February 4, 2012

Why the iPad Is Important to Small Organizations

This article is a great explanation of who’ll be using the iPad. Most of us tend to think it will be geeky computer types who snap it up. And that will be true at first.

But Matt Gemmell compares the iPad to the Nintendo Wii. You know — the hugely popular device that has blown away its rivals in terms of adoption by “regular people.”

It’s difficult to get our heads around the fact that these non-technologically-savvy users can suddenly constitute a core market for a device, yet that’s the case here. Nintendo saw it, and Apple sees it too.

If Gemmell is right, and I believe he is, what does it mean for small businesses or nonprofits?

It means you should think about ways to reduce friction for iPad users, to allow them easier access to your content. It means you should take advantage of the most popular uses of the iPad (and devices like it).

I’ll be writing more about this in the next several days. But if the iPad is a truly new platform, we should all be thinking about how our organization fit onto that platform. And that means opening the door to new content, new delivery methods, and a new way of communicating.

25 tools/plugins to improve your blog

Rich Page has put together a list of 25 tools and plugins you can use to improve your blog. It’s meant for WordPress blogs, but a lot of the other blogging platforms have similar tools to accomplish the goals on this list. It’s a good list, no matter what platform you’re using, for the ideas it contains. Many of these tools are designed to draw more people back to your site for repeat visits, increasing their engagement with you and your organization.

Podcast on new media

One of the projects I get to work on is a blog and podcast series for the Missouri Foundation for Health. It’s part of a program to help anti-tobacco professionals share information and work together.  The program manager, Angela Wilson, interviewed me the other day for a podcast on new media — especially as it applies to nonprofits.  You can hear it here.

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Twitter saves you time and trouble

Denise Wakeman has a story about how Twitter saved her a lot of time and trouble in her search for an online scheduling tool.  If you don’t know about Twitter, or don’t understand it, you can find more information at Denise’s post.  Or email me (link on the left) or post a question here, and I’ll be glad to talk to you about how it might work for you and your organization.

Twitter as a tool that keeps you connected with people whose opinion you value. And a place where you can tap into those opinions when you really need them.

Why your organization’s participation in social media won’t turn people off

A new study says Americans expect companies to be participating in social media sites.  The numbers come from a survey by Cone.  Key findings:

  • 60% of Americans interact with companies on a social media website.
  • 93% believe a company should have a presence in social media.
  • 85% believe a company should not only be present, but should interact with consumers.
  • 56% feel a stronger connection and better served by companies who interact with them in a social media environment.

What does this mean to you — not just businesses, but any organization?

  1. Your customers or constituents are already looking for you online.
  2. Just showing up to the party isn’t good enough. You have to interact with people there.
  3. Interaction is not inherently intrusive. 
  4. Being obnoxious and self-centered is intrusive

More analysis at Podcasting News and Terry Heaton’s PoMo Blog.