Your nonprofit communications course catalogue

Welcome, all, to the back-to-school edition of the nonprofit blog carnival. (Say, what’s a blog carnival?)From the many great posts we received, we’ve put together this handy dandy list of nonprofit communications resources. It’s the first day of college all over again, but without the social pressure. Choose a topic, learn, and enjoy.Know of a great post that belongs in our course catalogue? Post it up in the comments during the add/drop period.Getting startedWant to know where to begin with your nonprofit’s communications? Check out these great links on topics from professional development to social media and everything in between.

• Professional development 101: Staying in the know | Yesenia SoteloHow to keep up when the world of nonprofit communications is changing at the speed of light.
• Search engine optimization 103: A primer for associations and nonprofits | Keith Holloway, Wild Apricot BlogUnderstand what search engine optimization (SEO) is, why it’s important for your website, and how your nonprofit can get started.
• Social media 108: Wikipedia | Manny Hernandez, Ask MannyLearn how to create your nonprofit’s entry in the “largest and most popular general reference work on the Internet.”
• Fundraising 112: Characteristics of a good fundraiser | Andrea Kihlstedt, Asking MattersDavid Dunlop explains what it takes to succeed as a fundraising pro (the first in a series of interviews on the topic of fundraising).
• Public relations 110: Pitching via Twitter | Leone Kraus, Kraus NotesFive tips for using Twitter to solicit media coverage for your organization.
• Social media 120: Creating your community | Kas, Opening New DoorsIdeas for building a comfortable online environment in which your audiences feel encouraged to learn and share.
• Audience-centricity 121: Laws of a good website | Katya Andreson, Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing BlogWhen you think about how to organize your nonprofit’s website, remember: it’s about what your audience wants, not what you want.

Taking the next stepIf you’re already on your way to great nonprofit communications, here are some helpful links to take your efforts to the next level.

• Social media 201: Improving social media practice | Beth Kanter, Beth’s BlogBefore you dive into your next social media project, pause to assess where you’ve been and what you can learn moving forward.
• Social media 202: 100 ways to measure social media | Maddie Grant, SocialFishingThe best way to improve your social media efforts is to track your results and analyze what’s working.
• Audience engagement 211: Engaging your supporters | Allyson Kapin, FrogloopKeep your nonprofit’s supporters involved with your organization and its mission, online and off.
• Web analytics 218: Advanced filtering | Brett Meyer, NTEN BlogUse Google Analytics to improve your website’s bounce rate by homing in on the pages that need the most work.
• Social media 222: What’s in it for me? | Seth Giammanco, In the LabMotivate your supporters to get involved and take action with creative use of online tools and games.

Thanks to everyone who submitted a post to the Carnival this month. Next month’s edition will be hosted by Jake Seliger of Grant Writing Confidential on the topic of important tools for nonprofit professionals. Tell us about the tools you use in your life working for a nonprofit. What hardware, software, items, or techniques have made your life substantially better, easier, or more interesting? Start planning your posts!