You’ll have seen it happen. “Like this status” if you want to spread a positive message or “Share this” message if you want to raise awareness of a terrible situation.
It’s true. Social media is a great way of raising awareness. You’ll also have seen the backlash. Do you think liking a message on Facebook will really improve the situation in Syria, support women’s rights in Republican states or gay tolerance in Russia?
Cancer Research UK are trying something new. It’s still social and it works with bloggers but it encourages people to actually do something.
The new Do Button is a plugin for WordPress. It’s designed to sit along your current social media share buttons.
That’s a challenge. Bloggers install their share buttons in many ways. At the time this post went live In Pure Spirit uses the popular Jetpack plugin to add buttons to the bottom of posts. If you look closely Cancer Research’s Do Button has appeared – even if it’s a bit out of alignment. Not there any more? You might be reading this post after launch date and Cancer Research may still be updating their code so that it is compatible with the current WordPress install. You can see how this is a big project; a WordPress plugin is a lifelong commitment from a brand.
Pressing the button doesn’t share the post. Instead it takes readers to Act Now For Research.com where they’ll get a fun and random example of something to do that will help.
Those “Do” suggestions also include the awareness building activities that make social media a force for good but might also suggest bringing spare clothes in as a donation into a Cancer Research UK shop or signing up to Race for Life.
In Pure Spirit
Will you be adding the Do Button to your blog? What could you do today to support charitable research?
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