[Nfb-editors] Reaching this generation through social networks

[David Andrews]

Hi Tom:

I agree with most of what you say about social media.  At the risk of 
seeming defensive I will disagree with what you say about mailing 
lists, or listserv's.  A number of states have very dynamic and 
useful lists, including, but not limited to Washington, California, 
Missouri, Illinois, Florida, Michigan and others.  It is primarily an 
internal tool, where web sites, Facebook, and Twitter, to a lesser 
extent, are external or both internal and external.

Minnesota's lists are an announce-only list, and the "discussion 
list" is hidden, so no wonder a low membership and usage.

Each medium has its strengths and weaknesses, no one is ideal or 
universal.  Lists are not a complete communication solution, but if 
appropriately used and nurtured, can be a valuable part of the mix.

Dave

At 10:53 AM 5/9/2011, you wrote:
>Whatever the original intent of Facebook and Twitter, they are 
>becoming major marketing methods for business.  That speaks more 
>than anything to the perceived influence if businesses feel the need 
>to invest in the effort to use them.
>
>NFB of Minnesota has both Facebook and Twitter pages, but we really 
>don't have any idea of their effectiveness.  We put events such as 
>conventions, Meet the Blind month, and fundraising on Facebook.  Any 
>time we want to convey more information than the limits, we put a 
>link to full information on our Website.
>
>As with editing any publication, it takes someone with interest and 
>time. That is as much a struggle with social media as it is with 
>more formal publications.
>
>Our Twitter page has 150 followers, very few of whom are 
>members.  So it reaches out far beyond anything we could do otherwise.
>
>On Facebook, 132 people currently "like" us.  Again mostly 
>non-members that we would not reach otherwise.
>
>On our NFBnet list we have only 30 subscribers, with little activity at all.
>
>So we find Twitter and Facebook worth the effort we have put into 
>them.  We generally put the same thing on both since they do not 
>seem to have a lot of overlap, and we will be doing more.
>
>As for the younger generation, every generation thinks the one 
>before it really screwed up and the one after it is a pathetic 
>mess.  I really don't see any difference in the current situation, 
>or any truth in the perception.
>
>Tom Scanlan
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" 
><bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>To: <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2011 3:45 PM
>Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this generation through social networks
>
>
>>In my experience, social networking is used as a casual means of
>>communication.  People flock to social network cites for entertainment,
>>but when it comes to using cites like Facebook and Twitter to
>>communicate real news and information, very few people are interested in
>>this.
>>
>>In Omaha, NE, our chapter has a Facebook that was created 2 years ago,
>>but it is never used.  As part of a PR plan, I am making recommendations
>>for the chapter's Facebook page, but I do not see, at this point in
>>time, social network cites being a huge asset in terms of a true
>>information source.
>>
>>First, in order to truly make this work, you need someone, preferably a
>>couple of people, who will be dedicated to updating the cite.  This
>>means including new info in timely fashions, addressing questions and
>>comments as they are made, creating and sending event info to people and
>>seeking new members to the cite.  Depending on how active your page is,
>>this could require daily updates, but I would say weekly or biweekly at
>>the least.  You should probably include some visual element, though
>>Facebook and Twitter are not like a website or personal blog where you
>>can develop an entire artistic aspect.
>>
>>They are limited to what visual you can create since the websites
>>themselves already have graphic designs meant to keep the cites
>>consistent and recognizable.  This may not be the best analogy, but it
>>is similar to how a newspaper or magazine creates everything to be
>>recognized as material from their source.  You may use certain material
>>unique to you, but ultimately it will follow the design of that
>>publication.
>>
>>With Facebook and Twitter, and I'm no expert, you can create some
>>specific graphics-- some of this is accessible, most not-- and of course
>>you can upload pictures.
>>
>>I am familiar with Facebook, but not as much with Twitter.  Facebook
>>requires a "following."  You must either "invite" people through the
>>website to your page, or people can request your page as a "friend."
>>Otherwise, people are limited to what information they can access on
>>your page.  I think the same is true for Twitter, but I'm not sure.
>>
>>Also, for updating and informing about dates and times of events and
>>activities, these cites can be good, but if trying to communicate info
>>similar to what is available in a newsletter, or even email, Twitter and
>>Facebook are not the routes to go.  Twitter only allows, I believe, up
>>to 140 words per post, and Facebook, though lengthier post can be done,
>>is not really meant for this kind of info.
>>
>>Now, using either as a tool to pique curiosity, this could work.  People
>>can initially be drawn to your group to learn more.  You may offer small
>>tid-bits of info such as event advertisements, or some sound-bite of
>>interesting info that may wet minds, but as a true source of news,
>>social network cites are not intended for this purpose.
>>
>>Websites and blogs would be the route to take if you are looking to
>>create an online news source.  I have no clue how to create websites and
>>blogs.  I know Wordpress is a common blog-creator and it is accessible,
>>but beyond this, I have no answers.  Your best bet is to find someone
>>who has experience in creating websites and blogs.  Blogs, I've been
>>told, are pretty easy to create, but websites are more involved.
>>
>>It will also cost to create and maintain websites and some blogs.
>>Websites can be costly so you will have to research.
>>
