It’s a phenomenon.  I knew it when I saw this on the Daily Show. 

Daily Show Segment

Just three weeks before that, Paige Johnson, our VP of Public Affairs, and I had sat down to discuss how to involve activists more in our work.  We talked about how our updates were too far apart and how our email open rate was declining.  Having just a week or so earlier set up my own twitter account, I thought maybe this could work.

Twitter defines itself as micro-blogging, but also markets itself with the tagline, “ What are you doing?”   Real Life- what happens between blogs, not big enough for email.

Twitter provides your followers with real time updates.  These updates are limited to 140 characters, so you’ve got to be concise and there are guides available with shorthand and tweetiquette- twitter etiquette.

Paige agreed or at least agreed to give it a shot.

We started our PPCNC twitter on Feb 18, 2009.  [About a month before the real media explosion around twittering.]  At the time there was only one Planned Parenthood twittering.  The used the nested P’s- our common logo- and seemed to concentrate their updates on volunteer opportunities.  We had a slightly different strategy in mind. 

Since we wanted to involve activists more, we thought the main strategy for us, would be updates from the General Assembly. Giving our activists the insiders’ view and allowing them to lobby with us.  Our lobbyists, Paige and Alison, provide the updates everyday the General Assembly meets. 

We also know from our years of grassroots organizing that you’re gonna have a few star activists, people who will do everything they can for you and that for the rest, you’ve got to make it easy and entertaining.  You’ve got to bring them in on the issue and let them see the whole battle, so that when we need them to, they will have taken ownership and
they’ll take action.

Today, there are 11 Planned Parenthoods on twitter, most are using the nested P’s and most keep their tweets highly unpersonal.   Maybe they know something I don’t?   So I asked one of our advisory committee members- she’s a social network expert, she has a widely read blog and she use to e-organize for PP.

She thinks we’re doing a nice job mixing in the personal.  She likes that we use a personal photo.  She agreed with me that we want this to be person to person.  I guess we’ll continue to seek feedback.

We’ve almost hit 60 followers!!  Of course, a couple followers are actually anti-choice folks snooping around. 

I think we have a great tool here and are using it in a way that provides real value.  I think we need to market it more.

www.twitter.com/PPCNC

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