Don't ask for a guest blogger or a volunteer, but offer the opportunity to grow, learn, and prosper.

    We all want to grow, learn, prosper. That’s as it should be. No argument. I’m on LinkedIn most every day, and today I saw something that many people do, and yeah, they do it wrong. But not just people on LinkedIn, businesses do it wrong, no profit organizations do it wrong. Almost every body does it wrong.

What Is This Thing?

    Requesting volunteer help, assistance, blogs posts. Stuff like that. That’s what. Everyone presents with something like this,

1. “Anybody interested in guest posting . . . .”
2. "We need an instructor for Sunday School, if you’re interested call . . . .”

All well intentioned by good, kind, honest people, but all are missing the point. And the point is: What’s In It For Me?

So, lets recast the above to read like this:

1. “Bloggers, want more followers? Want a larger online footprint? Contact us to become one of our guest bloggers. You receive full credit for all your posts, search engine placement everywhere, and a writing credit for your resume, Website, and social networking activities. We have several openings still available. Contact us today.
2. Are you looking to add teaching, instructing, or early childhood education to your resume? We have an volunteer opportunity for you. Our Sunday School has an opening. Contact us today.

See The Difference?

In the first two advertisements, you seek to gain, but not to give. In the second two ads, you are offering people an opportunity to professionally better themselves. Which of the two presentations is most appealing?Further, each closes with a strong call to action.

Dealing With Volunteers

    Working with volunteers is a learned skill. You have no authority over them. You’re not paying them, so they stay with you as long as they care to and then they move on. Offer them advancement, offer them the ability to learn new skills, the ability to be recognized for their good work.

    And thank them, and thank them again. Appreciate them and tell them that you appreciate them. There are two ways to look at volunteers:

1. They are free help to be exploited, used until they burn out and replaced. When you are using volunteers to do work that you would never pay to have done, they know it and resent it.
2. They are a valuable resource and investment in training and are to be treated as the wonderful people that they are.

    Who would you rather volunteer for?