Marnie Webb will lead this conversation about what tools are out there to help you, the individual blogger, raise funds and galvanize action around the issues you are most passionate about. Catherine Connors, who has been at the helm of the BlogHers Act Canada initiative since its inception will discuss how they created their monthly challenges, and how they keep momentum going. Donna Callejon will highlight the flexible features of Global Giving, the online fundraising service working with BlogHer on our BlogHers Act Mother’s Day initiative and leading social media consultant to non-profits, Beth Kanter, will talk about what has worked for her on her personal sites and for the organizations she has worked with.

Featuring: Marnie Webb, Catherine Connors, Donna Callejon and Beth Kanter

Beth Kanter: I work with non-profits and help them utilize social media. I’ve been blogging for six or seven years.
Catherine Connors: I’m a founder of Mothers of Eternal Justice and a former professor.
Donna Callejon: I’m with Global Giving, which is essentially an eBay style site for philanthropy.
Marnie Webb: I’m with Net Squared to help causes move forward. This session is about tools and how to use them. It’s broken into three areas: personal, collective and organizations. Why are you here?
Audience Member: Social media is forcing corporate giants to learn something to learn about non-profit best practices.
AM: I’m here to learn what these non-profits need.
AM: I’m helping NGO’s develop social media strategy.
BK: How did I raise $200k for Cambodian orphans using my blog? I took to my blog and raised enough money to travel to the country and co-sponsor their conference. Most of the time, money goes to “The Sharing Foundation.” Most recently, I raised $93,000 for them. $50,000 of that came from a competition which opened on December 13, 2007. Here’s the deal: You raise money for a cause and the most successful wins the long competition. So here’s what I did. I posted and asked my readers what to do. They could have stolen my ideas, since they’re non-profits looking for tools. But they didn’t.
Strategy: Make It Personal – show pictures, shares stories. And why you want to help. And share the tools used to raise money.
The ladder of engagement: Tell a story. How were people helping?
Reciprocity – I blogged about other causes to grow my network. And to help people connect.
Strategy: Fun – what’s more fun than a birthday party. My birthday was coming up: I asked my Facebook users to not send me gifts, but to donate. And they did.
Funny video on YouTube got forwarded around. I twittered. I poked people on Facebook. I did a photo contest on Flicker to “adjust” my photos and the winner got $50. 125 people donated to my cause.
Halfway through the contest, I had T-shirts made connecting people to the cause. I had people offline asking for donations.
With 24 hours to go we’re in 1st place. But then dropped to 5th.
I told all my people that we couldn’t lose. They were twittering me that they wouldn’t let me lose and started contacting everyone they know. One doctor in India contacted 3,000 other doctors to donate. And we won.
CC: Blogging is such an exciting thing…how are you taking advantage of this to pursue goals and make changes in the world? Bloggers have very passionate communities. Last year after BlogHer and after meeting Gloria Steinem where she talked about writing a post about what you’re passionate about. It garnered 120 other posts about why people are passionate.
So we asked, “Why don’t we make this Canadian focused?” We talked about making it specific or broad. Decided to be broad on the environment. Our bloggers act initiative. Each month was a particular issue surrounding the environment. We asked bloggers to tell us what their passions were like eating locally, plastics and bottles, teaching our kids about the environment. We didn’t get too active, but rather drove traffic to organizations’ sites that did have action steps.
We prompted bloggers to blog about something which they are passionate about. It’s not the specific cause, but rather that they’re getting involved. Why not take the opportunity to share you passions and do something small to change the world?
DC: We launched this BlogHers Act campaign and have raised $6,300. Don’t try to be Beth Kantor. Twitter is number one referrer of driving traffic to this campaign. Three out of the top five givers were food blogs. People who like to eat, like to give.
AM: How did you get that data?
DC: We use a tool called Omniture. Google analytics is free and does the same thing. We’ll put resources on Wiki page. The philanthropic giving in US is $300 billion a year. 82 percent is from individuals. 33 percent comes from faith based organizations. No good data regarding online, but might be one percent. Only 44 million given through social media. So there’s tremendous opportunity. We intend to focus on developing country giving, which is a small sliver of all US giving.
People are almost 100 times as likely to give is someone they know asks them. And a prize increases this even more.
How do you increase a sense of urgency? Beth had the competition. That’s what you need. People give for three reasons – end of year tax reasons, a disaster or because someone they know asks.
Those that are engaged are the ones who really care. There’s a registry on Global Giving. It’s just like a Crate and Barrel registry or a marriage registry. You can drive people to a place where they could find out about what you care about.
Other tools – Global Giving acts as a respected source for individuals to put their causes and have GG send the money directly to the cause.
Other tools – First Giving helps you build a quick site about the cause you’re raising money…but you have to be a 501c3. And they have a widget available.
Other tools – eBay Giving Works. You can either buy or sell and have a percentage go to a cause.
AM: Can you pick any non-profit?
DC: No, but you can pick from a list.
AM: How can people know that they’re supporting you.
MW: Mission Fish is the organization that verifies real non-profits. They reject fake ones.
AM: Are there defined best practices?
MW: There are some helpful links we’ll add to the Wiki.
AM: Do you think social media can overcome donor fatigue?
MW: Next question?
CC: This gives us a chance to reach new people. And my readers have their own followings.
MW: It’s more targeted, which helps.
DC: It’s all about op-in or they will get pissed off. There’s a reason why you get direct mail and direct email – it works. Do you want to be that type of fundraiser?
MW: The handouts and other info is available at www.ext337.pbwiki.com.

