Comments on: Facebook: All Your Donors Belong to Us http://www.netfornonprofits.org/2009/01/13/facebook-all-your-donors-belong-to-us/ Using the Net for Non Profits Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:00:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Scott http://www.netfornonprofits.org/2009/01/13/facebook-all-your-donors-belong-to-us/comment-page-1/#comment-372 Scott Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:45:44 +0000 http://www.netfornonprofits.org/?p=339#comment-372 I think that the boomers are coming into the social media age. We are starting to see ways of keeping in touch or fundraising by using sites like Facebook. It will be interesting at the end of the year to revisit those stats to see how or if they change. I think that the boomers are coming into the social media age. We are starting to see ways of keeping in touch or fundraising by using sites like Facebook. It will be interesting at the end of the year to revisit those stats to see how or if they change.

]]> By: Sean http://www.netfornonprofits.org/2009/01/13/facebook-all-your-donors-belong-to-us/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Sean Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:26:14 +0000 http://www.netfornonprofits.org/?p=339#comment-371 Hi, Alex. Good point - I was reading today about the idea of "digital natives" vs. "digital immigrants": digital natives are the teens who have grown up with social media, and will interact with technology in a way that nobody else can. But knowing a few "grandpa hackers," I'm not sure I buy this idea either. I think your differentiation between supporters (on Facebook) and donors is an interesting one. Perhaps we're just starting to slice up the demographic pie differently... Hi, Alex.
Good point – I was reading today about the idea of “digital natives” vs. “digital immigrants”: digital natives are the teens who have grown up with social media, and will interact with technology in a way that nobody else can. But knowing a few “grandpa hackers,” I’m not sure I buy this idea either.

I think your differentiation between supporters (on Facebook) and donors is an interesting one. Perhaps we’re just starting to slice up the demographic pie differently…

]]> By: Alex http://www.netfornonprofits.org/2009/01/13/facebook-all-your-donors-belong-to-us/comment-page-1/#comment-370 Alex Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:40:59 +0000 http://www.netfornonprofits.org/?p=339#comment-370 Aside from the fact that it's a little too much of a generalisation to suggest older people can't use computers (tell that to my mother who's writing HTML at 60+), there's also a huge missed opportunity in suggesting that just because the established demographic is different from what you're used to, that means you shouldn't be there. One of the crucial reasons for being in the social networking space is to attract the attention and support of people who might otherwise not be on your usual mailing lists or part of your established target audience. On top of that, it's reaching them in a way that is becoming as ordinary as post to them. Our general demographic is 50+, but among our 30,000+ Facebook 'fans' (I prefer to think of them as supporters or partners) the dominant group is in their 30s, which means we're reaching people we might not otherwise have much meaningful communication with. It won't be time to give up the traditional fundraising, marketing and general communications methods for a long while yet (if ever). But there's certainly room for stretching horizons - and just maybe capturing the attention of people who will get older! Aside from the fact that it’s a little too much of a generalisation to suggest older people can’t use computers (tell that to my mother who’s writing HTML at 60+), there’s also a huge missed opportunity in suggesting that just because the established demographic is different from what you’re used to, that means you shouldn’t be there.

One of the crucial reasons for being in the social networking space is to attract the attention and support of people who might otherwise not be on your usual mailing lists or part of your established target audience. On top of that, it’s reaching them in a way that is becoming as ordinary as post to them. Our general demographic is 50+, but among our 30,000+ Facebook ‘fans’ (I prefer to think of them as supporters or partners) the dominant group is in their 30s, which means we’re reaching people we might not otherwise have much meaningful communication with.

It won’t be time to give up the traditional fundraising, marketing and general communications methods for a long while yet (if ever). But there’s certainly room for stretching horizons – and just maybe capturing the attention of people who will get older!

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