The Social Media Popularity Contest

Most of us have received emails, tweets, and facebook notices asking us to "Vote for Me!"   We vote for cute puppies, cute babies, and more just so the recipient can win their photo on a box of dippers. But is there more to it than that?

Yes.

In a recent article by Pam Fessler, she describes just how much more some nonprofit's can stand to gain by participating in legitimate online fundraising campaigns.  The totals can be substantial.  For instance, Pepsi's Refresh Everything awards cash prizes from 5,000 to 250,000 dollars simply because your cause received enough votes.
What does this mean?  Several things:

1. Yes, there are some tools out there to raise funds.
2. A worthy cause is simply not enough - you've got to bring the masses to their feet (or desks).
3. These events can be a useful way to generate energy and produce audience participation via your social media sources.
4. It's a long shot.

Fessler elaborates on additional pros and cons while telling the story of one nonprofit in Virginia that chose to participate in such a campaign.  For those of you considering your own participation or find real-life examples a more useful learning tool than a how-to-punch-list it is worth the read.  Please see the article link below. 
Nonprofit's Find Social Media Present New Challenges
by Pam Fessler - April 15, 2010