Live Blogged by Christine’s wonderful hubby, Ray!

We all talk a good game about how blogging can help us communicate across time and space… and certainly across national borders. But do you know how big your audience outside your own country is? And do you bear your global audience in mind when blogging? What does it or would it change about your blogging to be a little more accessible and welcoming to a truly international community? Sometimes it’s just little things…sometimes you can do more. If the blogosphere is a
global village this panel will make sure you’re putting out a welcome mat to the world.

Featuring: Nicole Simon, Holly Burns, Claudia Mar Ruiz and Adrianne George

Nicole Simon: Welcome to Globbing…Blogging with a global perspective. This session is about sharing our blogging issues and problems we face in other countries. Who blogs in more than one language?
Answer: some hands from audience.
Holly Burns: I’m actually English, but I have a bit of an identity problem. I grew up all over the place and only went to boarding school in England. But have a quandary, as I live in America, but am clearly British. What language (culturally speaking) do I use?
Adrienne George: I blog for the expat community in Europe, basically black women in Europe. I blog to share information about how black women have thrived in Europe for centuries and can continue to do so. Half of my readers are in America and thank me for the insight.
NS: What are the language problems you encounter?
Claudia Mar Ruiz: I blog about what’s happening to Columbians here in America
NS: What are the reactions to homeland readers?
CMR: I share harsh things happening to Columbians here in the US.
NS: We get a glowing picture of US and Europe in Columbia from the mainstream media, right? It’s nice to see different perspective. How are other bloggers received in their home countries?
AG: Racism in Europe is a big question I get asked. And yes there is. African soccer players in Europe get taunted by their own fans. But Europeans don’t understand why this is offensive and want to know why Americans are offended.
NS: How would other countries view your blog? Holly, how is the perception here as a British person?
HB: I’m a source of travel information for people…not sure if that’s a good thing just because I was there once. People ask what I think about various things. I’m not really an expert. But people think I am.
NS: Just because I’m from Germany doesn’t mean I know everything about Europe or even Germany. Don’t assume I know everything just because I’m the only one you know from Europe. Do your research. What if we want to know about South America? It would be good to have more info on blogs that explain about cultural differences or pop culture. How did you research before going to Europe?
AG: I didn’t, but maybe I should. In Belgium I was isolated do to the war, and in 2006 I moved to Switzerland and sought out other Americans. You must know the local language or you’re always on the outside.
NS: What other languages do people blog in?
American audience member: I live in Paris and blog in French and English and sometimes Spanish which I’ve been trying to learn. About the racism, it’s true in France about the immigrants. Americans are interested in art and antiques and politics. But most of my friends are French or other expats. Remember audience is global, be careful not to offend.
AG: Do you blog in more in one language on the same blog?
AAM: yes.
HB: I’ve offended on accident. Dry British humor…have to be careful.
NS: When you know they’re not a native speaker, be helpful to them. It helps and encourages them. My English is good, but not unlimited. It’s helpful to have people help me offer advice. If you know you have international visitors, read their blogs.
Canadian Audience member: I actively seek out knowledge from blogs. I follow writers in Tanzania and Scotland.
Another Audience member: Use global voices or Google translation…even though it’s bad, it’ll help you understand.
NS: Read foreign newspapers or podcasts to get back into a language you may have learned.
AAM: I love international design blogs. I find the Japanese stuff very fascinating.
CMR: Readers leave emails or comments – my readers read in Spanish and then comment after translating, even in broken English.
NS: If in doubt, stay with English, as it is universally understood. It’s not imperialism. Smaller European countries are good with English.
