Beth's+Journal


 * July, 2012**

This month will be about getting participants to share their content in the FB group and for us to point out good examples and best practices

them all to personal branding || Participants are liking each other's pages []
 * Highlighting Good Examples Of Content**
 * Organization || Content Highlight || FB Group Thread || Ideas and Observations ||
 * Aahung ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Hands || Sharing Photos || [] || Also noticing how the ED is sharing professional content and could introduce
 * Heartfile ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Lahore University of Management Sciences ||  ||   ||   ||
 * LEAD Pakistan ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Marie Stopes Society Pakistan ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Rutgers World Population Foundation ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Shirkat Gah ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Actions Taken:**


 * Resources Shared:**

Ten Types of Content That Everyone Loves []

Getting Reports that some folks could not upload documents to the wiki Created a how-to with screen captures []

Also, checked to see who was/wasn't member and send invites []

Ahung How come we are not getting more engagement and likes on our page? []
 * Questions Asked:**


 * June 25, 2012**

Two participants wrote journal entries about outreach and engagement tactics explored Hands http://networked-ngo.wikispaces.com/Engagement+and+Outreach+%28HANDS%29

Rutgers http://networked-ngo.wikispaces.com/Engagement+and+Outreach

Progress towards deliverables [] We are in good shape. A review of participants work on Facebook shows great efforts and advancements.

Issues
 * Participants need to develop the discipline of an editorial calendar and planning content - Stephanie and I will be posting and reminding them over the coming weeks - pointing to different examples
 * Some concerns with time management -- complaint that work is taking too much time - need to explore how to help make them more efficient - some concerns from senior management from one group
 * Participants are using the ideas of champions.


 * June 24, 2012**

Checking out participants Facebook pages in advance of the meeting

Posting twice a week, perhaps look at posting more frequently - once per day or five times per week Good variation of content types
 * Aahung**

Reached 200 Fans []

Posted an update to their outreach and engagement http://networked-ngo.wikispaces.com/Engagement+and+Outreach+(HANDS) 497 Fans Posting 4-5 times per week, variety of content Experimenting with promoted posts Getting shared posts which is excellent, but they should comment or like the shared post []
 * HANDS**

229 Fans Not posting content on FB Cover image?
 * HEARTFILE**

13886 likes Changing cover image with events Posting several times a day ..
 * LUMS**

876 likes CEO YouTube Video about Rio - timely [] More frequent posting of content
 * LEAD**

Not linked from Web site 40 likes good content in May, stopped in June - why? []
 * Marie Stopes**

1280 Likes (acquired 40 fans in June) Like the personality - happy birthday to colleagues Regular content, varied
 * Rutgers**

258 likes Excellent Cover Image Shares, consistent posting
 * Shirkah Gah**


 * June 1, 2012**

Overall, amazing work so far!


 * Red Dots:** We have seven policies posted to the wiki and they are good. Best practices include:

-Briefing on the Training -Customizing the generic policy to meet needs -Discussion/review by organizational leader -Feedback from different departments Next Steps: How to incorporate operationalized trainings

[|Aahung] x Hands Social Media Policy x [|LEAD Pakistan Social Media Policy] x  Heartfile Social Media Policy (Draft) x  Rutgers WPF Social Media Policy (Draft) x http://networked-ngo.wikispaces.com/Marie+Stopes+Society+Action+Learning+Project x

Red Dots were also asking questions about the strategy and tactics in anticipation of the next check in call.


 * Yellow Dots:**

Community Policy for Facebook: The value is that it sets the tone for a professional space. For the Yellow Dots who shared their SMART objectives on the wiki page: http://networked-ngo.wikispaces.com/Pakistan+Call+1 - I emailed specific feedback to each participant.

This has also given me some good ideas of what content/how-to tips to share over the next couple of weeks.


 * May 31, 2012: Conference Call Platform Works But ...**


 * Technology**

We switched to audio conference call only using Conference Call Plus. We had some minor technical issues with participants having dropped calls and having to dial back in or distracting background noise. We asked participants to mute their phones and speak up when necessary. I really missed not having the online/webinar for the visuals and a back channel for chat. I think this will be more for the "Yellow Dots" where we will have to verbally explain some technical steps. This might be something to propose to the Yellow Dots on our next or give them the option to log into the Ready/Talk online system. I don't want the technology to distract us though.

