How can you, as an eco-volunteer organization, attract a new group of volunteers?
Environmental volunteers realize a series of activities including:
- environmental observing like for example wildlife
- ecological rebuilding such as revegetation
- enlightening others about the natural surroundings.
They also participate in communal based projects, refining paths, open spaces, and local facilities for the profit of the local community and visitors.
Helping the environment can result in benefits for the volunteers themselves, since they will be improving social networks and developing a sense of place. But if you run an eco-organization or charity, volunteers are the key to giving more to the world without having the worry about the financial constraints. If you wish to find amazing and effective volunteers, social media is the place to hunt.
How does social media fit in eco-volunteering?
Did you know that now more than half of the population is daily active in social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn? There are indeed also people who would like to work for your organization or your charity. How can you reach your target audience on the internet? Read the 10-step plan for (online) finding, connecting and mobilizing volunteers.
From one-way traffic to interaction with Friends, Fans, and Followers
The classic way of communicating, one-way traffic from organization to the public, loses importance. More and more people choose to connect with friends in their own, authentic way, with charities and with organizations that appeal to them. Volunteers want to look up the organizations they support on the internet. To inform themselves, ask questions, give their opinion and exchange experiences. The online networks offer them the opportunity to connect in a new and involved way.
Organizations that master this new way of communicating gain access to an ever-growing group of ‘friends,’ ‘fans’ and ‘followers.’ You can get active followers on Instagram to assure your organization looks attractive and popular to potential volunteers. These potential volunteers, who connect on their own initiative, are probably more willing to contribute to the organization if they see that other people are following you.
What are Social Media? Which social networks are there?
Social Media platforms online tools that people use to connect with each other, conduct conversations online and share content (in the form of text, photos, film, and sound). There are now hundreds of social networks that people can join, varying from small, local, specific groups to global networks. Every network has its own public applications. There are various way to organize social networks according to the application:
- Friend networks (Facebook and Instagram)
- Business networks (LinkedIn)
- Weblogs (WordPress, Blogger)
- Microblogs (Twitter)
- Video websites (YouTube, Vimeo)
- Photo websites (Flickr, Picasa)
Finding, connecting and mobilizing volunteers through Social Media
Organizations working with volunteers can benefit from ‘the power of social media’ when:
Finding volunteers: Search for your target group within the right online networks. These can be existing networks, or groups that you have started yourself.
Connecting with volunteers: Make your organization and volunteer work visible, find contact with your target group and connect with people: give information, ask questions, involve people on relevant issues, invite them for online conversations or offline activities. Follow and be followed!
Mobilizing volunteers: inspire your target group, the people with whom your organization has connected, to be active and post regularly.
A thorough approach is needed to be successful when trying to use social media to find, connect and mobilize volunteers. First of all, it is essential that your starting point is good (the conditions). Then you examine the online activities of your target group, within your domain (observing and listening). Then you can facilitate online conversations and participate in them. Finally, if your friends and followers have not yet signed up spontaneously, you can actively mobilize them to volunteer.
The steps for a planned approach:
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Make a Plan
What do you want to achieve with social media? How many volunteers do you want to recruit, for which positions? Also, consider who will engage in social media. It is best to work with a ‘social media team’: a few people who build and maintain the networks together.
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Ensure a thorough volunteer policy
A bright and attractive volunteer policy, in line with the mission and objectives of your organization, will surely help you bring real change in the real world through digital platforms.
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Provide a definite supply of attractive volunteer positions
Make an excellent overview of the functions that are available and the tasks for which volunteers are needed. Ensure that the features are attractive to volunteers and match their wishes, motivations, and possibilities.
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Determine your target audience regarding activities, interests, and passions
This is an important part to ‘connecting.’ More critical than general characteristics such as age, gender, education, and skills. This information also helps with the drafting of the job profile, the promotional texts and with determining the right networks.
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Make sure your volunteer positions are easily findable on your website
Your website is the home base for all your online activities. Via the social networks, you guide the people to your site for more information. Put a clear link for Volunteers on the Homepage of your website, referring to an attractive Volunteer page with the features.
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Investigate which networks your target group is active in
First, ask your current volunteers which networks they are keen on. Do that in small conversations or with a survey. Then you look outside your own volunteer file. In general, young people are more active than older people. Seniors (65+) are the least productive, but this group is also starting to discover Facebook and Instagram. With simple tools, you can quickly find out which networks are speaking about your organization, topic or themes and what is being said. This is the area of ‘social media monitoring.’
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Choose the right networks where you can best reach your target group
It is not about having a profile on all popular networks. Consider what the most critical network is, with a lot of visitors and where your target group is active.
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Build attractive profiles in relevant networks for your organization
So make sure people can find your organization from their favorite networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn). Also, put clear links from the networks to your website. And put links to your social media profiles on the Homepage of your site. Especially Facebook offers excellent opportunities to make your organization come out well. Take all volunteers into account. Name your volunteer positions on your page, both in the general description and in the messages. Make your page as inviting as possible, with not only texts but also appealing photos and videos.
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Take an active part in online conversations and attract your target group
Connect with your target group by participating in the ‘conversations’ on the internet. Do this especially in the networks and blogs where your target group is active. Participation can be in different ways: you take part in discussions of others, and you start them yourself, you respond to questions from others, and you ask questions yourself, you return to calls, and you place your own calls. Make sure you are visible as an attractive, expert, open and transparent organization. In this way, you will automatically be followed by more and more people who find your organization and your (online and offline) activities interesting.
Conclusion
The benefits to the green sector from volunteering are financial. Much of the work that’s essential cannot be funded and would not be completed without the help of eco-volunteers. For the volunteers, the benefits are that they get to live on a greener planet, but also a sense of happiness because they are doing something selfless.
Article Submitted By Community Writer