Inspired by Groundswell, this worksheet is intended to help you articulate steps to develop a social media plan to achieve stated goals. Worksheet developed to be used in coordination with Darim's Social Media Boot Camp programs.

1. P.O.S.T. PLANNING EXERCISE<br />Adapted from the book Groundswell, the P.O.S.T. planning method is a useful structure for thinking strategically about using social media, and allocating your time and resources for maximum impact. The four-step planning process focuses on using technology as a tool to help accomplish articulated goals. You can use these 4 steps to do a 6 month plan, or to sketch your approach on a napkin.<br />P IS FOR PEOPLE: Who is your audience, constituents, customers? Be specific. Name and describe 3 high priority audiences you’d like to engage with more. Age, demographics, what social media they use (if you know), etc.<br />1.<br />2.<br />3.<br />O IS FOR OBJECTIVES: What are your goals and objectives for each audience segment you’ve named above? This might include increasing attendance or donations, educating them about your philosophy, or getting them to pass on information about your organization to their friends. Second, what are their personal goals and objectives? Assume they are entirely selfish. What do they want?<br />Segment 1:<br />Your goals for them:<br />Their goals for themselves:<br />Segment 2:<br />Your goals for them:<br />Their goals for themselves:<br />Segment 3:<br />Your goals for them:<br />Their goals for themselves:<br />S IS FOR STRATEGY: How will you work to achieve these objectives? This can be both on and off-line. It may be building on work you’re already doing, or you may need to think totally fresh about your approach. In your OBJECTIVES above, take note of where your goals and theirs overlap. Imagine the Venn Diagram. How can you target your strategy for the overlapping win-win area?<br />Segment 1:<br />Segment 2:<br />Segment 3:<br />T IS FOR TECHNOLOGY: What technologies, used in which ways, will help you implement your strategy to achieve the objectives with each audience? What do you need to do to use the right tools in the right way? What else do you need to learn about the tools to help you be effective? Who is the right person (or people) to design and lead this stage of development and implementation?<br />Segment 1:<br />Segment 2:<br />Segment 3:<br />Finally, reflect on how you will know if you’re being successful. What evidence will you have that you’re meeting your objectives? What new data will you have to collect, share or analyze? (e.g. Bit.ly links, a new field “how did you hear about us” in your membership or donation forms, looking at depth of conversation or commitment not only attendance at events, etc.) Note new practices or processes you might need to revisit:<br />