Non-profits gather social networking tips

If you work with a Charlotte-area nonprofit group and weren't at Mez restaurant uptown this morning for breakfast, you missed out. Social Media Charlotte, a networking group frequented by many of the most knowledgeable local users of Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, held a breakfast discussion about social networking and non-profits.

Panelists Bo Hussey of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (Twitter: @GoodwillSP, @bohussey), Jameka Whitten of JSW Media Group (@jswmediagroup) and Winn Maddrey of Topix Education (@wmaddrey) all gave some good insights about how nonprofits can use social networks to help extend their reach in the community.

One good thought: social media isn't free. Even though you don't pay a fee to Facebook or Twitter to get your message out, getting it out effectively requires a significant investment of time and brainpower.

Want to know what else was said? Follow tweets sent during the meeting by using the hashtag #smbclt.