Building Your PTA’s Electronic Presence

1. Building Your PTA’s Electronic Presence Blogs Social Bookmarks Social Media Podcasts Photo Sharing Video Sharing Website

2. Linda Kearschner PCCPTA | VP, Communications GaryAlfred PCCPTA | Technology Chair

3. The Basics of PTA Communication

4. a Call to Action PTA began in 1897 when two women from Washington, DC decided that the children of America needed a voice and sent out a call to action…

5. The PTA Message We are for every child, with one voice, non-partisan, non-sectarian, and non-commercial. We educate, advocate, and lead.

6. THE Purpose of PTA Communications • Encourage involvement with the child in the home and in the school. • Informevery family in the school of the aims and accomplishments of the unit. • Encourage attendance at PTA meetings and parent involvement in PTA projects and activities. • Foster cooperation with the school in keeping parents informed about school functions, regulations and/or procedures on child-related issues. • Inform the community about PTA activities and school functions.

7. Planning for Communications • Identify the Target Audience • Who do you want to reach? • Choose the Medium • Best way(s) to reach that audience? • Prepare the Message • Vital to make the connection to PTA mission and purpose. • What does this do for kids?

8. Media Policy • New territory – Tread carefully! • Spell out: • Goals • Objectives • Implementation process • Content including photo, video, contact info permissions • Prohibited use or objectionable content • Administration authority

9. Ways to Deliver Your Message • Ask Personally / Word of Mouth • Telephone • Direct Mail • Bulletin Boards / Marquees • Brochures • Public or School Print Media/TV/Radio • Newsletters / e-Newsletter • Email • Electronic surveys • Website • Social Media

10. Web Sites

11. Why Have a Website? • To save time & money on communication • To provide up to date information • To provide convenience to your members • To encourage two-way communication • To reach a larger audience A majority of Americans seek information, socialization, and entertainment from the Internet. There is no spoon!

12. Requirements for a Website • A domain name • A Web host • Some useful info

13. 1. Domain Name • A domain name is a human-friendly address on the web. e.g. happytownhighpta.org • Get a domain name that makes sense for your org. • Domain names cost about $10 per year. • Purchasing domain name hosting is not the same as purchasing site hosting. You need both. Gary recommends: enom.com, register.comand networksolutions.com

14. 2. Web Host • A Website Host allows you to put your content on their computers for all the world to see. • Choose a host that provides simple, easy-to-use content management. • Hosting can be free to expensive. Go with free to very cheap. Gary recommends: Weebly.com, Wix.com, and WordPress.com

15. 3. Useful Info • Advocacy information • Links to partner organizations • Volunteer opportunities • Health and Safety issues • Recognize Achievements • Fundraising • Mission and goals • Board members • Contact information • Current activities • Calendar • Reflections Program • School information • Membership information

16. Email

17. Your Email Accounts If you are willing to set it up and maintain it, providing organizational email addresses to your board members provides these benefits: • Continuity during transitions • Easily discoverable place for people to send questions. • Privacy for personal contacts

18. What You’ll Need • A domain name • Someone to manage creating and maintaining them. • A naming convention, like position@yourpta.org makes it easier for people to contact you and makes transitions go smoothly. Gary recommends: Gmail (mail.google.com)

19. Member Email Addresses • Manual data collection • Constant Contact or other email marketing services • RSS feed on your website • “Cloud tools”, e.g. via Google • National PTA member activation….Coming soon!

20. Use Email For… • Newsletter delivery • Important Interim communications • Meeting or event reminders • Surveys

21. Privacy & Legal • Keep you contact database secure! • Don’t share it with any partners or vendors or well intentioned grandparents. • Practice discretion even within your member-base. • Read at least once, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 before sending any email that is not directly related to PTA “business”.

22. NewsLetters

23. Why Create a PTA Newsletter? • Notify of upcoming events • Inform on current issues • Recognize achievement • Create a family camaraderie • Get others involved in PTA

24. What Are Your Options? • Print hard copies to distribute • Add a couple of PTA pages to school newsletter • Gather email addresses on membership forms • Distribute electronic version

25. Social Networks

26. Connect to PTA through social networks • National PTA • Florida PTA • PCCPTA • Other local units

27. National PTA & Facebook partnership to promote internet safety!

28. Facebook Safety Center Facebook has their own set of safety resources and best practices. Check it out! https://www.facebook.com/safety

29. Florida PTA on Facebook

30. PCCPTA on Facebook

31. Oh, the things you can do… • Event postings (reminders, too) • Daily status updates (these go on your fans’ walls) • Link to National PTA, Florida PTA, and your Council • Post photos/video (with care) • Mobile updates • Insights • Add links • And much more…

32. Step by Step

33. Facebook Security • MUST have at least one dedicated “administrator” who can view/edit your page almost daily • Educate your families on the importance of personal Facebook page privacy settings • When someone “likes” your page, they can click on other fans’ pages –control what others can view • ALL info on personal Facebook pages with privacy settings not set to “friends only” are available to virtually ANYONE

34. Personal Page Settings

35. Event Posting

36. Be Efficient & Frugal

37. How to save time… • Post essential content first! • Use the tools YOU find easy to use. • Establish and adhere to conventions. • Post content in batches. • Re-use content.

38. How to save money • Register your domain name for multiple years. • Use free, or cheap, or free services • Use pay-services judiciously.

39. Keys to Success • Make your communication sparkle. • Make it personal. Have fun. • Make it a conversation, not a speech. • Document as much as you can. • Plan ahead. • Share the work.

40. Ideas & Help

41. Discover, Create and Share If you discover a really useful tool or some great resource; if you create some inspired content, a wonderful work of art or come up with a great idea.. Share it! Send it to us so we can brag on you and offer it up to others.

42. WIN Awards Official PCCPTA Awards • Newsletter / e-Newsletter Award • Website Award Unofficial Awards • Open Source Award – share resources and ideas with us all.

43. Resources Check out http://pccpta.org/online-presence.html for resources and links that will help you build and maintain your online presence. Google for Non-Profits offers free organization email, web sites, file/document sharing, phone numbers and more to non-profits. Grassroots.org seem to also provide a decent set of features for free to non-profits. If anyone gives them a try please share your experiences. National PTA’s marketing resources

44. We Are Here to Help Linda Kearschner – Vice President, Communications communication@pccpta.org 727.669.7979 Gary Alfred – Technology Chair admin@pccpta.org

45. No Seriously,We Are Here to Help! Linda Kearschner – Vice President, Communications communication@pccpta.org 727.669.7979 Gary Alfred – Technology Chair admin@pccpta.org