“Have you read my post?” I have been busted by this question for a number of times every day. With a number of blog-addicted friends and colleagues, I should have been used to it.
With the continuous boom of technology giving birth to dozens of new and exciting innovations, many individuals seek the opportunity to keep pace with these trends in the web. Aside from various social networking sites that are now becoming household names, another “IT” thing has been making their way to your computer screens: blog.
Blog or blogging has created its own niche in the cyberspace. Being a type of a publicized online “diary,” individuals can easily access their blog sites, type in their thoughts, publish their ideas, and distribute their opinions on the web. Now, anybody who can access the web can see other people’s thinking out loud stuff or talking about their own views and perceptions of different things.
Aside from being a medium used to express one’s views and ideas freely, blog is also being used to promote and advertise various products and services. Business professionals, particularly companies, who are hoping to create “goodwill” among their clients use blogs to promote their “company image.” While many for profit companies and business entrepreneurs maximize the use of blogs, non-profits are now acknowledging the benefits that blogs can bring to their organizations.
Blog can be used in building a non-profit’s goodwill and promoting itself to grant donors that might be surfing the net. It is not really oases at deserts. But you can consider it as extra tools that can help you in communicating your needs to a bigger and diverse audience.
Increases Accessibility
Grant donors are becoming technologically literate. With billions of web sites that flood the ultra busy cyberspace, searching for your organization can be exhausting. This is where blogging comes in. Since blog can increase your non-profit’s visibility and Internet exposure, searching your organization is easier and hassle-free.
Better Communication
Since readers can leave down comments, informed and knowledgeable readers can leave hints and leads where you can possibly get funding for your cause. Just be careful and leery with posts that lead you to sites that provide grants for a fee. More likely, these are scams so you really have to be cautious in checking links and sources.
Moreover, positive comments and feedbacks on your site can be a plus factor that can increase the chances of your organization to gain positive impression from your prospective grantors.
Differentiate yourself from other non-profits
Since blog give your non-profit a personal touch, your value to your readers and target audience increases. Moreover, aside from giving your character some lift, blog can also showcase the things that you are capable of doing and how your cause can help a number of people. Let them see your edge against other non-profits through your sound and well-written posts.
Show off your experience and expertise
Your posts and ideas posted in your blogs show your capacity to handle complex and various projects. Once your prospective funders noticed how experienced and determined you are, you might gain their approval and gain higher chances of being funded.
Aside from that, blog can be used to counter every negative feedback that your organization has been receiving. Blogs are really helpful in managing the online reputation of your non-profit.
You don’t need to become that tech savvy or a techno-geek in order to maximize the full potentials of blog. All you have to do is have the heart and dedication in updating your blogs because it can be time consuming. Blog requires continuous updating and checking. But all of the possible drawbacks will pay off once you received the grant money for your cause through the help of your blog.
