I’m a big believer in the value of well-moderated LinkedIn groups. I have been ever since I asked in the International Association of Business Communicators group about e-magazine options when I worked about the YMCA and someone I didn’t know recommended Issuu which was a much better option than what we had been using.
As I wrote in my post on the 11 Fundamentals of LinkedIn, “One of the best ways [to get active] is to find groups to join that may be online versions of professional associations or alumni groups but may exist only on LinkedIn and based upon a common interest for example.” What I didn’t say in that post but also believe is that if a group for your interest area doesn’t exist yet, create one.
Introducing “Canadian Nonprofit Communications”
I have started a LinkedIn group called Canadian Nonprofit Communications.
Yes, there are many LinkedIn groups for nonprofits and charities (also known as social profits) and there are even LinkedIn groups for Canadian nonprofits but I thought there should be one focused on communications for nonprofits within a Canadian context.
To be honest, it’s been a pretty quiet group so far which is why I’m writing this post. I’m hoping that we can get more members and generate more activity. While I have started the group, my intent is that it be a place where peers are helping peers. I also want to avoid dominating that group as if it were a “Communicate & Howe!” group.
You do need to apply to join the group. That is partly because I want it to be a forum for people with a strong connection to the communications function for nonprofits in Canada. It is also to help avoid LinkedIn group spam and make the job of moderating the group easier.
A Marketing Group exists
After starting my group, I learned that there was a group called Canadian Non-Profit Marketing so I hesitated publicizing mine. At the same time, I’d suggest that marketing is more than communications and communications is more than marketing. Having been a member of the other group for some time, I think that there is room for a group specific to communications.
Canadian Nonprofit Technology
There is also a fairly new group called Canadian Nonprofit Technology started by, or should I say, powered by Jason Shim. While there are overlaps into communications and marketing, Jason agreed that his plan was to focus more on the technology/IT side of nonprofits and not so much about how to use technology for marketing or communications. Think of it as two different streams of sessions at NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference.
I enjoy being a part of that group because Jason has a knack of finding interesting, breaking news related to nonprofit’s use of technology for a variety of purposes. I learn about things or learn about them first from his postings to that group. So there’s definitely benefit from joining that group too!
