Receiving poor-quality service is frustrating enough. But what really hurts is feeling helpless about it. When you have no space to share your feedback, you feel like you’re invisible because it means your thoughts, desires, and needs seem as if they don’t matter–that you don’t matter. Nobody wants to associate with an organization that devalues and treats them like nothing. Therefore, it is essential to use a variety of listening practices to build trust and establish meaningful relationships with the community, and social media plays a crucial role in this process.

As the Marketing & Communications Intern at Feedback Labs in Fall 2021, I’ve learned a lot about using social media to connect people and organizations in ways that benefit both parties. I would love to share three key takeaways from my experiences that could help you implement feedback-related activities and improve the relationships with the community you serve.

  • Don’t tell; communicate. The field of communications itself suggests a conversation, but in reality, it is usually a continuous monologue in which only one side has a voice.
  • Ask for feedback. Other than figuring out what your audiences want to see on your social media profiles, it’s important to constantly ask for feedback on what is mentioned in your content.
  • Show your audiences that their opinions matter. When you start communicating with your audiences and asking them for feedback, getting them to talk to you can be challenging. That’s why it’s essential to make them feel like their thoughts truly mean a lot to you. At the end of the day, we work with real people and all of us want to feel significant.

It’s ironic that many nonprofits who work to create fairer and more inclusive societies don’t bother to listen to the people they serve. I believe this must and can be changed through communications, especially using social media. Hopefully, the strategies I’ve shared will help you become a part of the solution.

Read the full article about feedback for nonprofit organizations by Anastasiya Bohomolna at FeedbackLabs.