Blog Action Day is a call for as much of the blogosphere as possible to write about a specific issue on the same day – October the 15th – coming at the topic from your own blog’s angle. Last year’s topic was the environment, this year it’s poverty.

Birmingham-based bloggers have decided to hold a free drop-in “social media surgery” for any charities or voluntary organisations that would like to know more about social media in general – or ask specific questions.

Unfortunately, after helping a little to organise it I discover I’m double booked and not able to be there. It should be invaluable to anyone thinking of dipping their toe into the social media space.

Here are the full details:

Next week volunteers from the Birmingham bloggers group are offering to show voluntary and community groups in the city how you can make best use of social media. It doesn’t matter if you are the head of communications at a major charity or an active citizen in your neighbourhood, if you’re at all curious come along.

No boring speeches, no jargon.

Tools like blogs, podcasts, video and social networks can give a real boost to campaigning organisations, often for no or little cost. So these experts are offering you approachable one to one help and support because they believe it can help. You may just want to see what is possible and go away and think about it. You might be itching to set up a blog and start using it.

Perhaps you think video might help you tell your story but don’t know where to start? All is possible. There’ll be no lectures, just people with knowledge, ideas and a passion to help you make best use of the internet for your organisation.

When & Where.

Wednesday October 15th, anytime between 17.30 and 19.30 at BVSC 138 Digbeth, B5 6DR, map).

The bloggers and social media consultants are doing this as their part in Blog Action Day 2008 – a global movement to use the power of social media to help highlight the problems of poverty. Rather than just write about poverty, they want to do something practical.

If you want to find out more then you can call Nick Booth on 0777 909 5692 or e-mail him at nick.booth@podnosh.com. If you think you might come please sign up through this link, it will help us guage numbers and even if you don’t make it we can always get back to you later.

Lots to learn, little to lose. We promise you a hot drink and some friendly advice.