Social Media

Social media serves as a powerful conduit for sharing stories, mobilizing supporters, and fostering a united community. The best platforms will depend on your local community, but here are a few to get started.

General Best Practices:

• Consistent Posting: Regular updates keep your community engaged and informed.

• Visual Content: Utilize images and videos to convey compelling stories.

• Community Interaction: Respond to comments and messages to build trust and foster meaningful connections.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

These established platforms are useful for sharing updates, but consider using an aggreagation service for posting (see below).

Nextdoor

Incorporating NextDoor into your social media strategy can significantly enhance local engagement.

Best Practices:

• Authentic Engagement: Interact with neighbors in a genuine, neighborly tone, sharing relevant updates and responding to comments to foster trust and collaboration. citeturn0search4

• Regular Updates: Maintain an active presence by posting at least 3-4 times per week, sharing information on upcoming events, safety tips, and local cycling news to keep the community informed and engaged. citeturn0search4

• Utilize Groups: Create or join groups within Nextdoor focused on cycling, safety, or community events to connect with like-minded individuals and promote your initiatives effectively. citeturn0search14

Reddit

If you have an active local subreddit in your area, it can be a useful tool for promoting events and recruiting community members to participate in local government surveys, sign petitions, and attend meetings.

Best Practices

• Community Engagement: Participate in relevant subreddits to share information and foster discussions about cycling advocacy.

• Authentic Interaction: Engage genuinely with users to build trust and credibility within the community.

Discord

A communication platform offering voice, video, and text channels, ideal for building dedicated communities.

Best Practices

• Create a Server: Establish a dedicated server for your organization to facilitate real-time discussions and updates.

• Organize Channels: Set up specific channels for different topics, such as event planning, general discussions, and resource sharing.

Social Media Aggregation

Buffer

A platform that streamlines your social media scheduling across multiple channels.

• Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $6 per month per social channel.

• Non-Profit Discount: Buffer offers a 50% discount for non-profit organizations.

Best Practices:

• Scheduled Posting: Maintain a consistent presence by planning and scheduling your posts.

• Analytics: Leverage analytics to understand what resonates with your audience and refine your strategy.

Later

A visual planner and scheduler, especially powerful for Instagram.

• Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $12.50 per month.

• Non-Profit Discount: Later offers discounts for non-profits upon request.

Best Practices:

• Visual Planning: Use the visual content calendar to craft a cohesive and appealing feed.

• Hashtag Suggestions: Expand your reach by utilizing effective hashtags.

Email Marketing Services

Direct communication through email remains a cornerstone for engaging supporters and driving action.

Mailchimp

An email marketing platform offering customizable templates and automation features.

• Pricing: Free for up to 500 subscribers; paid plans start at $13 per month.

• Non-Profit Discount: Mailchimp offers a 15% discount for non-profit organizations.

Best Practices:

• Segmentation: Organize your audience based on interests to send targeted content.

• Automation: Set up automated welcome emails for new subscribers.

MailerLite

An intuitive email marketing service with robust features.

• Pricing: Free for up to 1,000 subscribers; paid plans start at $10 per month.

• Non-Profit Discount: MailerLite offers a 30% discount for non-profits.

Best Practices:

• A/B Testing: Experiment with different subject lines to optimize open rates.

• Landing Pages: Create dedicated pages to capture new subscribers.

ActiveCampaign

A platform combining email marketing, automation, and customer relationship management (CRM).

• Pricing: Plans start at $9 per month.

• Non-Profit Discount: Offers a 20% discount for non-profit organizations.

Best Practices:

• Personalization: Use CRM data to craft personalized messages that resonate with individual supporters.

• A/B Testing: Experiment with different email elements to determine what drives the best engagement.

Graphic Design

Canva

Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform that enables users to create a wide array of visual content, including social media graphics, presentations, posters, and more.

• Pricing: Free basic version available
• Non-Profit Discount: Canva offers its premium features for free to registered nonprofits, allowing up to 50 team members to collaborate.

Best Practices:

• Template Utilization: Leverage Canva's extensive library of templates tailored for various platforms and purposes to maintain consistency and save time.
• Brand Kit: Use the Brand Kit feature to store your organization's logos, colors, and fonts, ensuring brand consistency across all designs.
• Collaboration: Invite team members to collaborate on designs in real-time, facilitating seamless feedback and edits.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express, formerly known as Adobe Spark, is a web-based design tool that offers a range of templates and design elements suitable for creating marketing materials.

• Pricing: Free basic plan available; premium plan at $10 per month includes additional features and assets.

Best Practices:

• AI Integration: Utilize Adobe Express's AI-powered features to simplify the design process, allowing for quick creation of professional-quality visuals.
• Template Customization: Start with pre-designed templates and customize them to align with your organization's branding and messaging.

