and your colleagues’ digital skills? #NPMC

@fuuyin #npmc we can't create silos between offline and digital anymore - it's how they all work together to support the message. so no bad!

@girardinl @SeattleSeneca @OPgrrl Yeah, although I'm in love with WP, we do use Drupal at our nonprofit =S Gotta use what you need! #npmc

@shelleymayer Love this! My consulting often winds up involving shifting mindsets. Stasis has no place in digital marketing. #NPMC

A4. We are hosting trainings for our stuff. Using G+ hangouts. Very effective way to share your knowledge and learn something new #npmc

@duckdeux Hehe, thx for helping me recover my comment :) And you're right! Digital + offline = treating our supporters holistically #npmc

@fuuyin @duckdeux It's ok to measure success in digital w/an offline result. Also DM can have digital element eg, drive to website. #NPMC

@techsoupcanada At @hopespringH2O at least once a month, we have a training session. Usually lead by @MrGarkaviy #NPMC

A4: #npmc A4 we do a lot of self-study/ online learning. Or I poke at things until I understand them better.

A4. As a self-employed consultant, gotta carve out time for personal development. Tutorials, conferences, seminars... #NPMC

@OPgrrl @SeattleSeneca @fuuyin I usually counsel thus: Stick with WP if yr org don't/won't have a developer on staff or gobs of dev $ #NPMC

@hopespringH2O Send me an invite to the next, please! #npmc :)

A4. One of our clients is a large federated org. and has found webinars a good way to beef up digital skills org wide. #NPMC

A4: #npmc also planning: who are we talking to, what it our message, what outcomes do we want to see? it's hard not to jump in some days

@marissapaige please follow us and we will let you know once we have a chat for wide audience :) #npmc

#npmc a4) There are a lot of resources out there if you know where to look. check @kivilm @npcommunicator @AdCouncil  https://twitter.com/techsoupcanada/status/626809644288077825 …

It seems like a lot of us are doing or plan on doing self-study. What resources do you guys use? #npmc

@mikemella Agreed! Even w/ flexibility of tutorials & recorded webinars, I have to schedule them like meetings on my calendar. #NPMC

@shelleymayer absolutely agree. You can just be at home and learn online what others recommend #npmc

@shelleymayer @fuuyin @duckdeux Digital can have offline results bcs yr np's goals are often to change something IRL (in real life) #NPMC

@girardinl Not sure I'd agree with that. Plus you get what you pay for: Invest in a great Web platform and it will convert. #NPMC

A4: Signed up for an extension course at the local college for digital marketing analytics. #NPMC

A4. Digital skill development: #NPMC Chat! Free online resources, webinars, how-to blogs, & lately I support colleagues "getting social."

@fuuyin today this method is very effective. Many useful resources available online. #npmc

Treehouse and Lynda? RT @fuuyin It seems like a lot of us are doing or plan on doing self-study. What resources do you guys use? #npmc

#npmc a4) More thought leaders in developing digital skillz: @googlenonprofit @HandsOnNetwork @johnhaydon @silverbell @AmyPorterfield

@mikemella So much this. New marcomm consultants often underestimate the constant professional development time needed. #NPMC

@SeattleSeneca Good for you! That's a great way to develop digital marketing skills and better help your supporters and nonprofit! #NPMC

Chats like #NPMC is a great way to self-improve and learn more. For example we just reached 100 followers :) Who wants to be the 101th?

.@SmartCause has awesome trainings on Google Analytics + more digital skills, geared esp for #nonprofit orgs! #NPMC  http://smartcausedigital.com/services/digital-skills-trainings …

@margaux_om @SmartCause are they paid? #npmc

@mikemella Seen too many adopt Drupal & find no dev skills on staff & no funding for vendors. A problem w tech management, not tool #NPMC

A4. Having webinar tailored to your unique org (for large ones) helps add context for participants, works well for social media #NPMC

@mikemella To be fair, WP is becoming more complicated to maintain. Security, more frequent updates, heavy-handed templates/CSS #NPMC

a4) oh! Can't forget @ComNetworkEvent @TechSoup @NTENorg #npmc

A4 I've consistently learned a ton from the other folks in this network! #npdigital #NPMC

A4: #npmc we have a small org (10 ppl), so it's important to reach out for training and ideas.