>>Blogs and websites can be as advanced and sophisticated as you are able
>>to make them.  You have complete control over the visual design and what
>>kind of content you provide.
>>
>>Again, you will require people who will keep the cite updated, and with
>>a website or blog, this will require more diligence than social network
>>cites.  In order to maintain an active website, your webmaster will have
>>to be on top of things checking if material is current, relevant and
>>appropriate.
>>
>>Here is my opinion.  If it isn't flashy and fun, the younger generations
>>won't pay attention.  The sad reality is that the days of revolution are
>>coming to an end.  There was a time when the younger generations felt
>>the fire, were eager to march and take up the fight.  They paid
>>attention to those who came before.  They anticipated speeches and news
>>sources.  They actively participated alongside veterans.  I think my
>>generation is when the break happened- those of us born in the late 70s
>>and early 80s.
>>
>>The same fervor and passion that drew people together and left a stamp
>>on past generations-- Harlem Renaissance, voting rights, Civil Rights
>>era, womens lib, hippy movement, etc.-- We are now creating a society of
>>people who require instant communication, but it must come in as small,
>>but pretty, package as possible.  The fire is not dead, yet, but the
>>attention span no longer exist.
>>
>>Even ten years ago when it was students speaking the loudest about the
>>war in Iraq and genocide in Africa, this has changed.  I think we are
>>becoming sterile.  It once was students leading us into revolution, but
>>I see this happening less and less.   In my experience, I see very few
>>younger people eager and excited to take up arms.  When there are fun
>>activities that do not require work, they will flock from all over, but
>>they are asked to do anything that even remotely seems boring, you hear
>>crickets chirping.
>>
>>Our state has a walk for independence each spring.  We usually have all
>>of 5 younger people show up to participate, and usually they are on the
>>board of the student division.  However, the NE student division takes
>>an annual trip to Worlds of Fun and let me tell you, they have
>>difficulty providing enough transportation.
>>
>>This is not meant to be a call to give up.  I'm just saying that the
>>traditional methods of involvement, communications and information no
>>longer work to draw a younger audience.
>>
>>Even if we create blogs or social network pages, we have to rethink how
>>to present ourselves.  To be honest, if younger people-- and some older
>>people too-- don't feel as though you are doing something for them,
>>offering them something, many have no interest.
>>
>>We are not a social organization, though this is an element, and we
>>can't change the goals of the Federation to be fun, social activities
>>only, but I think the entire organization needs a wake-up call.  While
>>many of our veterans are still active and going, we will be okay, but
>>once more and more of the younger generation starts taking over, I
>>wonder about the future of the organization.
>>
>>As those of you from the 60s said, The times are changing."  It doesn't
>>take a rocket scientist to observe the turn the world has taken.  The
>>problems we face in the NFB are problems the entire world are dealing
>>with.
>>
>>And this brings me back to what is the purpose and direction of our
>>newsletters.  Yes, I said it, I am still beating that horse!  *smile*
>>And I'm probably inadvertently starting another controversial debate!
>>LOL  I am a menace and should be stopped!  *smile*
>>
>>In a nutshell, which this communication certainly has not been, I do not
>>find social network cites to be a valid tool communicating the kind of
>>news and info we are attempting to provide.  Facebook and Twitter can be
>>great supplemental tools that provide some fun and new ways to update
>>with morsels, but at best, they will only be ways to advertise and
>>remind-- not inform and educate.
>>
>>Website and blogs have a better chance of expressing this type of
>>material, but again, I think we are coming to the end of the age when
>>the written word had the same kind of power and sway it once did.  Which
>>sucks since I'm a writer by traide!
>>
>>When people can communicate via live chat, or You Tube, or in 140 words,
>>articles and other longer print sources no longer have the same affect
>>as they once did.
>>
>>Bridgit
>>
>>Message: 1
>>Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 21:49:54 -0700
>>From: "Tina Hansen" <th404 at comcast.net>
>>To: "Correspondence Committee Mailing List" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
>>Newtorks
>>Message-ID: <09FDDF9C97AF4D968A09D39F24EA200C at tinad85eb5cc31>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>>I know that the current generation is very much up on the social network
>>sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. They also love to blog. I
>>had a discussion with a good friend of mine last night, and this friend
>>argues that we ought to use these new tools to communicate our messages.
>>
>>I know that while some other states now have a blog, Facebook page or
>>Twitter account, ours doesn't. My thinking is that if we were to create
>>a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, we could use that for
>>podcasts, testimonials from members, and possibly our newsletter.
>>Personally, I plan to make it a personal project this year to get over
>>my fears and do something about this myself, possibly with some help
>>from others in my affiliate.
>>
>>If any of you have done this in your affiliate, I'd like to hear what
>>you've done to make this happen. How do you ensure that blind and
>>sighted visitors find the site both accessible and visually attractive.
>>I know that I'm not that good with graphics, and much better with words,
>>but I also recognize that our visual culture likes attractive graphics.
>>If you've created a blog, what platform is the most accessible? If
>>you've created a Facebook page, how did you go about it?
>>
>>If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 2
