Measuring the Networked Nonprofit: Using Data to Change the World [Paperback]

Beth Kanter (Author), Katie Delahaye Paine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 9, 2012

The tools nonprofits need to measure the impact of their social media

Having a social media measurement plan and approach can no longer be an after-thought. It is a requirement of success. As nonprofits refine their social media practice, their boards are expecting reports showing results. As funders provide dollars to support programs that include social media, they too want to see results. This book offers the tools and strategies needed for nonprofits that need reliable and measurable data from their social media efforts. Using these tools will not only improve a nonprofit?s decision making process but will produce results-driven metrics for staff and stakeholders.

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• A hands-on resource for nonprofit professionals who must be able to accurately measure the results of their social media ventures
  
• Written by popular nonprofit blogger Beth Kanter and measurement expert Katie Delahaye Paine
  
• Filled with tools, strategies, and illustrative examples that are highly accessible for nonprofit professionals

This important resource will give savvy nonprofit professionals the information needed to produce measurable results for their social media.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"A powerful and entertaining book on how to use measurement and social media to kick butt and change the world."

—Guy Kawasaki, author, Enchantment; former chief evangelist of Apple

Measuring the Nonprofit World

"Read Measuring the Networked Nonprofit to help you figure out what kind of results you're getting, and then figure out to get even more effective."

—Craig Newmark, founder, craigslist, craigconnects.org

"Measuring the Networked Nonprofit is essential reading for any nonprofit leader trying to figure out what social media can do for her organization—and what pitfalls to avoid. Kanter and Paine demystify social media strategies, tools, and metrics, and make them accessible to techies and technophobes alike."

—Kathy Reich, Director of Organizational Effectiveness Grantmaking, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

"This book is the cutting edge of evaluating the effectiveness of social media and goes beyond methods to show that measurement is about strategic thinking and evidence-informed action."

—Michael Quinn Patton, author, Developmental Evaluation: Applying Complexity Concepts to Enhance Innovation and Use

"The authors brilliantly teach nonprofit leaders how to transform their organizations by embracing measurement. The writing style is lively, which makes the book accessible, inviting to read, and fun to implement!"

—Kim Meredith, executive director, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society

"The authors provide an invaluable guide to philanthropists and their beneficiaries and answer the question: 'How do we measure the effectiveness of our nonprofit's networked social media efforts?' This is a readable, practical book!"

—Howard Rheingold, author, Net Smart: How to Thrive Online

"Measuring the Networked Nonprofit is a must-read for anyone in the social good sector. The authors are both funny and talented storytellers. Stop reading this stupid blurb and go read the book."

—Shel Israel, coauthor, Naked Conversations and Forbes contributor

"In a new world of social media and big data, the authors cut through the noise to help you design and measure campaigns."

About the Author

—Brian Solis, bestselling author, The End of Business as Usual and Engage!

Named one of the most influential women in technology by Fast Company and one of BusinessWeek's "Voices of Innovation for Social Media," Beth Kanter is the author of Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media; a visiting scholar, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation; and a speaker and trainer.

Katie Delahaye Paine is the founder of KDPaine & Partners LLC and publisher of the first blog and the first newsletter for marketing and communications professionals dedicated entirely to measurement and accountability.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (October 9, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118137604
• ISBN-13: 978-1118137604
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.7 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Nonprofit Organizations & Charities

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great companion to The Networked Nonprofit November 14, 2012

By Joe Waters

Format:Paperback

Beth Kanter's first book, The Networked Nonprofit, taught us how to use social media tools. Her latest book, Measuring the Networked Nonprofit, which is co-authored by Katie Delahaye Paine, teaches us how to measure what we've done.

The whole idea of measurement and insight has been on my brain for two reasons.

First, During Pinktober Megan Strand and I interviewed the author of Pink Ribbons Inc. on CauseTalk Radio. I initially thought we'd be on opposite sides of the argument, but I found myself nodding in agreement throughout our conversation. She wasn't against cause marketing, as I had wrongly assumed. But she did have some good questions on measurement and insight within the pink ribbons movement. What was the real value of breast cancer awareness? How was success being measured? What goals have and haven't been achieved? You can listen to the show yourself, but I concluded Pinktober needed less emotion and ribbon-waving and more measurement and insight.

My second run in with measurement peaked after the presidential election. How could so many people say for so long that the race was so close only to have Romney lose in a landslide? They're now saying that Romney will get two to three million fewer votes than McCain did in 2008. How is that possible as no one ever called that race a close one? What was and wasn't measured and why did pollsters draw different conclusions from the data?

Lastly, who the hell is this wicked smart guy Nate Silver that everyone is talking about?

Obviously, I have a lot to learn about measuring the success of just about everything.

That's why I want to finish Beth and Katie's book so I can better teach my clients how to measure the success of their social media efforts. What I've really liked about the book so far is it has a ton of case studies. The authors also don't assume you've read Beth's first book (or even her blog) and implemented all the things she suggested.

This book has something for everyone. Even if you're still crawling when others are walking, running and flying (the four stages of becoming data informed in the book), you'll learn something.

A book like this raises the bar for everything you do. Sure, it teaches you how to measure your effectiveness on social media and how to make better decisions. But It also challenges you to do everything better through measurement and insight. For nonprofits, the result will be a better world, which I'm sure Beth and Katie are eager to measure.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars social networking for NGOs October 8, 2012

By Randy Macon

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've been looking forward to the release of this book for quite sometime. Beth and Katie have done a terrific job outlining the techniques for and importance of measuring networking efforts in the nonprofit setting. The wisdom starts in the Preface and continues chockablock until the end! I highly recommend this text to all of my nonprofit colleagues.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile in measures January 21, 2013

By Kalen Cap

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Attempting to become more effective in my volunteer capacities with nonprofits and social media, I read "Measuring the Networked Nonprofit" by Beth Kanter and Katie Delahaye Paine. Published in Autumn 2012, I was hoping for something up-to-date and this book did not disappoint. Most of the references and tools mentioned are current. That hasn't always been the case for me when reading books related to social media where things tend to change rapidly.

What is excellent about this book is it takes models and theories, for example "ladder of engagement," and presents these in everyday language, tying in practical advice, current means of measurement, and examples. This helps make complexities of measurement more accessible to those in nonprofits who deal with social media and presenting its results to decision makers. My perspective is that of a volunteer for largely volunteer run organizations, so I had to translate for that regarding the small staff discussions throughout the book. I imagine the same would be true of mid-size nonprofit employers, having to translate back to a smaller scale concern, but I believe this book would be applicable for quite a range of nonprofits.

That is not to say I found the book perfect. For one, transitions between topics can be rather abrupt within chapter narratives, even for a nonfiction book about technical issues. Also, future editions of "Measuring the Networked Nonprofit" should correct the one key weakness within it - the examples were rather hit or miss. First, the hypothetical Katie's Kat Shelter (KKS) was used so many times that it hindered rather than forwarded the points being made. How likely are such concepts and measures to work in the real world if the text's examples have to be imagined to write about? Even the real world examples needed more care. The full-page SeaWorld example in the chapter on relationship building may indeed be applicable to social media for organizations in crisis, but SeaWorld is a business, not a nonprofit. That's not to say that business applications aren't applicable for nonprofits, it just wasn't presented that way within this book specifically about measurement for nonprofits.

Those concerns aside, MEASURING THE NETWORKED NONPROFIT is an excellent resource for the times. Making complex analyses more accessible is a worthwhile contribution to those involved in helping nonprofits that seek to help in the world.