Q5. Our time is almost up. Any key lessons from today's chat? What digital skills do you want to prioritize next? #NPMC

@girardinl But if your nonprofit is not making digital a priority - including funding thereof - that’s a problem. #NPMC

A5 I go to @NTENorg's Nonprofit Technology Conference #16NTC & suggest everyone comes with me! We can have a #NPMC meetup!

@girardinl Agreed. The sites I build for my clients are as easy to manage as composing an email. #NPMC

YES YES YES! #NPMC  https://twitter.com/girardinl/status/626812554749161472 …

A5. Social media is our main priority skill. Today using FB or Twitter you can reach everyone. So be social active is important #npmc

A4. Developing basic digital skills org wide, esp. in social media, pays off big time because your own team amplifies your message #NPMC

A4: Meeting other leaders in the field in your area can be really great. Learn from their successes. #NPMC

@mikemella Let me know funders you know that give grants for digital development *and* website maintenance. I'll share w nonprofits! #NPMC

RT @margaux_om YES YES YES! #NPMC  https://twitter.com/girardinl/status/626812554749161472 …

#npmc a5) Feel like no matter what I do I can't seem to grasp google adwords. My org has a google grant & I really want to optimize its use!

Including the board of directors! #npmc  https://twitter.com/shelleymayer/status/626812775994626048 …

@marissapaige we can recommend you them:  http://www.temi.uk/free-google-ads-for-charities/ … #npmc

@marissapaige #npmc AdWords is also on my to-do list. I know we're missing opportunities.

@mikemella Truth! It's about the quality of the developer. Sites built without knowing realities of nonprofit tech constraints fail. #NPMC

@margaux_om @shelleymayer Agreed but make sure you have a social media policy in place so you can put out fires before they start! :) #npmc

@girardinl With the right CMS and build, website maintenance should be able to be done in-house with almost no digital skills. #NPMC

@marissapaige @shelleymayer Excellent point! #npmc

Hire this guy for your nonprofit website. He's got the right attitude! #NPMC  https://twitter.com/mikemella/status/626813421695160320 …

@girardinl @mikemella YES! My role gets folded into gen op or program-specific budgets - leaves me little wiggle-room for innovation. #NPMC

All about meeting up at #16NTC! Met @mo_flow there 2 years ago :) #npmc  https://twitter.com/girardinl/status/626812554749161472 …

@SeattleSeneca @shelleymayer couldn't agree more #npmc

Bummer! Got pulled away for a little while & missed a lot of good stuff #NPMC

@marissapaige There was something about 2014 NTC in D.C. I met @mo_flow there too! #NPMC

.@duckdeux @TracySodd is a Google Grant Jedi & has been trying to teach me her ways for months. Recommend directing any ?s her way #npmc

Nice conversation everybody! Have a meeting at 2 so have to sign off! Great insights. #NPMC

@OPgrrl @mikemella #16NTC session I proposed will focus on full life of dig projects incl upkeep & funding for #NPMC  http://bit.ly/1fnQBi3 

.@duckdeux I'm just a terrible student. #sorrynotsorry @TracySodd :) #npmc

Please message @mo_flow any time with topic ideas for future #NPMC chats!

@girardinl Mine is about Web shortcuts you should never take:  http://16ntc.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Ten-Web-design-shortcuts-you-should-never-take/119782-35237#idea-tab-comments … #NPMC

Save the date/time for next #NPMC Chat: Thursday, September 24 at 1 pm ET.

Thanks to everyone for the nice #NPMC chat. Was very interesting discussion :)

@marissapaige thank you! #npmc

Plus there's this! #NPMC BTW, where's the conference? (Yes, I should know already but don't.)  https://twitter.com/NTENorg/status/626789853032611840 …

Thank you all an bye :) #npmc

Thanks for hosting, @techsoupcanada - great, lively #NPMC chat as usual!

@marissapaige @TracySodd #npmc I'm sure I don't believe that. So many brightly coloured things to learn!

Thanks for hosting, @techsoupcanada! Good chat. #NPMC

Thanks for a great #NPMC chat @techsoupcanada!