Piktochart

Piktochart is an easy-to-use design tool focused on creating infographics, presentations, and reports, making complex data more accessible and engaging.

• Pricing: Free plan available with basic features; premium plans offer advanced functionalities.

• Non-Profit Discount: Piktochart offers discounts for nonprofit organizations upon application.

Best Practices:

• Data Visualization: Utilize Piktochart to transform statistics and information into visually appealing infographics that effectively communicate your message.

• Customizable Templates: Select from a variety of templates and customize them to fit your organization's branding and the specific data you wish to present.

Event Management

Events are the heartbeat of your community development, bringing people together to celebrate, educate, and mobilize.

Facebook Events

A straightforward way to create and promote events to your followers. Free to use.

Best Practices:

• Invitations: Personally invite your followers and encourage them to spread the word.

• Updates: Keep attendees engaged with regular updates and reminders.

Mobilizon

An open-source platform focused on privacy for organizing events and managing groups. Free to use.

Best Practices:

• Event Creation: Set up detailed events and share them within your community.

• Privacy Focused: Engage with members in a space that respects their data and autonomy.

• Federated Networking: Connect with other Mobilizon instances to expand your event's reach.

Partiful

A modern invitation platform designed for organizing social events with ease. Free to use.

Best Practices:

• Event Details: Provide comprehensive information to ensure attendees are well-prepared.
• Reminders: Utilize automated reminders to keep your event top-of-mind and reduce no-shows.

Google Sites

Google Sites offers a user-friendly, free website builder that integrates seamlessly with other Google services.

Features:

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Easily design pages without coding knowledge.
• Responsive Design: Automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.
• Collaboration: Work simultaneously with team members in real-time.

Best Practices:

• Integration: Utilize Google Forms for event registrations and Google Calendars for scheduling.
• Templates: Start with pre-designed templates and customize them to fit your brand.

Canva Websites

Known for its design capabilities, Canva also offers a free website builder.

Features:

• Design Flexibility: Create visually appealing sites with customizable templates.
• No Coding Required: User-friendly interface suitable for beginners.
• Responsive Design: Ensures your site looks good on all devices.

Best Practices:

• Brand Consistency: Use Canva’s design tools to maintain consistent branding across your site.
• Multimedia Integration: Easily embed images, videos, and other media to enhance engagement.

Wix

A user-friendly website builder offering a wide range of templates and customization options.

• Pricing: Plans start at $16 per month.

• Non-Profit Discount: Wix offers discounts for non-profit organizations upon application.

Best Practices:

• Drag-and-Drop Interface: Easily design your website with intuitive tools, no coding required.

• SEO Tools: Enhance your site's visibility with built-in search engine optimization features.

Squarespace

A platform known for its design flexibility and professional templates.

• Pricing: Plans start at $16 per month.
• Non-Profit Discount: Discounts may be available upon request.

Best Practices:

• Template Selection: Choose templates that reflect your organization's mission and are easy to navigate.

• SEO Optimization: Utilize built-in tools to improve search engine visibility.

Document Collaboration

Effective collaboration is the cornerstone of successful advocacy. Utilizing tools that allow multiple contributors to edit and refine documents in real-time ensures that your press releases, letters to council, and other vital communications are polished and impactful.

Google Docs

A widely-used platform that enables real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

• Pricing: Free for individuals; included in Google Workspace for organizations.
• Non-Profit Discount: Eligible nonprofits can access Google Workspace for free.

Best Practices:

• Real-Time Editing: Collaborate simultaneously with team members, ensuring immediate input and feedback.

• Commenting and Suggesting: Utilize these features to propose changes and discuss edits without altering the original text.

Microsoft 365

Offers robust document editing with seamless integration across Microsoft applications.

• Pricing: Nonprofit plans start at $2 per user per month.

Best Practices:

• Version Control: Track changes and access previous versions to monitor document evolution.
• Integration: Leverage integration with other Microsoft tools like Teams for enhanced collaboration.

Notion

An all-in-one workspace combining note-taking, project management, and collaborative document editing.

• Pricing: Free for personal use; Plus Plan at $10 per member per month.
• Non-Profit Discount: Certified 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the U.S. can access the Plus Plan at a 50% discount, reducing the cost to $5 per member per month.

Best Practices:

• Centralized Information: Create a centralized hub for all organizational documents, ensuring easy access and collaboration.

• Templates: Utilize customizable templates for consistent document formatting and structure.

Etherpad

An open-source, web-based collaborative real-time editor, ideal for teams seeking a straightforward, no-frills editing experience. Free and open-source.

Best Practices:

• Simplicity: Use Etherpad for quick, real-time collaboration without the need for complex features.

• Customization: Host your own instance to maintain control over data and tailor the platform to your needs.