Australian from Denmark, living in London (or something like that): A friend of mine from Nigeria can’t get anything – bank accounts, etc – because of her IP address.
NS: Anyone experience in misunderstanding comment because of language?
HB: Do you put out a welcome mat to international visitors?
NS: I do welcome information from where you’re from. It helps me relate to who my readers are. Adrianne, how has your race been perceived?
AG: I’m perceived as an American first. But I get respect. They assume you’re educated and have money, and are not going to consume public resources. Belgium: Black Peet sp? like Santa Clause – very offensive to Americans, blogged about it. Good comments from Americans, Dutch and Belgians alike.
NS: It’s not about me or you changing, but learning to understand. Questions come from curiosity. Many of my native cultural things I don’t think about but try to answer questions when they arise. Latin American issues?
CMR: I blog about women issues to men to immigrant issues. Modern slavery, farm workers worried about being picked up by la migra – universal issues, not just Columbian.
Audience Member: Don’t be shy about commenting and thanking your readers on their blogs.
NS: I announced my San Diego trip and readers gave into to me and then I met up with them, it was awesome. What kind of readers would you like to reach?
AM: How do I reach readers about a kids online portal? How do we let them know it’s safe?
NS: Depends on whose definition of safe you want. Europe has different standards on sex and violence than the US. But in terms of reaching them, it’s about the language for Europeans if you want those readers. Have a good separation of language on your blog(s) so as to not irritate your readers. Making a decision on language can be difficult. Twitter on topic in English.
AG: I quote the original source so I don’t worry about translating it. I keep it local.
CMR: They hate it when I put things in English and then I translate it. My readers don’t like that. They know I speak English.
Sally from PR Agency: Cross boarder issues at firm. Lately, bloggers presume countries like Venezuela have same online readers or Internet penetration. Where can I find info on this?
Australian: Our Internet is crap. We’re only 8 percent of the US population. So despite English being our native, our government doesn’t think it’s necessary to improve the Internet there.
CMR: Columbia has 45 million people. 6 million computer users, 1.5 million connected to Internet. My readers are Columbian expats.
NS: Germany: 80 million, 60 percent online. But try chambers of commerce for info. In Germany, blogging is not that big, use mainstream media to reach people. France is big on blogging. But it varies by country.
HB: Blogging in UK not as big as in US.
AM: Twitter is great to get local connection and get local stats on blogging.
AG: Twitter big in Asia and Western Europe at least.
AM: Idialist.org: can you find out if you’re being censored by local governments?
NS: Ask the question about what will get you banned.
AG: Check your analytics about whose visiting.
AM: Is there a cultural language barrier?
CMR: I blog for community so I blog in first person. They care and they give advice about the Columbia or the US. I blog in Spanish.
AG: If they’re coming from other countries, I think you can assume they understand English at least somewhat. You can add translation buttons to your site to assist them. And you can visit international blogs to build your community.
NS: It’s not about language, but the topic. I’ll even pay someone to translate it if I’m interested in it. If you linked to me, I’ll link to you and read your blog. Language doesn’t matter.
Canadian: search engines going local, so it’s making research harder. Maybe we need an international blogging platform. But not all of my readers are bloggers.
AG: Zing is Euro Linked In. It’s very interactive and women from all over the world use it.
American in Paris: I took a picture and a guy in Rio used it in a collage now on display there. So many artists are collaborating with each other all over the world without even meeting them.
NS: Last words?
CMR: My Columbian passport expired and I couldn’t get anyone on the phone. I blogged about it and got a lot of feedback…turns out it was a holiday and no one was around. But we built community.
AG: I put out the welcome mat and people came.
HB: I really don’t have anything to say. Thank you for coming and staying!
NS: Globbing…Blogging with a global perspective.

Live Blogged by Christine’s wonderful hubby, Ray!