Comments on: 5 Ways to Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve Without Throwing Your Avatar in my Face http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/ Live. Play. Create. Imagination For Good. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:31:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Sylwia Presley » Blog Archive » Social media inspirations weekly #3 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2459 Sylwia Presley » Blog Archive » Social media inspirations weekly #3 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:06:10 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2459 [...] about it calling her post ‘Shut down the Internet…Please‘. @Euan pointed me to this post talking about whether we get involved in fund-raising for fame, and if so – is it really so [...] [...] about it calling her post ‘Shut down the Internet…Please‘. @Euan pointed me to this post talking about whether we get involved in fund-raising for fame, and if so – is it really so [...]

]]> By: Joanna Young http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2458 Joanna Young Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:11:57 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2458 Good question! Maybe 1) think about how you're adding value (helping to raise awareness / spread the word as well as fundraise / donate) 2) keep the focus on easy ways other people can get involved and contribute... if they want to 3) bear in mind if it's a major catastrophe your readers don't need awareness raising... they might want to know simple ways to give (eg the posts some bloggers shared after the bush fires in Australia). I've tried to find positive versions of 'don't brag' but couldn't... Maybe it's an idea to include a 'watch you don't brag' check. Maybe it was just me - there was something about some of the posts that didn't resonate with me. I think it was in part because it was linked to promotion of services - buy my services, buy this book and I'll donate, how generous am I... Is this done in an expectation that demand for the services / book etc will continue beyond the donation... why not just make the donation quietly without a song and dance about it? It may be a cultural thing too - sometimes British / American approaches seem v different despite the common language. Joanna Good question! Maybe 1) think about how you’re adding value (helping to raise awareness / spread the word as well as fundraise / donate) 2) keep the focus on easy ways other people can get involved and contribute… if they want to 3) bear in mind if it’s a major catastrophe your readers don’t need awareness raising… they might want to know simple ways to give (eg the posts some bloggers shared after the bush fires in Australia).

I’ve tried to find positive versions of ‘don’t brag’ but couldn’t… Maybe it’s an idea to include a ‘watch you don’t brag’ check.

Maybe it was just me – there was something about some of the posts that didn’t resonate with me. I think it was in part because it was linked to promotion of services – buy my services, buy this book and I’ll donate, how generous am I…

Is this done in an expectation that demand for the services / book etc will continue beyond the donation… why not just make the donation quietly without a song and dance about it?

It may be a cultural thing too – sometimes British / American approaches seem v different despite the common language.

Joanna

]]> By: wonderwebby http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2457 wonderwebby Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:16:08 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2457 hello lovely Joanna! Because I feel like I know you, even though I have never met you face to face, I really appreciate your observation. I know that you have helped me to raise funds for microfinance and that you are not likely to judge people who use a public platform to raise funds. So I find your comment to be a really interesting insight and observation. What would you add to to the above 5 points so that virtual interaction for a good cause doesn't end up leaving a bitter taste with your friends? Perhaps it's "don't brag". But I think if you thank people and respect your community, your tone will be one of gratitude and a shared heart for those in need whilst sharing the results of your fundraising efforts. hello lovely Joanna!
Because I feel like I know you, even though I have never met you face to face, I really appreciate your observation. I know that you have helped me to raise funds for microfinance and that you are not likely to judge people who use a public platform to raise funds. So I find your comment to be a really interesting insight and observation.

What would you add to to the above 5 points so that virtual interaction for a good cause doesn’t end up leaving a bitter taste with your friends?

Perhaps it’s “don’t brag”. But I think if you thank people and respect your community, your tone will be one of gratitude and a shared heart for those in need whilst sharing the results of your fundraising efforts.

]]> By: wonderwebby http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2456 wonderwebby Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:18:57 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2456 Thanks for all your comments! @Euan I always appreciate your comments (and have enjoyed your more frequent blog posting this year). Yes, sometimes it's a matter of just getting on with it. @Blogstarta well yes, a simple donation is just as important as helping to spread the word for a cause! I believe you need both. Not necessarily everyone has enough cash at the time of a cause to donate and publicity can help raise funds and awareness too. @J. Michael Thurman I like it! Is that from Steven King's "On Writing? I really want to read it this year. @Alex agreed and I think it's great you are following your heart to promote some worthwhile causes. I hope 2010 is inspiring and rewarding for you! @Beggar's Belief Thank You ;) @Genesis yes it's important to make sure you are promoting a legit place to donate. It's also think it's important that bloggers also make it simple to see what the funds are for. And non profits need to keep their messages clear and websites up to date so bloggers can help them :) Thanks for all your comments!
@Euan I always appreciate your comments (and have enjoyed your more frequent blog posting this year). Yes, sometimes it’s a matter of just getting on with it.

@Blogstarta well yes, a simple donation is just as important as helping to spread the word for a cause! I believe you need both. Not necessarily everyone has enough cash at the time of a cause to donate and publicity can help raise funds and awareness too.

