Hello Wikimedia contributors,
The fundraising team has been testing new messages over the past couple of months and we're happy to report we've found some new voices that will allow us to move away from our dependence on Jimmy to appeal to readers for donations. This year we want the fundraiser to rely as much as possible on voices of many different members of our community. So far, we've only tested messages from individuals, but we'd like to test a group appeal from the community. *That's where you come in!* Please help out by editing this page together. http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fundraising_2011/communityappeal
Here are a few *successful appeal principles* we've found in our most effective appeals:
- *Authenticity*: We need to tell stories from amazing passionate Wikipedians in their own real words about why they are passionate about Wikipedia and what is great about Wikipedia. - *Beauty*: Wikipedia is an amazing, beautiful thing run by volunteers doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. - *Story*: Clarify people's understanding of Wikipedia and that it needs them to keep the story going. - *Free and ad free*: People love that it's free to use, free to be used in any way, and ad free. - *Importance*: We're #5 and everyone uses us! - *Efficiency*: Compared to the other top sites, we run on a shoestring budget. - *Strong, quick start*: It must have a catchy first line. - *Ask*: tell people where the money goes, be specific and concrete.
*Examples* of the most effective appeals - so far :
- Trusty Jimmy http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_0209_Jimmy/en - Brandon Appealhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_BR2_Junetest_1/en/US - Maryana Appealhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_3009_Maryana_1/en/US - Wikipedia editor Alan Sohnhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_0209_Alan-a/en - Steven Walling appealhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_JMvSW_Julytest_SW/en/US
Please help come up with some ideas and drafts here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fundraising_2011/communityappeal
Really looking forward to seeing what we come up with!
Megan
Megan Hernandez wrote:
The fundraising team has been testing new messages over the past couple of months and we're happy to report we've found some new voices that will allow us to move away from our dependence on Jimmy to appeal to readers for donations. This year we want the fundraiser to rely as much as possible on voices of many different members of our community.
Hi.
Are there any plans to broadcast this a bit more widely, particularly to readers? I think using social media (the "wikimedia" microblogging account, Facebook pages, etc.) to get banners or banner ideas from outside the Wikimedia (editing) community would be great. There are a lot of creative people who love Wikimedia projects. A few tweets or status updates calling for banner submissions might go a long way... assuming people can figure out Meta-Wiki.
MZMcBride
It's a great idea, I will ask to WM-MX guys to participate. And I support the idea of MZM, we need to do most in social media. I don't know if we have a strategy for content in FB, Twitter, Identi.ca, etc.
Warmly.
2011/10/10 MZMcBride z@mzmcbride.com
Megan Hernandez wrote:
The fundraising team has been testing new messages over the past couple
of
months and we're happy to report we've found some new voices that will
allow
us to move away from our dependence on Jimmy to appeal to readers for donations. This year we want the fundraiser to rely as much as possible
on
voices of many different members of our community.
Hi.
Are there any plans to broadcast this a bit more widely, particularly to readers? I think using social media (the "wikimedia" microblogging account, Facebook pages, etc.) to get banners or banner ideas from outside the Wikimedia (editing) community would be great. There are a lot of creative people who love Wikimedia projects. A few tweets or status updates calling for banner submissions might go a long way... assuming people can figure out Meta-Wiki.
MZMcBride
foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 4:10 PM, Ivay Martínez galaver@gmail.com wrote:
It's a great idea, I will ask to WM-MX guys to participate. And I support the idea of MZM, we need to do most in social media. I don't know if we have a strategy for content in FB, Twitter, Identi.ca, etc.
I know that Twitter was used in the last fundraiser but can't remember any detail other than that a few users (that had identified themselves to the Foundation) all had access to it and were able to send tweets.
Bodnotbod
Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, there are people who work on social media year round (not just for the fundraiser). During this year's fundraiser, we will be putting out more messages across social media sites and actively participate in the conversation that's taking place there.
During our weekly tests, there are a whole host of tweets and messages from readers about our banners and messages. Some are really hilarious, actually. I'll make sure to post some in the next update.
Megan
On Wed, Oct 12, 2011 at 2:05 AM, Bod Notbod bodnotbod@gmail.com wrote:
On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 4:10 PM, Ivay Martínez galaver@gmail.com wrote:
It's a great idea, I will ask to WM-MX guys to participate. And I support the idea of MZM, we need to do most in social media. I
don't
know if we have a strategy for content in FB, Twitter, Identi.ca, etc.
I know that Twitter was used in the last fundraiser but can't remember any detail other than that a few users (that had identified themselves to the Foundation) all had access to it and were able to send tweets.
Bodnotbod
foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
Quick reminder that the appeal from the community could use some help. A couple people have started so far. That's really great - thanks for helping out.
Please take a couple minutes and share some thoughts. Send it around to anyone who might be interested.
Thanks!
Megan
On Thu, Oct 6, 2011 at 10:54 PM, Megan Hernandez mhernandez@wikimedia.orgwrote:
Hello Wikimedia contributors,
The fundraising team has been testing new messages over the past couple of months and we're happy to report we've found some new voices that will allow us to move away from our dependence on Jimmy to appeal to readers for donations. This year we want the fundraiser to rely as much as possible on voices of many different members of our community. So far, we've only tested messages from individuals, but we'd like to test a group appeal from the community. *That's where you come in!* Please help out by editing this page together.http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fundraising_2011/communityappeal
Here are a few *successful appeal principles* we've found in our most effective appeals:
- *Authenticity*: We need to tell stories from amazing passionate
Wikipedians in their own real words about why they are passionate about Wikipedia and what is great about Wikipedia.
- *Beauty*: Wikipedia is an amazing, beautiful thing run by volunteers
doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.
- *Story*: Clarify people's understanding of Wikipedia and that it
needs them to keep the story going.
- *Free and ad free*: People love that it's free to use, free to be
used in any way, and ad free.
- *Importance*: We're #5 and everyone uses us!
- *Efficiency*: Compared to the other top sites, we run on a shoestring
budget.
- *Strong, quick start*: It must have a catchy first line.
- *Ask*: tell people where the money goes, be specific and concrete.
*Examples* of the most effective appeals - so far :
- Trusty Jimmy http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_0209_Jimmy/en
- Brandon Appealhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_BR2_Junetest_1/en/US
- Maryana Appealhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_3009_Maryana_1/en/US
- Wikipedia editor Alan Sohnhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_0209_Alan-a/en
- Steven Walling appealhttp://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/L11_JMvSW_Julytest_SW/en/US
Please help come up with some ideas and drafts here: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fundraising_2011/communityappeal
Really looking forward to seeing what we come up with!
Megan
--
Megan Hernandez
Head of Annual Fundraiser Wikimedia Foundation
wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org