Get the Most Out of the Best Social Media Platform for Nonprofits

ESC Consultant Mike Byrnes knows a thing or two about social media. You may have seen him speak at a past ESC engagement or at any one of his appearances around the globe—his company, Byrnes Consulting LLC, specializes in social media and online marketing, and he’s been an incredible resource for ESC nonprofit clients over the years. But did you know that Mike is particularly savvy about his LinkedIn use? In 2012, he was notified that his profile was one of the top 1% most viewed LinkedIn profiled of that year out of over 200 million members (LinkedIn recently exceeded 300 million members). We think we can trust in his advice on how to this platform to your nonprofit’s advantage.

Mike Byrnes Top 1% LinkedIn 4.24.14

In terms of nonprofit organizations and affiliated individuals, LinkedIn can be an incredible resource when used correctly. One of the features Mike points out in his ESC Social Media workshop is the Advanced Search tool. Through this, you can search for keywords, names, titles, companies, schools and locations; you can search for first connections, second connections or third; you can whittle those searches down to current or past company, industry, nonprofit interest; and if you have LinkedIn Premium, the options are even greater. This tool would be of particular interest to nonprofits searching for board members, volunteers, staff applicants and even new donors. Especially with the addition of volunteer experience to LinkedIn profiles, nonprofits are at an advantage to use this social networking tool.

While using the Advanced Search tool is incredibly beneficial to nonprofit organizations and individuals alike, nonprofit leaders should also be tuned into the benefit of LinkedIn’s “Recommendations” feature. This allows connections to write personal recommendations to you, which, as it is for any nonprofit management professional, reflects your organization.

Mike Byrnes LinkedIn - Blog - April 2014

Mike suggests that nonprofit professionals regularly thank their peers and associates by writing short recommendations so that you may get them in return—this can offer a huge boost to your nonprofit’s reputation directly through you, and what better way to give back to the cause you care most about? Five minutes of writing some positive words could mean five new clients for your organization or a five-thousand dollar donation from a previously unconnected donor.

Would your nonprofit benefit from a social media consulting project? Contact Ulea Lago, ESCNE Director of Consulting, at ulago@escne.org or call 617-357-5550 to find out how a consulting project with ESC of New England could help your eastern Massachusetts or Rhode Island nonprofit.