I have been asked numerous times since my last post what I meant when I recommended that you create an "official email and persona" to use for social media. Almost all social media platforms require that there be a real live human connected to the account. Or at least an individual persona connected to the account. In fact, most are designed with the idea that the blog, post or tweet is from a specific person. Below is a chart showing the requirement of some social media platforms.
|
Social Media Platform |
Requires Personal Account |
Unique Username or Handle |
Tied to |
|
|
FACEBOOK PERSONAL PROFILE |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
FACEBOOK PAGE |
✔ |
|
✔ |
|
|
|
|
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
|
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
LINKEDIN ORGANIZATION PAGE |
|
|
✔ |
|
|
YOUTUBE |
✔ |
|
✔ |
|
|
TUMBLR |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
BLOGGER |
✔ |
✔ |
✔ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The industry average for a fundraiser staying at a single organization is 18 to 24 months. So I recommend that the highest-ranking person at the organization be the official persona.
Also, it is a good idea to create a single email to use for all your social media platforms. Something like This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (Mike’s normal email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) are good choices for your social media email. I do not recommend info@, socialmedia@, or website@. Remember you will need to create the email first and make sure you have access to it before you begin setting up your social media platforms.
NOTE: Be sure to keep a written record of your usernames, email and password using a grid like the one above. I keep this in a document file on a shared drive one that other staff can access.
