The power of social media for social good

Today, we're celebrating Social Good Day! Mashable.com and (Red) joined forces to encourage ideas for using social media for social good. The Twitter hastag is #socialgood -- and we're all supposed to tweet our ideas on how we can use social media to promote charitable giving and social good. Please, get inspi(Red) and get tweeting!

I didn't only want to share my idea, I wanted to try it out on a small scale today and see how it works. Here's the concept. I teamed up with some of my favorite bloggers. We all agreed to write a post about Social Good Day and to donate to the (Red) cause (helping to fight AIDS in Africa) for every comment posted on our blog in response. So, for Reina Communications, we'll donate $1 for every person who comments on this blog post today, up to $40.  And, I'm going to ask you to not only comment here, but to check out the blogs I'm teaming up with and comment there as well (because they will donate today, too!):

• Ping! Loyalty Science in Practice - this is a great blog about marketing, social media and customer loyalty


• Jase Digital Media -this blog is regularly updated with tips on social media marketing


• Patches of Sand - the posterous blog of OBX Design Works, all about Web design


• Powerful Learning Practice - the PLP Network is the go-to resource on using social media for education


• Greater Good Life - my personal blog about social good!


• My Aim Is True - the creative, crafty DIY blog of a wonderful Web designer (who partners with Reina Communications on projects)


• Bake It Pretty - the absolutely cutest cupcake site on the Web. I LOVE this blog. It will change your baking life.

RAD UPDATE: @limoncello, who I met via Twitter today, got inspired by our posts and raised $610 so far on her blog The Good, the bad and the unread. That's what I'm talking about!

The way I see it, this is a win-win!

For the blogger: We get to donate to a great cause, educate and inform our readers and attract new audiences to our blog (via the cross promotion from other bloggers).

For the readers: You get the satisfaction in participating in social good as it happens online. You also get to read about these great causes. And you get inspi(RED)!

For the nonprofit: They get awareness for their cause, written by real people -- bloggers who want to help.  They also get the cash generated in the effort.

So, what do I need from you? Please comment on this blog -- Think about sharing your own idea about social media for social good. Or write about the (Red) cause and why you are happy to help. Or tell me if you even like this idea. Also, please consider donating any amount you can on your own by visiting Join Red's donation page. If you donate, please send me a note or leave a comment (anonymously if you wish), so we can thank you and include the information as we evaluate the results of today's campaign.

I could see this idea taking off on a much larger scale: a network of bloggers, all committed to causes and cross promoting.

As, for the JoinRed cause we're supporting today, I just want to point out that small efforts like this can make a big difference. Check out this quick video: It costs only 40 cents a day -the cost of two pills a day- for an AIDS patient living in poverty to stay alive.

Comments

[Amber]

Thanks for organizing this, Chel! I liked this post from Mashable, 5 easy ways to support a cause through your social network:

http://mashable.com/2010/09/22/support-cause-social-network/

[Social Good Day: You Leave a C]

[...] - Loyalty Science in Practice Outer Banks Design Works -  William Dodson - Patches of Sand Reina Communications - Michelle Rogerson Amber Karnes - My Aim Is True Bake It Pretty -  Amanda Powerful Learning Practice -  Susan Carter [...]

[Keith Parnell]

I am very proud to be a part of this cause with you, Michelle!
http://jasedigitalmedia.com/blog/index.php/2010/09/23/social-good-day-you-leave-a-comment-we-pay-1-to-stamp-out-aids/
@parnellk63

[raj]

THumbs up ! good job

[Limecello]

Thank you for doing this post and donating!
Happy Social Good Day!

[Susan Carter Morgan]

What a great cause. Thanks for participating!

[Manda]

Thank you so much for participating in this! Hope you get lots of money for the cause!

[Beth]

Love ideas like this. Way to go, Michelle!

[Portia Da Costa]

This is a wonderful way to harness support for a most deserving cause.

Well done!

[Sonya]

Nice work :D Love the concept and would love to have been a part of it... maybe next year ;)

[Sonya]

I love this concept. Nice one :D

[Amanda]

I love socially responsible people! Thanks for doing this!

[Niko]

I heart you!

[Jen Rogerson]

Here's a dollar! Love ya!!

[Julie]

Great idea Michelle - happy to further the cause!

[Mimi Snavely]

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