Leave it to NTEN to create one of the most fabulous nonprofit conferences packed with nptech rock star panelists and valuable sessions to boot ranging from online fundraising to social media and nonprofit technology tools.
With so many great panels to choose from it was a challenge to come up with my top 10 panels to check out. Without further ado here are my favorites.
April 27 , 2009
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
1. The Seven Things Everyone Wants: What Freud and Buddha Understood (and We’re Forgetting) about Online Outreach
Designed by Mark Rovner | Sea Change Strategies
Communications Track - Imperial Ballroom A
With all the shiny technology tools out there, it’s easy to be blinded to the fact that technology is about bonds, not wires. It’s human connections, not electronic ones, that matter. In other words, some very human principles make or break the success of absolutely everything you do online. In this session, two marketing experts – including the progeny of a psychiatrist and a devotee of Buddhist principles – share the seven things everyone wants and show how you can achieve marketing “enlightenment” by tapping into them in all you do online.
2. You Don’t Need Just a Website, You Need the Web
Designed by Derek Low | Network for Good powered by Groundspring
Fundraising Track - Franciscan B
Every nonprofit needs a website but a website can’t be your only Internet presence. Competing for dollars and donors mean: 1) understanding the new ways in which users think about supporting your cause online and donating, and 2) having a presence in those places where your existing supporters, and potential new supporters, are gathering.
In this session, representatives from Causes (as in “on Facebook” and “on MySpace”), Capital One and Network for Good will present channels for raising money and awareness other than your website.
April 27 , 2009
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
3. Mapping Social Media Strategy To Metrics: Listen, Learn, Adapt
Designed by Beth Kanter | Beth’s Blog
Communications Track - Plaza Room A
The session will share an overview of why the sequence listen, learn, and adapt is critical to implementing a successful social media strategy. We'll take a look at how to use both qualitative and hard data points to refine and adapt your strategy as well as the role of continuous listening and learning through implementation of pilots. We'll examine what can and can't be quantified as well as various metrics and analytics tools. All this will be shared through a lively mix of discussion and case studies.
4. Guerrilla GIS: Free and Low-Cost Mapping Tools for NPOs
Designed by Jim Craner | Chicago Technology Cooperative
Program Track - Union Square 20
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies allow nonprofit and community groups to manage and visualize data for a variety of purposes: program delivery; advocacy and outreach; fundraising; and organizing efforts of all scales, from neighborhoods to nations. Until recently, these tools were too complicated and expensive for most nonprofit staff to use. Thanks to the Internet, open data efforts, and open source software projects, a variety of free and low-cost tools are now available that allow NPO/community group staff to dive into mapping. This session will provide an overview of basic GIS use cases in the nonprofit sector and demonstrate some affordable and user-friendly tools for satisfying these use cases.
April 27 , 2009
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
5. Better Online Storytelling
Designed by Roger O. Burks | Mercy Corps
Communications Track - Franciscan B
Action is at the heart of what our organizations do. But how do you convince that anonymous person behind a computer screen to make a commitment? You make them think, feel and care. And the best way to do that is to connect them your organization by telling them a story. This session will explore how to write compelling, memorable stories that get people to take action and keep them engaged.
6. Optimizing your Web landing pages to convert more donors, activists, and subscribers
Designed by Nick Allen | Donordigital
Fundraising Track - Imperial Ballroom A
Small changes to a Web site or email landing page can dramatically increase the number of visitors who actually make a gift, send an action alert, or subscribe to a newsletter. Based on our extensive experience with multivariate testing, we'll explain what kinds of changes on Web and email landing pages have significantly improved completion rates for leading nonprofit organizations -- and give you a checklist of what to test for on your Web pages.
7. Online Organizing for Community Organizers (and vice versa)
Designed by Charles Lenchner | Working Families Party
Program Track - Yosemite B
Community organizing and online organizing - can they go together? An exploration of the differences between the two, resulting in a road map for community organizations starting to use online organizing tools.
8. This is Iron Chef...Battle Nonprofit
Designed by Eve Simon | Beaconfire Consulting
Communications Track - Plaza Room B
Using just one secret ingredient (a small Bay Area nonprofit), three web teams will compete in the heat of battle, offering up exceptional tasting menus, each featuring a delicious new homepage design, a well-seasoned fundraising campaign and a perfectly balanced social networking plan. Only one team can prevail – who will it be? You be the judge, NTC! Come see how this unique project brought together a dozen web pros from competing firms, created amazing work for a very special organization, and taught us all the true power of our industry. We promise you won’t leave hungry.
9. Confessions of a Social Media Campaigner
Designed by Carie Lewis | The Humane Society of the United States
Communications Track - Yosemite B
In this session, panelists from difference nonprofits will share their insider secrets about what they’ve learned in executing some of the most successful social media campaigns. They’ll also share with you their deepest confessions about what has NOT worked and why. You’ve heard why you should use social media and you’ve seen what people have done. Now find out what it really takes and learn from their experiences.
April 28 , 2009
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
10. What nonprofits can learn from the presidential campaigns' (and other nonprofits’) 2008 online efforts
Designed by Heather Holdridge | Care2.com
Program Track - Yosemite A
MyBarackObama, Ron Paul Money Bombs, the rise of the small donor and more. No, you are not Barack Obama or John McCain, but there are tactics that were used by campaigns that can be adapted for most non-profits in their work. What can nonprofits learn from the politicians? How should non-profits think about integrated Internet campaigns? What are the 3M’s and how can you use them in your work? Join us for a wide-ranging and lively session of sharing and brainstorming.
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