How arts organizations use social media

If you work in communications in an arts organization and you’re not experimenting with social media you’re either missing the point, missing in action or missing the forest for the trees.

And whatever your reason for not venturing boldly into Web 2.0, you’re definitely missing the boat, say people who consult with arts organizations and other nonprofits.

“People say to me, ‘We don’t have the money or the time or the resources to do social media,’” says Cindy Crescenzo, a former marketing executive at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra who now consults and speaks on the subject. “I tell them, ‘That’s exactly why you should be doing it.’”

Other reasons to do it: Your organization is trying to reach a younger demographic, which lives on Facebook. You want to add names to your mailing list. You want to remove the veil of formality that makes many arts organizations seem unapproachable. You want to add “stumbled upon” to the list of ways people from your community and around the world find your Web site.