Much of this also applys to NPO’s

Saturday, our company, The Toolbox, Inc. (all 4 of us) gathered for a couple of hours to participated in a workshop with Susan Hammond, working together to clarify what our company is about and direction for our future.

We are a virtual company, so I [...]]]>

Refining Your Organizations Goals

Is Your Organization All Going to the Same Place?

Saturday, our company, The Toolbox, Inc. (all 4 of us) gathered for a couple of hours to participated in a workshop with Susan Hammond, working together to clarify what our company is about and direction for our future.

We are a virtual company, so I think it is something really important for us to do, as when we do get together we tend to the day-to-day operations, and assume that we are all on the same page about “direction.”

I think that is the case for some of the non-profit organizations I am involved with.  We go from one “project” to the next, do what we did last year, (but better), and check off what we have done for the year.

The real challenge is to review-revisit your core values, your “big hairy audacious goals” and know that all the board members are all working towards the same goal.

Then if there is a disconnect, then as a board member, you may need to “self-select” yourself out of the organization.

But now back to TTBI (The Toolbox, Inc)…we had all been giving reading and homework to do before we met, and the fact that we all came prepared, showed to me the dedication we all have to this “project.” As a new company, we were all anxious to see if we were all on the same “page.” We all are equal partners, so it is important to alway feel that we are moving in the same direction.

When we are all clear, a decision that one of us as makes an individual for the company, gives that person the conviction that the other partners will back that decision.

What is your non-profit doing to make sure that your leadership is all operating in unison?  How do you do a “check-up” on your core values, mission & goals? How often do you do it?

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• Orient and Educate Your Advisory Board – Susan Hammond (thenon-profittoolbox.com)
• Resources for Nonprofits & Their Boards (thenon-profittoolbox.com)

Want to learn more about creating strong boards?

Join us at our next non-profit mini-conference.

Last night Lisa Morressey and Reiko Beach from The Non-Profit Toolbox gave a presentation on Linkedin to the South Shore Ad Club.  They worked hard on the presentation and it went over pretty well.   In addition they uploaded the slide show to slideshare.net. This morning we got [...]]]>

Add Slideshare to Your Web Presence

Get Linkedin presentation Featured

Last night Lisa Morressey and Reiko Beach from The Non-Profit Toolbox gave a presentation on Linkedin to the South Shore Ad Club.  They worked hard on the presentation and it went over pretty well.   In addition they uploaded the slide show to slideshare.net. This morning we got an email from slideshare saying:

Your presentation Get Linkedin is currently being featured on the SlideShare homepage by our editorial team.

We thank you for this terrific presentation, that has been chosen from amongst the thousands that are uploaded to SlideShare everday.

Congratulations! Have a Great Day!,

How cool is that!  So far this morning 328 people have viewed the presentation, far more than were at the event.

Increase Your Web Presence

One of our most popular presentations is how to use the many different tools on the web to increase you presence on the web.  In this simple talk we explain how to use Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and Blogging into your overall marketing mix.  If you do any public speaking you also need to post your presentation on slideshare and embed it back into your blog, facebook and linkedin.  Slideshare is to slide shows that YouTube is to video.  We are constantly surprised at how many people view slideshare and how much it extends web presence.

Want to learn more about Internet Marketing? Join us at our next non-profit mini-conference.

Missing the bus?

Should you just “jump on the bus” and start Tweeting?  or are there things you should be aware of, understand before you begin?  Are there basics, fundamentals, etiquette that [...]]]>

Posted by: Reiko Beach, President of The Toolbox, Inc. and Web/Social Media Speaker for The Non-Profit Toolbox.

Missing the bus?

Effective Social Media

Should you just “jump on the bus” and start Tweeting?  or are there things you should be aware of, understand before you begin?  Are there basics, fundamentals, etiquette that you should know?  What can social media do for you, your business or non-profit?

Knowledge can help you become successful, lead to fewer mis-steps or mistakes. How can you decide what tools to spend your time on if you don’t understand each tool, what their strengths are, and what people are using them for already?
Should your non-profit (business) have a social media policy?  A plan?  What are your objectives?  How do volunteers figure in?

