How to Make Your Social Impact Message Go Viral: Five Principles for Digital Engagement

Nov 24, 2014 10:15 AM ET
Microsoft's "The Selfie Collection"

Prove Your Purpose

You know digital activism is more than a passing fad when technology giant Microsoft launches its new Nokia Lumia 735 phone with a social good activation. "The Selfie Collection" not only highlights the phone's ability to take improved selfies, but it also helps fight online bullying.

The campaign raises money through an online auction by inviting fashion bloggers to take selfies wearing or displaying items they donated to the auction. In addition to donations from the online auction, Microsoft will make a donation to Children's Helpline International. This campaign is just one of many new efforts to garner attention for important causes through reaching consumers where they are – on digital.

Looking to create a digital campaign? We've gathered five principles for digital engagement based on the findings from the 2014 Cone Communications Digital Activism Study:

  • Open the door: Don't undermine the importance of a simple tweet or post – this is the gateway to future participation. Remember, even though a click might not necessarily translate into an immediate dollar in your coffers, it's a critical first step on the engagement ladder and can open myriad opportunities for your organization to gain the crucial support it needs.
  • Hyper-target your approach: Prioritize who you're trying to reach. Understand the channels they want to interact on and the content they want to see. Instead of applying a blanket approach to engagement, hyper-customize your outreach to resonate with your specific audience.

To read more on the Prove Your Purpose blog, please click here.