Free Twitter Background Donation for a “Deserving” Organization

Are you a non-profit, not-for-profit, charity, community organization or cause that desires more exposure, new outreach ideas and more networking opportunities? You may or may not be aware of so-called social media, where you have the opportunity to make your voice heard, reach new people, and learn from a larger community.

One such social media outlet, growing by huge numbers of new participants each day, is Twitter, the “microblogging” platform. Forgive me if you’re already an active and savvy user, but the truth is that many worthwhile organizations are not using it. To get started, there is nothing to download – just sign up with a catchy name, a brief profile, a password and join the conversation and meet new people.

The purpose of this post is not to delve into the details and benefits of Twitter. There are countless articles and blog posts about the benefits of Twitter, just as there are many online and offline applications that enhance your Twitter experience.

This post is to offer “visual branding” help to a deserving, Twitter-using organization. Once you create your Twitter account, you’re given a Twitter page where you’ll read and send messages from. That page comes with standard decorated background. But that background may be changed, customized and even replaced with an image. And the replacement image should not only be attractive, it should properly reflect your organization and contain key information. Here are some examples.

By using a savvy designer for your background, your Twitter page will visually compliment your other online outreach efforts and reflect your organization’s brand. Visitors to your page will see your brief profile in the upper right as well as whatever info you want to appear in the upper left [as part of the background image].

Now let’s cut to the chase.

I’m offering to create such a background, at no charge, for an organization that would appreciate the donation. Assuming more than one request will come in, I’ll need to choose who I can help, hence I will need a “pitch” from you describing your organization’s work, its goals and its plans.

To request this donation, leave a comment here with any relevant links (including your Twitter contact info – mine is http://twitter.com/bccreative) so I may understand you mission. My choice will be subjective, certainly. By the middle of January, I will have chosen which organization(s) I’d like to help and will contact you with questions and a time line.

Update / February 16, 2009:
I’m happy to announce that – tada! – Jamie Vijayaraghavan’s organization, Saving Sheltered Pets, now has a new Twitter background. Jamie is passionate about animals (read more here ) so I was happy to help her. Jamie’s also a designer, but luckily for me, she was happy to let me mess with her hard-earned reputation and brand equity. Thanks for trusting me Jamie!