Google+ has launched to much excitement, and few are as pumped about it as businesses and nonprofits.  Finally, they can be a part of the social media wave rather than catching up to their customers.  But is it too early?

I say yes, and trust me it is not easy to say that.  As the Director of Marketing and a social media nerd, I am having to sit on my hands to stop myself from creating a Google+ account for GiveForward.  But as someone who has dealt with the ups and downs of running a business’s social media, I can tell you now, patience is a virtue.

Lets start with looking at why Google doesn’t want businesses on the site just yet. Google has come out and said they aren’t ready for organizational profiles and are even saying their policy team will “actively work with profile owners to shut down non-user profiles”.

To entice organizations to hold off Google is promising an experience that is unique to businesses and includes deep analytics and connection to products like AdWords.  In fact, they have even provided a spreadsheet where “non-user entities” can apply to be a part of an experiment to test out Google+ with businesses.

But my hesitations are about more than just the limitations of the experience that Google+ currently provides.  My concern is what happens when a group starts with a user profile and later tries to shift to an organizational profile.

This exact problem is something that a number of organizations ran into during the growth of Facebook, and many are still figuring it out today.   Businesses are trying to figure out how to shift their “friends” into “likes” and are losing users in the process.  Another issue is if a company needs to change the name on their Facebook page.  You can’t do it, instead you have to create a new page with the name you want and again, migrate all of your users to the new page, running the risk of losing people.

While I am pumped about Google+ and am having fun with my own user profile, I’ve seen enough businesses struggle with getting their social media profiles sorted out that I believe jumping into Google+ will just cause undue stress and frustration when the business pages emerge and everyone has to shift to take advantage of the new functionality.

The pros of joining don’t outweigh the cons just yet, so for now, my recommendation is wait for the Google+ business profiles.  In the meantime why not join Google+ with a personal profile and learn it as a user so you can have a great plan in place to reach users when you can kick off you organization’s page?

Recommended book: What Would Google Do?

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

An 8.9 earthquake rocks Japan, but the resulting Japanese Tsunami causes even more damage.  Check out the devastating destruction that is caused in the above video by the Earthquake and Tsunami.

Social Good: If you’d like to help the victims in Japan the text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

(Video: Watch this video on the post page)

Japan Tsunami 2011 sweeps across Japan causing massive destruction

Since it’s the season of giving, we thought it appropriate to highlight a great organization that is using technology to further its cause. Specifically, with demand for emergency food at record high levels, City Harvest is reaching donors with an innovative advertising campaign that uses technology commonly used by for-profit marketers but new to fundraisers.

On advertisements in print, phone kiosks, transit shelters, and on Facebook, City Harvest has incorporated a QR code, which functions like a barcode and can be scanned by mobile phones. As a result they will deliver 8.5 million pounds of food this holiday season.

This cutting edge technology offers donors the highest level of flexibility. Cell phone users that scan the QR code will immediately have the option to go to the City Harvest website, read facts about City Harvest, view a video illustrating City Harvest’s work, and make a donation online or by clicking a button to call City Harvest directly.

Donors can choose the amount they wish to donate and get more information about City Harvest at the touch of a button.

The QR codes can be found on City Harvest’s new advertising campaign featuring New York City residents that have taken action to fight hunger. Though the food City Harvest rescues and delivers is donated, City Harvest needs cash donations to maintain their trucks and staff that are essential to picking up and distributing food. The advertisements demonstrate the impact of donors who pull out their wallet or checkbook in helping City Harvest feed more hungry New Yorkers.

“In an era of mobile technology, potential donors want and expect to be able to act immediately,” said Jilly Stephens, executive director of City Harvest. “QR codes allow New Yorkers just learning about City Harvest to get more information quickly and easily as well as give.”

“QR codes are changing the future of donor-charity relationships. They allow nonprofits to interact with their donors by exchanging engaging content,” said Irina Skaya, marketing manager at Horizon Media. “QR codes can be used without monthly running costs and function without limiting the dollar amount donors give to the nonprofit.”

Despite other indicators that the recession has ended, agencies served by City Harvest have reported no relief since demand for emergency food spiked last year. City Harvest works to meet greater need at soup kitchens and food pantries by rescuing and delivering food to some 600 programs throughout the five boroughs. Currently, City Harvest helps feed over 300,000 hungry men, women, and children each week. Donate

Keywords: QR codes, qr code