SocialFish Food TipsThese tips were originally sent in our kinda monthly email newsletter, SocialFish Food. Here’s the original email. Here’s how to subscribe.

So maybe your national organization is social media savvy, but what about the chapter organizations? Are the two communicating with each other as much as they could be? Here are a few tips for working with chapters to build your online community.

“Fan” them on facebook, create a public twitter list of all chapters, or even set up sub-groups for them in your LinkedIn group. These mini directories can help to get everyone connected so that you, your chapters, or anyone interested in the organization can easily navigate their way around. You might event set up a directory on your main website, and ask chapters to register their social media activity with you to keep the list up-to-date.

In a perfect world, we’d provide our chapters with total support. At a minimum, set up an RSS feed with content your chapters can repurpose for their websites. Set some social media policies and community management guidelines your chapters can emulate. Here’s an example from the American Red Cross. Do some outreach training to be sure your chapters know how you can support their social media work.

Another way to support your chapters is to convene the social media administrators from each chapter so that they can help one another. You might try a listserv, or gather them in the tools they’re already using–like a private Facebook group, or LinkedIn group.

Make sure that your chapters are keeping you updated on what they’re doing. When your chapters tell you they’re doing something cool, recognize them and spread the word! Give your thanks by featuring them on the national organization’s site. While helping them toot their horns, you’ll be showing them that you appreciate what they do.

Your chapters are an essential part of your online community. Lay the groundwork now, so that when you need their help to spread the word in the future, they’ll be there for you like you are for them.