>>Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 06:16:36 -0500
>>From: "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
>>To: "'Correspondence Committee Mailing List'" <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
>>Networks
>>Message-ID: <00a401cc07f1$3c775cb0$b5661610$@cox.net>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>>Tina
>>
>>A super current thought --- a question that we will address at
>>convention during the Newsletter Publication committee meeting.
>>Discussion here and now would help to solidify the scope of this trend
>>needing to be addressed. What do we hear on TV --- "Face Book 600
>>million and counting --- Twitter 200 million and counting!" "Newspapers
>>are failing and hard-copy issues are being over shadowed by on-line
>>presentation." "Cell phones that are computers in your pocket!"
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>On Behalf Of Tina Hansen
>>Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 11:50 PM
>>To: Correspondence Committee Mailing List
>>Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social Newtorks
>>
>>I know that the current generation is very much up on the social network
>>sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. They also love to blog. I
>>had a discussion with a good friend of mine last night, and this friend
>>argues that we ought to use these new tools to communicate our messages.
>>
>>I know that while some other states now have a blog, Facebook page or
>>Twitter account, ours doesn't. My thinking is that if we were to create
>>a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, we could use that for
>>podcasts, testimonials from members, and possibly our newsletter.
>>Personally, I plan to make it a personal project this year to get over
>>my fears and do something about this myself, possibly with some help
>>from others in my affiliate.
>>
>>If any of you have done this in your affiliate, I'd like to hear what
>>you've done to make this happen. How do you ensure that blind and
>>sighted visitors find the site both accessible and visually attractive.
>>I know that I'm not that good with graphics, and much better with words,
>>but I also recognize that our visual culture likes attractive graphics.
>>If you've created a blog, what platform is the most accessible? If
>>you've created a Facebook page, how did you go about it?
>>
>>If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.
>>_______________________________________________
>>Nfb-editors mailing list
>>Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>Nfb-editors:
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/newmanrl%40
>>cox.
>>net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Message: 3
>>Date: Sun, 1 May 2011 09:58:45 -0700
>>From: Mike Freeman <k7uij at panix.com>
>>To: "newmanrl at cox.net" <newmanrl at cox.net>, Correspondence Committee
>>Mailing List <nfb-editors at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
>>Networks
>>Message-ID: <04BF4903-331D-426A-8BAD-A52062445695 at panix.com>
>>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>
>>And yet I'm not convinced people truly read and carefully consider all
>>the "information" that comes at them thru social media.
>>
>>Mike Freeman
>>sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>>On May 1, 2011, at 4:16, "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>Tina
>>>
>>>A super current thought --- a question that we will address at
>>>convention during the Newsletter Publication committee meeting.
>>>Discussion here and now would help to solidify the scope of this trend
>>
>>>needing to be addressed. What do we hear on TV --- "Face Book 600
>>>million and counting --- Twitter 200 million and counting!"
>>>"Newspapers are failing and hard-copy issues are being over shadowed
>>>by on-line presentation." "Cell phones that are computers in your
>>>pocket!"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>[mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>>>On Behalf Of Tina Hansen
>>>Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 11:50 PM
>>>To: Correspondence Committee Mailing List
>>>Subject: [Nfb-editors] Reaching this Generation through Social
>>Newtorks
>>>
>>>I know that the current generation is very much up on the social
>>>network sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Linked In. They also love to
>>
>>>blog. I had a discussion with a good friend of mine last night, and
>>>this friend argues that we ought to use these new tools to communicate
>>
>>>our messages.
>>>
>>>I know that while some other states now have a blog, Facebook page or
>>>Twitter account, ours doesn't. My thinking is that if we were to
>>>create a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, we could use that for
>>
>>>podcasts, testimonials from members, and possibly our newsletter.
>>>Personally, I plan to make it a personal project this year to get over
>>
>>>my fears and do something about this myself, possibly with some help
>>>from others in my affiliate.
>>>
>>>If any of you have done this in your affiliate, I'd like to hear what
>>>you've done to make this happen. How do you ensure that blind and
>>>sighted visitors find the site both accessible and visually
>>>attractive. I know that I'm not that good with graphics, and much
>>>better with words, but I also recognize that our visual culture likes
>>>attractive graphics. If you've created a blog, what platform is the
>>>most accessible? If you've created a Facebook page, how did you go
>>>about it?
>>>
>>>If you have any thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Nfb-editors mailing list
>>>Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>Nfb-editors:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/newmanrl%
>>>40cox.
>>>net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Nfb-editors mailing list
>>>Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org
>>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>Nfb-editors:
>>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40p
>>>anix.com
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Nfb-editors mailing list
>>Nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-editors_nfbnet.org