Thursday, October 6, 2011

 Social media agency Room 214 uses Facebook pages to connect supporters and raise awareness for non-profit work.

Room 214 recently launched a custom Facebook application in conjunction with non-profit iEmpathize to help put an end to child sex slavery. The new iEmpathize Facebook page tells the story behind the non-profit and allows visitors to show their support for the cause.

Room 214's custom Facebook application illustrates three ways that a non-profit can make the most out of their social media interaction on Facebook.

1. Create an emotional tie.

Big stats drive people away and may make them think that the problem is too big to tackle. By making the cause relatable, supporters feel like they can digest the information and connect with the issue.

Room 214 uses a ticker on the iEmpathize Facebook welcome tab to communicate the issue of child sex slavery. For every 30 seconds a visitor spends on the site, the ticker shows that another child is forced into slavery. This ticker indicates urgency and allows supporters to emotionally connect with the problem.

2. Tell a story.

Human beings love to be able to connect with a story. When explaining a non-profit's cause on a Facebook page, present the information by showing them a story.

On the iEmpathize welcome tab, a quick minute-long video explains the essence of the organization by telling the story of a child that did not end up in the sex trade because of the work of iEmpathize. Photos of real artifacts from the sex trade tell a very real story of what this problem looks like.

3. Offer Big and Small Ways to Show Support

Many visitors will want to show support for the cause without donating monetarily to the organization. Create a system that allows for casual visitors to align themselves with the cause while also making it easy for potential donors to make a contribution.

The iEmpathize page features a section where casual supporters can "like" the page or share the page on other social media platforms. Underneath this section is a place for visitors to contribute monetarily to the cause.

"Room 214 is focused on taking advantage of social media tools to deliver real results for our clients. Our goal was to connect Facebook users with iEmpathize by telling the story behind their cause. This new Facebook application does a great job of highlighting the very real and emotional problems involved in the illegal sex trade." – Brandon Whalen, Marketing Manager, Room 214

About iEmpathize

iEmpathize is an Arts and Advocacy non-profit (501c3) that creates opportunities for people to explore and engage in issues of child sex slavery. Efforts are focused on connecting people and resources to needs around the world related to this cause. For more information visit www.iempathize.org.

About Room 214

Room 214 is a Social Media Agency. We help companies connect to the people that matter most, creating value through social experiences that integrate intelligence, social network & mobile technologies. You hire us to help with: Creating sharable content with video and infographics, social media research and monitoring, campaign ideation, planning and management, custom Facebook application development, mobile applications, search and social optimization and advertising.

Website: www.room214.com

Twitter: @room214

Facebook: facebook.com/room214

Contact:

Room 214

Lindsay Kipp

lkipp@room214.com

James Clark

Room 214, INC

Boulder, CO

303-444-9214

303 736-4377

###