Blogging For Your Non-Profit: Stuck For Ideas?

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to market their mission. She is known as the "Words Girl" around Graphix For Change. Her current quest is to get a grip on how online marketing analytics can help grow a non-profit's program and reach.

5 Quick Post Ideas For Your NonProfit Blog

If your nonprofit agency is among the growing number adding its voice to the blog-o-rama, congratulations. Committing to a blog is a big deal. It shows you're serious about engaging with your community and stakeholders in a powerful and effective way.

The commitment has been made, and the task has been assigned to you. As the "agency blogger" you are now likely staring at the big blank screen, wondering how to fill it with words of wit, wisdom and wow. You're not alone. Here are five quick ideas for blog posts.

What makes a good nonprofit blog post?

1. Staff news: Consider posting feature profiles on your key staffers. Do one post per person, and include some relevant professional background, along with some colorful personal information as appropriate. Include a picture (preferably not a stuffy head shot; show them as they really are). Get a quote from the staffer on how the mission of your agency dovetails with their personal goals or passions.

2. Market the Mission: Do a blog post about your agency's mission. Then give your own take on what it means to you. You'll be surprised how quickly you can write 400 words when you are talking about mission-driven work that matters. Include a real example of how your agency's work has affected change.

3. Community News - Nonprofits hire leaders, who keep a good ear open for relevent local and regional news stories. Comment on currents events, from the perspective of your agency's work toward social change. This is a great opportunity to engage a wider audience from your local base and garner support for your issues.

4. National and Global Events - You work to change the world. Let your readers know how you feel about the legislative policy in Washington or on the world stage. This work does not take place in a vacuum; demonstrate how these "far off" events impact real people in real ways.

5. Pass It On - Read something that resonates? Do a quick introduction, then refer your readers to the link for the complete article. Not every word in your blog needs to come from your keypad. In fact, featuring guest authors in this way is not only good for your readers, it also builds backlinks to other blogs in your industry. This leads to wider exposure, more readers and more engagement. Of course, be sure to give credit to the original author and include a link back to their site. They might even come to your blog and comment.

Don't forget you can write several posts at a time, save them as "drafts," and set the date to go live in the future. Shut off the phone, close the door and get writing. You'll appreciate the time you spend now when you realize you have enough blog posts drafted to schedule you through the next month or two. (I'm writing this on the plane on my way from Boston to Philadelphia. It's a quick 50 minute flight, and because of bad weather we are delayed for at least an hour. A perfect to knock off a handful of posts. If you can't find the time to blog for your nonprofit agency, steal the time!)