Nonprofits use social media to spread message, raise awareness

From the Santa Monica (CA) Daily Press

Instead of chopping down trees to make newsletters, local nonprofits are going digital.In the year and a half since Ana Luisa Ahern came on board as interactive campaigns manager for Santa Monica-based environmental watchdog Heal the Bay, the organization has seen a growth of 20,000 Twitter followers and broke 300 “likes” on one Instagram photo — both impressive feats.

The organization, which was already using those platforms prior to Ahern’s arrival, recently began devoting more time to social media.

Heal the Bay and other Santa Monica-based nonprofits use social media as a creative avenue to engage and interact with their audiences, generate

conversations about specific causes and promote their names and missions.
“Social media helps by putting out the spirit of the organization to a broad audience,” Ahern said. “It’s showing beautiful images and getting people engaged in a conversation, and giving people a sense of who Heal the Bay is and why we’re doing what we are.”

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