The first step in creating your MySpace presence is to personalize your profile. If you look around on MySpace, you'll see many different profile styles - tacky sparkley graphics are popular with teens, profiles loaded down with videos are popular with college students, and many users put a million Flash objects (slideshows, jukeboxes, etc). It is a mistake for a professional organization (including nonprofits and charities!) to copy these users. In fact, if you put too many videos or Flash objects on your profile, you could crash someone's computer.

It's better to keep your profile simple, but not plain.



You can choose to hire a professional ( Like me!) or use a website to put together your profile. I do not recommend using a canned layout with backgrounds and such - these are the kind teenagers use. Very unprofessional. Instead, stick with plain colors or your own graphics.

Try this free website for profile design:
Tame the Beast Profiles

Check out these nonprofit's MySpace profiles for ideas:

Do Something
Library teenZone
Cool People Care

Also, take a look around at business and musician profiles. Musicians are often at the head of the pack when it comes to social networking - there is a lot you can learn from studying them.

Taylor Swift, musician
Renee Cassar, musician
Laughter Yoga Club of Kansas City

Think about your brand while you decide on your profile design. Are you artistic? Laid back? All about kids? Whatever your image is will effect what colors you want to use.

The first thing you should do is to 'friend' (request to "Add a Friend") anyone who works in your organization, whether staff or volunteer. Anyone who cares enough to work for you is probably one of your biggest cheerleaders.

Next, friend partner organizations (other nonprofits, businesses, musicians). This can include organizations that have supported your nonprofit through benefits, contributions, or name support (like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for DoSomething.org).

If you use promotional materials like newsletters or fliers, include the URL of your MySpace profile.

You can also friend supporters of similar organizations.

NEVER EVER USE A FRIEND-ADDING PROGRAM! These are banned by MySpace, and will get your profile deleted.

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Keep in touch with your supporters (your MySpace friends) through bulletins, blog posts, and comments.

Whenever someone accepts your friend request or you accept theirs, stop by their profile and add a comment saying "Thanks for the support!" or something similar. It's very simple and quick, but it leaves a lasting impression on users, since many organizations do not take the time to do that.

Also, if you have an event coming up and the user is local to it, say something like, "Thanks for the support! Will we see you at the Awesome Benefit at Our Location this Friday?" Even if you cut and paste this onto many profiles, each person will still assume that they are special. With organizations that have hired me, just using that tactic has increased the number of people at each event.

Send out bulletins with your recent news and reminders! Don't send more than a couple per day - you don't want to be a nuisance.

Create a MySpace group about your cause, and invite all of your supporters to it.

For more information about creating relationships and community with your supporters, visit The Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts of MySpace Relationship Building on my blog.

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