I am intrigued by this option of having a "silent meeting" with skype chat and it might be an option if we decide to schedule extra sessions.


 * May 24, 2012: Okay, Time To Move to Improvement**

Stephanie and I stayed up late last night and hung out online to catch participants to help us test the new conference system. We learned that it works, but there is a potential technical glitch when participants enter the code. But we know how to fix it. We also discovered that it is possible for participants to used paid SKYPE to call the conference call line.

Lessons Learned: -Even if you have used a conference call system in the US or other countries successfully, each new country that you work in has a different set of challenges. Test your system over and over again. -Have a plan B (1. both moderators have the moderator code; 2. start the call at 5 minutes after scheduled time even if both moderators are not online) -Have a protocol for the moderators and conducting the call - in the US this can be more informal, but with International work there must be a very clear protocol for managing the calls This includes (1. agenda/slides on the wiki in advance; 2. Facilitation plan so people know when to speak 3. Roll call 4.Facilitators get on the call 10 minutes early and ping each other an hour before to remind -Avoiding Time Zone mishaps -- no matter what - always look up the time zone comparison in the World Clock, enter the time of the meeting for your own time zone in your calendar. Set up an auto-reminder for the call for facilitators and participants.

[]
 * May 23: That Was A Spectacular Fail!**

We held the first conference calls for the Pakistan groups (http://networked-ngo.wikispaces.com/Conference+Calls) and we faced some major technical glitches with Ready/Talk - the webinar and conference call system. Participants dialed out to the Ready/Talk conference call number and logged into the system. We experienced audio problems on the call - not everyone could everyone else. The second call for social media participants was conducted using the chat and participants were able to get advice - but is was less than ideal.

We will be switching to a traditional conference audio conference call system that has a track record of working with participants who call-in from Pakistan.

There are two different views about this failure - one positive and one negative. The negatives include: shame, embarrassment, and guilt. The positives: learning, opportunity, and improvement. We have to remember that failure is a not a bad thing if you can reap from insight and learning from it.

Failure happens for a lot of reasons – these can include unrealistic expectations, not having a strategy or plan, not doing due diligence or research. These can provide ripe learning experiences. There is also “intentional failure” – that is a form of risk-taking that leads to innovation. Often, these may lead to incremental success or dramatic success, but if you don’t take these risks you won’t ever see innovation. Trying something new – as a pilot – and learning from it. This takes an agile, learning culture.

The new component for this project was trying the peer learning via conference calls/webinar after the face-to-face with participants from Pakistan. I did not anticipate the audio problems that might occur with Ready/Talk. Perhaps this might have resolved with additional testing or research. Or, in the overall project design to only do a face-to-face training and not attempt the remote follow up by conference call and webinar. I now have an opportunity to learn about conference call systems that work internationally.

Also, I have always done these calls solo and I need to have a better plan to work effectively with a co-moderator - Stephanie.

I also learned a lesson about simplicity -- adding the webinar and conference call was too complicated.

Despite this glitch, participants (yellow dots) shared their lessons learned related to content and the use of technology.

Reflections from participants [] [] []


 * April 27, 2012**

I am very optimistic based on the posts in the Facebook Group thus far. I hope that we can sustain this level of engagement over the six months. Also, the fact that we have a lot of expertise in the group and some starting points. Also, the fact that we can[| be very transparent about red dots and yellow dots].

Openly talking about challenge of transfer back at the office [|Very good response] on the evaluation survey so far - within a day 11 out of 16 responses. [|Starting to ask for assistance in FB group] on using wiki .. and good sign [|Prodding about the action learning journal - putting skills into practice] [|Participants already answering each other questions about FB]


 * April 20, 2012**


 * Program Measurable Objectives**

NGOs research and write a formal social media strategy that links social media outcomes to institutional goals around population and reproductive health. NGOs discuss and write a formal social media policy for their institutions use of social media. NGOs are able to design and implement a small action-learning project on Facebook or other appropriate social channel that helps them implement a small social media pilot, measure it, and reflect on learning with peers.

Process Indicators 100% participants write a social media policy 100% participants write a social media strategy 100% participants complete an action learning project on Facebook


 * Impact**


 * Unanticipated Outcomes**


 * Staff are knowledgeable with their International peers when discussing social media strategy
 * Using the FB group [|to share professional info] re: their field - beyond the project stuff - that's a good thing