Liveblogging: the way forward [for social enterprise]

From 24-26 April, I attended the life changing Social Venture Network Spring 2009 Conference (that's me in the orange collared shirt). SVN, established in 1987, leads the social enterprise sector in the US, connecting highly successful social entrepreneurs. Members are mostly from the Canada and USA--from New York to San Fransisco; SVN Europe connects with EU social enterprise.

SVN decided to liveblog their Spring 2009 Conference via their blog, including blogposts, microblogging (via @SVNetwork on Twitter account and #SVNetwork hashtag group), Facebook, (private) LinkedIn, video and flickr account. The co-ordinated effort was headed by Canada-based Communicopia, represented by Jason Mogus and Christopher Roy. Alyssa Urish and I helped collect and co-ordinate feed into social networks.

The goal? Informing and engaging SVN's network of paid members, while educating interested observers and social entrepreneurs around the world about tools. As SVN's community increasingly uses the social networks it's currently promoting, the more enabled members will feel and the more value eachother can provide!



This was SVN and Communicopia's first partnership liveblogging the conference. Inquires and comments generated from within (apparently the Executive Director loved the blog) and via their readers, conversations generated by the community made the endeavor highly successful. Members across the age, race and gender spectrum asked, "why?" and "how?" frequently. Many members were interested in learning more--especially how social media might influence how they do business.

Some stats: today, SVN's Facebook group has 291 members and 121 followers on @SVNetwork on Twitter, with 50 #SVNetwork hashtag tweets so far. With 100+ views on their YouTube videos, this mades the potential reach for the Social Venture far more--even several days after the conference--than without using and collating liveblogging facilities. Although this seems small, considering the network of each ReTweet and #SVNetwork hashtag, its easily estimated the reach of the conference is in the thousands! (Consider for example: how many followers does each Twitter 'friend' have?)

Climate Camp 2009: Looking for designers

Speaking of sustainability PR 2.0, Climate Camp [UK] 2009 is re-branding! Many found the great branding for Climate Camp 2008 positive and inclusive. Last year, the group was featured on many major UK news channels including Sky video and web, BBC and Channel 4 video; @ClimateCamp on Twitter and YouTube (climatelife and climatecamp among others). The website was also informative, interactive and overall--inspiring. If you've ever considered doing positive and influential designing, you should apply...

Earth Day: 6 innovative websites and videos changing the face of green

It's Earth Day 2009 and I Googled Earth Day news via Google Reader (read my web 2.0 chapter). Great developments are increasing Earth Day buzz, including loads of media coverage on TV (love Weather Channel [Earth911.com] coverage), magazines and newspapers and using social media tools for international coverage of 1+ billion people.

As a low carbon protestor and businesswoman, I'd urge you to find and use great Earth Day websites to participate in Earth Day events. Reach out and do one action to reduce your carbon footprint today! There's no excuse to start small this Earth Day! We thought you might want to know how to reduce your own carbon footprint and recommend others to do the same using innovative platforms.

1. As recommended by a fellow British Council Low Carbon Futures (recruiting now, actually) UK Advocate, Femi Longe (longesson). The Story of Stuff with Anne Leonard has changed the way we look at--not macroeconomics--but microeconomics. How can we all change the world through our purchasing power?

2. Do the Green Thing--because it rocks. Sign up to get a monthly green thing to do. And trust me, if you're online--they'll connect and remind you in the coolest of ways to do that green thing.

3. On that note, Carrot Mob has taken the idea of green purchasing power to another level on their website. Organize, execute and evaluate a Carrot Mob in your city on their lovely, interactive website and blog.

4. Green For All. It helps that Founder Van Jones is Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation under President Obama. Great idea: input your picture and out pops Green Jobs Icon with your face on it! This enables participants to engage with the organization and promote green jobs virally.

5. Low carbon gaming? News, too, from Climate Culture. Because online gaming doesn't always need to be with cars and tanks. Changing the face of gaming and enabling (at the moment) the low carbon community to compete for greeness. I'd like to see everyone saying, "my carbon emissions are lower than yours!"

6. Age of Stupid is innovative and fresh for its perspective and financing model. Thousands of small funds were pooled for research and actualizing one of the most highly influential cinematic films on climate change in 2009.

The Rising Star

Many web 1.0 societies and organizations have caught up with the value of web 2.0 tools and are using them subtly. Like watching a cat in the jungle, we can start to see their movements. Sharing is caring; the American Institute of Architects have added a share this icon (although small in both pictures, apologies) and are including sustainability into their development.

Stellar sustainability social media outreach: Do The Green Thing

Going low carbon is life changing and usually altogether pragmatic; changing behavior and attitudes takes information and constant encouragement. Andy Hobsbawm and Naresh Ramchahdani understood this and wanted to assist individuals to move towards low carbon lifestyles. The result? Do the Green Thing--a virtual platform inspiring individuals to take monthly actions to reduce their carbon footprint using fun, simple and cool, crowdsourced-tools.

Since its inception in 2008, Do the Green Thing has received international acclaim for its creativity and in my opinion--really great PR. What makes Do the Green Thing (AKA GT) communications notable besides its iconic green monster mascot? 

I sat down with Andy Hobsbawm at Social Innovation Camp March in London and chatted briefly about their social media strategy. Working alongside Andy at 2gether08 (London-based unConference on social innovation), I felt inspired by his enthusiasm, charisma and commitment to change. Besides these qualities, the success of Do the Green Thing communications has been their SM strategy encouraging dialog and community engagement. 

Key social media tools:

• #DoTheGreenThing widget to connect GT and others' Tweet conversations to GT sidebar
  
• GT newsletters updates via Tweets (creating buzz, increased readership and positive branding)

 

• Application (1 of 8 eco applications featured on the Huffington Post)
• Group page (2,568 members thus far)
• Promotes and extends conversation into another social network

Share friendly

• Why is it important? GT has increased their outreach through making sharing easy
• Very important: GT has deep, transparent links with their social networks via their website. All the links are available via GT 'different ways to get the green thing'
• Social networks (including Flickr, Myspace, Technorati and FriendFeed to aggregate) 
• RSS Feeds to subscribe to videos and podcasts via iTunes

Neat-o graphics [online and offline]

• Funny, engaging videos (including GT YouTube and Vimeo channels)
• Games that makes you want to play (like the Mac Airbook Game)
• Video syndication to connect their videos to social network via TubeMogul.com
• Offline wallchart (small, medium and large) to remember your [monthly] green thing

Traditional PR

• Linked to GT website

Mobile 

• Just in case you forget or want to show a friend on the go!
• GT website redirects to mobile-friendly site on mobile browsers

Andy Hobsbawm will be speaking at 2gether09 in London on 5-6 July 2009.