@J. Michael Thurman I like it! Is that from Steven King’s “On Writing? I really want to read it this year.

@Alex agreed and I think it’s great you are following your heart to promote some worthwhile causes. I hope 2010 is inspiring and rewarding for you!

@Beggar’s Belief Thank You ;)

@Genesis yes it’s important to make sure you are promoting a legit place to donate. It’s also think it’s important that bloggers also make it simple to see what the funds are for. And non profits need to keep their messages clear and websites up to date so bloggers can help them :)

]]> By: Joanna Young http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2455 Joanna Young Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:00:58 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2455 Jasmin, thanks for exploring this issue. In general I have no problem with people fund-raising or raising attention for worthy causes, especially things that might not otherwise be high profile or well known. It's a great way to get people thinking as well as giving. But... I have found some of the recent examples of bloggers talking about their donations to Haiti or offering to donate in return for purchases of services or books.... a bit hard to stomach. To me it has felt like jumping on a bandwagon and it's left a bad taste in my mouth. Isn't this a case where rather than loudly proclaiming you're giving you'd just get on and give? Jasmin, thanks for exploring this issue. In general I have no problem with people fund-raising or raising attention for worthy causes, especially things that might not otherwise be high profile or well known. It’s a great way to get people thinking as well as giving.

But…

I have found some of the recent examples of bloggers talking about their donations to Haiti or offering to donate in return for purchases of services or books…. a bit hard to stomach. To me it has felt like jumping on a bandwagon and it’s left a bad taste in my mouth. Isn’t this a case where rather than loudly proclaiming you’re giving you’d just get on and give?

]]> By: Genesis http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2451 Genesis Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:37:37 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2451 Personally, I've never looked badly on bloggers fundraising. If you have a platform that can reach many people, why NOT use it for good? That being said, I don't think people should make every other post a plea for money and they should definitely make sure that they are promoting a legit place to donate. I have done just two fundraisers and those were for very worthy causes and tailored to my audiences (two different blogs). Personally, I’ve never looked badly on bloggers fundraising. If you have a platform that can reach many people, why NOT use it for good? That being said, I don’t think people should make every other post a plea for money and they should definitely make sure that they are promoting a legit place to donate.

I have done just two fundraisers and those were for very worthy causes and tailored to my audiences (two different blogs).

]]> By: Beggars Belief http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2450 Beggars Belief Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:22:33 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2450 Great post! I heartily agree re THANKING those who help you out! Everyone should remember how important this is whether using social media or not..whether fundraising...in everyday life...at work....yep everyone should remember! :-) Great post! I heartily agree re THANKING those who help you out! Everyone should remember how important this is whether using social media or not..whether fundraising…in everyday life…at work….yep everyone should remember! :-)

]]> By: Alex Blackwell http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2449 Alex Blackwell Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:29:03 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2449 Important and difficult question. My experience with using blogging to raise funds, or awareness of an issue, has been so-so. But I think this is the way it is naturally. Meaning, people are going to give, or not give, based on what their heart is calling them to do. While a blog can help with getting a particular message out and can make it convenient to give by providing links, it's really up to the other person to click on a donation link, pull out their wallet and do something. With all this said, I will continue to promote worthy causes because that is what my heart is telling me to do. Alex Important and difficult question.

My experience with using blogging to raise funds, or awareness of an issue, has been so-so. But I think this is the way it is naturally. Meaning, people are going to give, or not give, based on what their heart is calling them to do.

While a blog can help with getting a particular message out and can make it convenient to give by providing links, it’s really up to the other person to click on a donation link, pull out their wallet and do something.

With all this said, I will continue to promote worthy causes because that is what my heart is telling me to do.

Alex

]]> By: J. Michael Thurman http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2447 J. Michael Thurman Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:32:27 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2447 Stephen King writes it about his craft, but it works for everything: just tell the truth. Be yourself. Be human. Ask me to do the same: be the best of myself and the best of my humanity. Oh...and always be truthful about what I write, say, and do. Thanks for discussing this openly, and thanks to Darren Rowse for tweeting about it. Blessings, Michael Stephen King writes it about his craft, but it works for everything: just tell the truth. Be yourself. Be human. Ask me to do the same: be the best of myself and the best of my humanity. Oh…and always be truthful about what I write, say, and do.

Thanks for discussing this openly, and thanks to Darren Rowse for tweeting about it.

Blessings,
Michael

]]> By: Blogstarta http://blog.wonderwebby.com/2010/01/21/5-ways-to-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-without-throwing-your-avatar-in-my-face/#comment-2446 Blogstarta Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:30:38 +0000 http://blog.wonderwebby.com/?p=1362#comment-2446 one could just 'give' and not pay attention to all the 'what ifs'. those can be sorted out 5 minutes before one goes to sleep. no? :) one could just ‘give’ and not pay attention to all the ‘what ifs’. those can be sorted out 5 minutes before one goes to sleep. no? :)

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