Christopher Barger, director of global social media at General Motors, outlined their objectives, (which are probably the objectives of most businesses and organizations)

• Become more responsive to people/consumer audiences
• Incorporate audience/consumer feedback into your organization more quickly and effectively than has happened traditionally
• Make your brand a little more “human” to the outside world, and show people the smarts, personality and passion of the people behind your logo
• Increase awareness of the strength of your current product lineup, and provide perspective/accurate information about your company

There are fundamentals and there are strategies that you should know and understand.  Social media is a powerful marketing tool. Don’t let the bus pass you by.  If you are on the South Shore of Mass in January, join us for one of our hands-on workshops….or learn more on line:

• Facebook: http://mashable.com/guidebook/facebook/
• Twitter: http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/
• Linkedin: http://learn.linkedin.com/
• More on Strategy: http://mashable.com/2009/12/28/social-media-business-strategy
• 5 Reasons to Learn Social Media: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/5-reasons-to-learn-social-media/15743/

photo credits:

Hands-on Workshop: Learn Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter:

• Wednesday, January 20, 9 am-12 noon, James Library, Norwell → LEARN MORE

• OR – Wednesday, January 20, 6-9 pm, Phillips House, South Boston → LEARN MORE

• OR – Thursday, January 28, 6-9 pm, SS Natural Science Center, Norwell→ LEARN MORE

Michael Hertz from SoHo Systems will be there to discuss hardware issues and Reiko Beach from TRB Deisgn, Inc & the Toolbox, Inc. will be available [...]]]>

The Non-Profit Toolbox event on October 22 in Rockland, MA is pleased to announce that in addition to the great presentations already slated, we will be adding a Tech Support Desk.

Michael Hertz from SoHo Systems will be there to discuss hardware issues and Reiko Beach from TRB Deisgn, Inc & the Toolbox, Inc. will be available to discuss Linkedin, Facebook, twitter, and answer web questions.

SOHO Systems, located in Norwell, MA, offers professional, experienced onsite computer related services and consulting with expertise in Windows™ computers and networks for your small business, small office, home-based business, home office and family computers in the greater Boston-Southeast Massachusetts area.

Their services range from simple PC memory upgrades to complex client/server integrated network installations.

Another good reason to come to the event!!

OCTOBER 22 SEMINAR

Thursday 10.22.09 /8:00AM-12:30PM

The Non-Profit Toolbox’ Seminar
has all of the tools you need!

Holiday Inn / 929 Hingham St / Rockland, MA 02370

$129 Registration [Early Bird $99] → LEARN MORE

Since this blog is new, we thought we would work on highlighting the founders of The Toolbox, Inc. and the speakers at our first event. In the weeks leading up to our event on October 22, there [...]]]>

Written by: Reiko Beach, President of The Toolbox, Inc. and Web/Social Media Speaker at the October 22 Non-profit Toolbox event.

Since this blog is new, we thought we would work on highlighting the founders of The Toolbox, Inc. and the speakers at our first event. In the weeks leading up to our event on October 22, there will be posts from all the speakers, Lisa Morrissey, Janel Kesten, Elizabeth Pineault, Kathleen Kingsbury, Jane Ford, Susan Hammond, and from our video person and Executive Director, Tom Beach.

Even if you cannot attend our event, we want to get you great information from all areas of non-profit. (other events are being planned as I write). Our plans are to cover areas that we each work in, and give you our business perspectives.  We will also be out interviewing you, the non-profits to see what some of your concerns are.

After the event we will continue to provide information, so please subscribe to our blog.

If you have any questions, if you would like to be considered as a speaker, be a guest blogger, please contact us, and of course, comment on our blog.  We hope you will join in the conversation!

OCTOBER 22 SEMINAR

Thursday 10.22.09 /8:00AM-12:30PM

The Non-Profit Toolbox’ Seminar
has all of the tools you need!

Holiday Inn / 929 Hingham St / Rockland, MA 02370

$129 Registration [Early Bird $99] → LEARN MORE