Digital Campaigning for Activists Sharing for change...
What is social media? websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking
Rethink Mental Illness uses two main platforms to engage with our audience:
Facebook for news or reaction to events, or if we’d like our audience to take action / give us feedback...
Twitter for disseminating short burst information such as press releases or surveys.
Since 2011 Rethink Mental Illness’ online reach has increased from 15,000 people to nearly 240,000
Our recent #monitor this campaign let us motivate people quickly – thousands took action and objected to mental health cuts in England.
It worked! Monitor requested a meeting with us to discuss the objections that our audience voiced.
Why do people decide to act?
Facebook Share campaign posts Images are powerful! Tell people if you’ve taken action Tell people WHY you’ve taken action Thank others for taking action – tag them in a post Tag people you think will be particularly interested (not everyone you know!) Pin an action post to the top of your page Keep people updated Be a content curator
How to ‘pin’ to the top
Campaign s Forward campaign s. Add a message to explain why it’s particularly important to you. If time... PERSONALISE for the recipient. Make it relevant for them.
Twitter Retweet campaign calls to action Add your own tweets to tell people why this is important to you Tell stories – tweet articles and images about mental health, and about your campaigning work Never use more than two hashtags Grow your followers... Put your twitter handle on your signature / blog / website Follow other people! They will often follow you back Use #charitytuesday and #followfriday Don’t be boring
Call yourself an activist? Telling the world you are an activist or campaigner adds credibility to your tweets! People respect authority, so give yourself some!
The future... ?
Join us! facebook.com/rethinkcharity twitter.com/rethink_ instagram.com/rethinkmentalillness