http://groundwire.org Welcome to the Groundwire Blog! Online engagement tips, tools and news. daily 1 2009-07-22T23:13:54Z http://groundwire.org/blog/10-from-sxsw-2010 Geolocation, content strategy, apps, Twitter, downloadable web fonts and more coupled with a reverence for authenticity and community. Our favorite take-aways from SXSW Interactive 2010. No publisher sfreedman Website Content is King Email & Social Media Next Generation Organizing Listen to Your Mother (Earth) 2010-03-19T18:46:21Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/twitter-big-announce-SXSW Many South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive attendees have been waiting all conference to see Twitter co-founder and CEO Evan Williams talk today. He did not disappoint, starting his keynote conversation off by announcing @Anywhere, the new Twitter platform that brings Twitter profile information directly to websites. No publisher sfreedman 2010-03-16T06:07:35Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/facebook-friendly Facebook seems to be where all the cool kids are these days. (And just about everyone else, too.) We've been working on some ways to help our groups take full advantage of this popular online community with a tool we call Simple Social. No publisher jonb 2010-03-10T21:58:15Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/save-winter-with-team-polar-bear Our friends at Dogwood Initiative took advantage of the warm winter and lack of snow at this year’s Winter Olympics in Vancouver by launching their Save Winter campaign. No publisher sfreedman Next Generation Organizing Listen to Your Mother (Earth) Email & Social Media 2010-03-11T02:42:46Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/resources-for-mass-email-communication Here's a grab-bag of links to various resources on the web which can help you think through ideas for improving your mass email communications. You'll find information on general best practices, design, deliverability, subject lines, HTML/CSS and more. No publisher sknox 2010-03-02T22:24:12Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/facebook-posting-how-often As we stumble headlong into the age of social media, certain hoary questions continue to rear their shaggy heads. Among these "oldies-but-goodies" is the timeless question: How often should I post to my organization's Facebook Fan Page? No publisher jon Email & Social Media 2010-02-25T22:57:43Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/social-media-i-dont-do-small-talk When you're first dipping your toes into the shallow, rolling sea of social media tools, one of the first things you're likely to notice is that there seems to be an awful lot of "chatter" and "noise." People talking about "trivial" things, right out there in public. No publisher jon Email & Social Media 2010-02-25T18:05:22Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/groundwire-engagement-pyramid Civic engagement can mean a lot of different things – from the casual forwarding of a friend’s email to deep involvement on a board of directors. The most effective social change organizations understand how to wield their portfolio of engagement tactics in Zen-like fashion; knowing just what kind of touch is called for to influence the outcomes of a particular decision. No publisher gideonr Next Generation Organizing Relationship Building 2010-02-25T18:16:53Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/Q-A-Washington-Toxics Climate, Haiti, health care, filibuster, Afghanistan -- just keeping up on everything while taking care of your own day-to-day routine (oh yeah, that) can seem like two full-time jobs. Add on toxic chemicals in baby bottles and sippy cups (like, really?) and that sustainable fortress in the woods is sounding better and better. Luckily, in Washington state, we have many groups looking out for our best interests -- organizing and mobilizing and pressuring the powers that be to get all Spike Lee and do the right thing. No publisher sfreedman Next Generation Organizing 2010-02-05T17:02:20Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/technology-for-social-change-at-groundwire-labs What's cooking at Groundwire Labs including a new auction tool, a new tool for bringing Google Analytics right to where you are managing content on your website, and a letter-writing tool to target decision-makers. No publisher sfreedman Engagement Technologies 2010-02-09T02:56:36Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/good-news-oregon-environmental-council-is-hiring Those of you with communications chops looking for a place to really make a difference should check out the communications director job opening at the Oregon Environmental Council. For over forty years, the Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) has brought together a broad range of citizens including outdoor enthusiasts, farmers, educators, and conservationists to work in creating a clean and healthy Oregon for future generations. We've had the wonderful opportunity to work with OEC the past few years, and want to take a quick moment and recognize outgoing Communications Director Jeremy Graybill. No publisher sfreedman Admin 2010-01-29T01:02:40Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/a-roundup-of-2010-conferences Nothing like a good conference to connect with peers, boost creativity, recharge those batteries, and if you're lucky, get a couple nights of acting like you're 19 again. (What happens at the Personal Democracy Forum, stays at the Personal Democracy Forum.) No publisher sfreedman 2010-02-10T22:41:12Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/groundwire-executive-director-the-search-is-on After nine years of service, our Executive Director Gideon Rosenblatt is moving on, creating a rare and unprecedented opportunity for the candidate with the right mix of tech-savvy, entrepreneurialism and passion for a sustainable world. No publisher sfreedman Admin 2010-01-21T21:42:16Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/whats-in-an-opt-in Best practices for when you know you can add someone to your email list - and when you probably shouldn't. No publisher sknox Email & Social Media 2010-01-21T19:34:22Z Blog Entry http://groundwire.org/blog/go-get-all-schoolhouse-rock-on-yourself If you live in Washington State, join hundreds of citizen lobbyists to push for the passage of the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s 2010 legislative priorities. No publisher sfreedman Next Generation Organizing Listen to Your Mother (Earth) 2010-01-21T19:35:33Z Blog Entry