Follow Friday for Microfinance
Aaah, Fridays. It’s everyone’s favorite day of the week for its (relatively) laid-back vibe, happy hours, and chances to sneak out early for weekends away. But for us Twitter nerds, it’s also Follow Friday (#FF or #followfriday), and our chance to get recommendations from friends on the latest and greatest Tweeters to follow.
So on this particular Friday, I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to some of my fellow ACCION Tweeters. Anyone in microfinance should be sure not to miss thoughts in 140 characters or less from these seasoned experts:
- @CFI_ACCION is the voice of the Center for Financial Inclusion at ACCION International. Follow them to be the first to know about new blogs and commentary from recognized microfinance expert, author, and CFI director Elisabeth Rhyne, as well as news and updates regarding financial inclusion initiatives and client protection in microfinance.
- For the scoop on U.S. microfinance and small business issues, follow me and other ACCIONista Tweeters at @ACCION_USA. You’ll get an insider’s look at our organization, access to client stories, and learn about new job and volunteer opportunities. You can also get local news from other U.S. ACCION affiliates at @ACCIONNM_CO_AZ (New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona), @ACCIONchicago, and @ACCIONsd (San Diego).
- ACCION International recently joined the Twitterverse at @ACCION_Intl. You’ll get news from the field from ACCION Ambassadors, information on how to support the microfinance cause, and more.
- Want to help raise money for microfinance? Follow @microbikeACCION and learn how you can pedal against poverty and join a fundraising event in your area. The next event is October 1-3, 2010.
- ACCION communications expert Andy Sprung is always the first to know what the media says about microfinance—you can be the second by following him at @sprungpr
That rounds out the ACCION family of Tweeters—you can easily follow us all through our ACCION Network Twitter list. Who are your favorite microfinance experts to follow?
Tags: follow friday, microfinance, Twitter
TwitGift.ly The Virtual Gift that Keeps Giving
Giving virtual gifts is a staple of online friendship. Who doesn’t love getting for their Facebook birthday a cake full of candles that will never burn out or drip wax on the frosting? Or giving a diamond engagement ring to your best friend/Facebook wife? Now you can give a virtual gift and change somebody’s life at the same time!
TwiftGift.ly, a virtual gift website, has added gifts that support charities to their collection of fun, goofy, and thoughtful presents. For a $5 donation you get a fistful of cash to give to friends. All proceeds go to ACCION USA, which will leverage your money to make an entrepreneur’s dreams come true.
Five Things to Do with a Fistful of Cash
- Tell a small business owner about our financing by sending them an ACCION USA gift
- Give your friend virtual birthday money (comes with $5 of good karma)
- Explain charity to your child via the virtual gift and your $5 donation to ACCION USA
- Tell a story and say: And then I found $5!
- Play poker: the winner gets virtual cash and we make the money into microloans
I challenge you to make a sea of cash on the Internet that will become a sea change for our entrepreneurs. You can send this gift via Twitter, Facebook, email, and all your social networks. If you and nine friends give a virtual gift this weekend instead of getting a $5 milkshake then we are halfway to helping a private school bus driver buy a car seat for the children. How many businesses can you help? The sky’s the limit.
And who doesn’t want a fistful of cash?