Tips to more effectively share on social media

I wanted to give some suggestions on using social media, particularly Facebook, to promote an event.  So here's an example of an event that you might want to share on Facebook.  It's a simple graphic that gives all your information in a memorable way.

One of the most common mistakes is that people post such a graphic, but forget about the privacy setting.  The problem is that even though you've shared an event with your friends on your Facebook wall, those friends can't share the graphic with others, because the privacy mode limits it to only your friends. That situation than kills the virality of graphic. Friends and fans who would want to share your information won't be able to. It's not fair to expect such fans to take the extra steps to make the graphic public, or even expect them to have the technical expertise even if they were willing.

The following graphic was created by Derek Jenkins, and makes it plain how to fix that mistake :

Thanks to Derek Jenkins for creating this helpful graphic

So now you know -- if you post an informational graphic, follow to above steps to ensure your message is spread.

Once you've made that informational graphic public, there are a few other tips that can help promote your graphic:

• Tag some friends who you think would seriously act on this graphic and/or further spread the graphic
• Call or e-mail friends as well, or even meet up with them. Building interest in a personal way gets people excited about it.
• Post the graphics in groups which allow such graphics and are specifically relevant to it
• If you have annual or very special events, make sure you let staff, board members, or key volunteers know at your next scheduled meeting. That will put this graphic at the top of their priority list, and can boost the effectiveness.

If you need help developing your social media strategy, empowering your volunteers, and organizing your resources, contact JP Paulus of Do-Gooder Consulting at 872-222-8008 or at blog@do-gooder.us

Join us August 1 for the FREE Illinois College Access Network Conference @ North Park University

JP Paulus will be a co-presenter for a workshop during the Illinois College Access Network conference in Chicago on Thursday, August 1. He will join Jeremy Barahona of PURSUE Scholars to talk about "Developing Faith-Based College Access Partnerships", based on our experience with churches, nonprofits and networking.

The aim of the conference is to help those who work with youth (and adults) get them to college, and to connect resources together to help our whole state improve our college graduation rates.

Other presenters, perhaps familiar to our readers, include Professor Daniel White Hodge from North Park's Center for Youth Ministry Studies.

The conference is free, but they ask that you RSVP, in order to plan for the FREE continental breakfast and lunch. Simply send an e-mail to illinoiscollegeaccessnetwork@gmail.com with basic details (i.e. how many are going, what organization you are with, if any)

The conference is on Thursday, August 1, from 8am - 2pm at North Park University, 3225 W. Foster Avenue (in the Carlson Tower building).  Free parking is available at the lot on the southeast corner of Kedzie and Foster.


Here's the schedule:

Registration and Continental Breakfast

 

8:30 – 9:00am          Welcome and Opening Remarks, by Mike Dessimoz & Leslie Millenson

 

9:15 – 10:15am       Break-out Sessions:

·      Non-Academic Factors in College Readiness, by Anne Deeter, Dominican University

·      Developing Faith-Based College Access Partnerships, by JP Paulus, Do-Gooder Consulting

 

10:30 – 11:30am     Break-out Sessions:

·      Transitional Experiences of Illinois Males, Dr. Lorenzo Baber, University of Illinois

·      Three Years Later: Findings from the ISAC Corps, by  Illinois Student Assistance Commission

 

11:45 – 12:45pm     Break-out Sessions:

·      Hip Hop Culture and the Aspirations of Youth, by Dr. Daniel White Hodge, North Park University

·      Professional Development on a Budget, panel presentation on creative& cost-effective staff development

 

12:45 – 2:00pm       Lunch& Keynote Presentation by The College Board:

                                    “The Educational Crisis Facing Young Men of Color”

For more information, go to the Illinois College Access Network website.

If you are at the conference, please come to see JP Paulus. If you don't see him, call or text 872-22-8008.

We look forward to seeing you!

FREE College Changes Everything conference is July 12

The College Changes Everything Conference is coming soon, and it can change how YOU can help bring your youth to college (and graduate!).

This FREE conference is on Thursday, July 12. It starts at 8am and runs until 3:30pm, with free continental breakfast and lunch. The event takes place at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

According to the conference's web page:

Attend this one day conference that focuses on effective practices and showcases resources available to help with college access and increasing college completion. The conference brings together a diverse audience from across the state: college access practitioners; high school leaders, counselors and case managers; college and university leaders and administrators; and policymakers interested in higher education.

Sessions presented by state and national leaders will provide purposeful information and engage the audience in thoughtful discussions on the serious issues we face, such as:

• College and Career Readiness
• Retention Success
• Skill Sets for 21st Century Jobs
• Expanding Students Pursuit of STEM Fields
• Dual Credit and Dual Degree Programs
• Remediation Success
• Common Core Standards and College Access
• And more

The forum will include time for sharing best practices with peers to help participants walk away with plans for moving their access and completion efforts forward. Come ready to share and learn.

Registration has already started, and you should go ahead and click on this link to register. Last Year, registration closed weeks before the conference, so time is of the essence..

Click here for more information on the conference.

This event is sponsored by KnowHow2GoIllinois and organized by

• Lt. Governor’s Office
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission
• Illinois Board of Higher Education
• Illinois Community College Board
• Illinois State Board of Education
• Women Employed
• Illinois College Access Network
• Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities

If you are not able to go to the conference, or would like personalized coaching for your staff, Do-Gooder Consulting can help provide it. We specialize in helping youth ministries integrate this information with their theological framework. Contact us at college@do-gooder.us for more information.

Get your taxes - and FAFSA - done for FREE

There are 2 organizations offering tax and FAFSA assistance in the city of Chicago: The Center for Economic Progress and Ladder Up.


The Center for Economic Progress is offering to do taxes for free for families with less than a $50,000 income ($25,000 for individuals).


There are 6 locations throughout the city of Chicago., and many more in the Chicagoland area.


If you haven't done the FAFSA, or want to update it with new tax information,  CEP is a great place to do it!


Even if you feel like you didn't have an income, it would be wise to make a visit and find out for sure.(Those on unemployment MUST still fill out taxes!)

Thanks to Stephen Thurston II of New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church for the above graphic

The Ladder Up organization  is offering to do taxes for free for families with less than a $45,000 income ($20,000 for individuals). They have separate locations for taxes (through their TAP = Tax Assistance Program)  and for FAFSA help, through their LIFT program. Ladder Up has partnered with experts from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in the past, and is a great resource for families to fill out the FAFSA.

Remember what we said about the FAFSA and our  warning about the FAFSA: do it as soon as possible. If you can do your taxes now, then you can do the FAFSA at the same time (with Center for Economic Progress). If you aren't ready to do your taxes, then at least do the FAFSA! 

Do-Gooder Consulting also provides an affordable year-long consulting service for your organization that includes 3 seminars (The Financial Aid Process – for families; The College Going Process – for youth workers; FAFSA workshop – for families).

Contact us at college@do-gooder.us or call us at 872-222-8008 for details on the free and paid services. We look forward to hearing from you. Find out more about us at www.do-gooder.us