Here’s an interesting illustration of a trend that we’ve seen here at VolunteerMatch.
On the one hand, our traffic rates to VolunteerMatch, while still steadily growing, have slowed down from the phenomenal rates we saw 2, 3 or 4 years ago. On the other hand, we’re getting more media calls and requests for partnerships than ever before.
Well, the latest Google Trends report for “volunteering” shows how our experience confirms the trend beyond our network.
According to the chart, since 2006, search volume for “volunteering” has been flat or shrinking and during that same time news references for “volunteering” have been steadily rising. The trend is even more pronouncing for searches related to the word “volunteer.”
What gives?
- It could be that more people are using social networks to find a great place to volunteer and bypassing search tools like Google.com completely.
- It could be that lots of informal volunteering — much of it driven by social networks or by acting on problems that are visible in local communities — is beginning to redirect do-gooders from the world of “volunteering” toward unaffiliated service.
- It could also be that individual effort is being tapped out — ironically, at the same time that communities are recognizing that service can be a sustainable way to solve local problems.
- It could also be that nonprofits are improving their ability to go out into the Webosphere and local communities and locate and target the volunteer audiences they want to recruit. Such efforts would yield lots of volunteer hours without Google searches.
- It’s also possible that positive spin and upbeat press simply aren’t key drivers of service and volunteering.
What are some other possibilities? Curious what you all think.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Mahendrakumar – Chicago is a great place to volunteer. You can start your search right at VolunteerMatch, where there are currently more than 800 active volunteer opportunities. Here’s a link to places to volunteer in Chicago. Good luck!
I am staying 4 months in Chicago-IL-60564.
I am willing to Volunter in my area when I am in Chicago.
My normal schedule in Chicga-IL is from last week May to Last week September every year. This year I am leaving for my home country India on 24th. Sept.
Please contact me if you want Volunteering help.