[This post was written by Cindy E. Rodriguez, Public Relations Event Coordinator, with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.]
Since the start of our Commit for Life program in 2003, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center has established strategic partnerships with media groups, and even sports teams, to help us in our mission to save and sustain lives through blood donations.
We particularly sought out these partnerships around major holidays in an effort to maintain an adequate supply of blood and blood-related products when regular donors are on vacation, and businesses and schools are closed (not hosting blood drives). Just like “it takes a village” to raise a child, it takes many people and a variety of communication methods to spread the word about the need for blood donations.
As the saying goes: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. We use a vast combination of communication methods to get our messages across, including everything from broadcast media to print media to social media. Broadcast media partners provide us with “on-air” time, either as public service announcements or news coverage. We design custom print media, such as postcard mailers and other promotional materials that are disseminated to sites to promote blood drives. Furthermore, we have electronic media, which includes customized e-mails (per campaign), as well as general e-mails to keep our audience informed and engaged. Through these methods, we are able to reach out to as many people as possible.
However, reaching a large number of people is not always our goal. Sometimes, because our supply is ruled by the need in a given region, the key is reaching the right audience with the right blood type. Although everyone has blood, our strict guidelines make timing crucial when reaching our target audience. We use telecommunications to reach out to only those donors who are eligible – that is where our friends at Incept come in. They help us reach the right donors at the right time to maximize the number of lives saved.
So when one of our donors gets a phone call asking them to schedule a donation, we hope they know that they truly are needed at that particular time. Someone is waiting specifically for their donation. By using the right communication avenues, we hope to compel them to come in and save a life.
Have you answered the call for blood donations?
[To find out more about the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center and everything it does, visit their website at www.giveblood.org.]
As times change and technology develops the new becomes old a lot faster than it used to.
News from yesterday isn’t news at all, and if information isn’t streaming across the web there’s a good chance it’ll be missed. In our fast-paced online world a few blood banks have taken the plunge into social media, and now there’s a group of fast-growing communities based around blood banks that use blogs as a way to communicate. One example of a blog that is doing things the right way – and is quickly developing an expansive community united by social media (with a common passion) – is the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s Commit For Life Blog.
The Commit For Life Blog serves many purposes: it gives the blood center a way to communicate with its donor base, promotes special events, relays stories that drive home the importance of donating blood, and educates readers about the need for blood. One thing this particular blog does that makes it so remarkable is that it acts as a support center for a vast community of followers, fans, readers, donors, recipients and other social networks.
From the Commit For Life Blog, you can connect with Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, a list of media partners, other non-profit groups and other blogs. The blog itself is a source of social media information, as well as a hub that lets people interact with other networks. By enabling people to share their stories and build new relationships this way, the Commit For Life Blog has been able to build a strong, passionate and loyal network of followers and fans.
They are a great example of the new generation of how communities can be built around a cause, and for that I tip my hat to the team behind the Commit For Life Blog.
It started as a way for college kids to keep in touch. But now, no matter who you are, it’s likely that you have or have seen a Facebook page. From college and high school students to companies like Incept, it seems as though everyone is jumping on the Facebook bandwagon for recruiting clients, marketing and sharing content.
The best part about this Facebook trend is that even blood centers have gotten involved. By using this form of social media, as well as Twitter, blood centers are able to get in touch with more potential donors than ever before.
The Red Cross is a great example of a blood center taking the initiative and getting involved with social media. Not only are they on Facebook, but they also have a blog and frequently tweet on Twitter.
I think that my favorite part is that on their Facebook page, the Red Cross has links to schedule appointments and an FAQ page that answers a lot of questions that donors may have about eligibility. It’s a great way to both educate donors and encourage them to come in and donate.
They say everything’s bigger in Texas and their blood centers live up to that expectation. While the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center (GCBC) doesn’t cover as large an area as the Red Cross, they more than make up for it with their Commit For Life Program. GCBC has also taken the social media boom in stride. Their Facebook page has everything a donor could ask for: great blog content, frequent posts and a link to schedule appointments.
Even one of my local blood centers, the Aultman Blood Center, is interacting with their donors on Facebook. They have some of my favorite pictures on their page and it’s saved me a lot of time being able to jump onto their page to see what’s going on. Obviously, the larger blood centers are blogging and getting involved with the social media world, but what about some of the other blood centers? You’d be surprised how many of them I found on Facebook!
The Blood Center of New Jersey, Lifeblood and Puget Sound blood centers are all on Facebook, as well as the Memorial Blood Center, New York Blood Center and even more blood centers and blood banks.
I was surprised to find out that even blood banks that collect and distribute blood for pets are online, using Facebook to initiate conversations with their donors. Some of them are on Twitter too. Who would have thought?
All in all, I was happy to see how many blood centers were getting online and, even better, posting regularly. It’d be interesting to see if there was has been a positive impact in the number of donors since the blood centers started “Facebook-ing.”
Put simply, I think social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are a great tool for blood centers. These platforms give them a chance to touch base with their donors like never before, while helping get blood onto the shelves and to the patients who need it the most. Is there anyone else out there who’s had a chance to put these pages to good use? It’d be good to hear whether or not anyone else has benefited from these pages.
More than 100 ADRP attendees just learned that their type matters at our presentation, titled TypeMatters! The audience was so engaged and everyone wanted to know how they could replicate our program at their blood center!
The concept is quite simple: educate your blood donors on the procedure needed most from them, based on their blood type. Most people don’t even realize there are various types of donations they can make and that they can help more patients by donating the type that’s right for them.
For example, if you are an O or B blood type, the best way for you to help area patients is by giving a whole blood or double red cell donation because it is the red cell portion of your blood that is in highest demand. Furthermore, for those of you that are Os, you are the universal red cell donor. This means you can help patients in an emergency situation when there is no time to find out a patient’s blood type.
A blood types are needed mostly for platelet donations. The majority of patients can receive your platelets. Platelets are used most often in the treatment of cancer, and donors are in great demand.
It’s important to check with your blood center to learn more about how and where your help is needed. You might be surprised to learn that your donation type can save more lives and make a larger impact. Your TypeMatters!
So, when you hear the word “revival,” what comes to mind? For me, I think of church. A week-long celebration full of guest speakers, fellowship, sharing, and passion. Nearly unbelievable passion.
For an entire year, however, I have anticipated a different kind of revival – one that is a celebration filled with brilliant speakers, fellowship and sharing that knows no boundaries, no territories and no politics. It is a revival of tremendous passion; a passion for saving lives. The revival I have been waiting for is the annual ADRP conference where blood centers across the nation (and worldwide) come together to learn best practices with one mission: keeping the blood supply safe for the patients we all serve.
And this year, I have been chosen to speak. So the anticipation I now have is combined with incredible nerves. However, I will not be alone. I will share the stage with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center and NextLevel Thinking, while speaking about our piece of industry knowledge and best practices. Together we will make a difference. We will lead the revival.
For me, the time is now. There’s no time to waste. It’s all starting right now. An entire year of anticipation. I’m ready for the revival. Tell me about yours.
What inspires you? What can you do with passion like no other?
