Who better to motivate me back to blogging than this recent post on Flipping the Funnel by Seth Godin.
I won't comment on the concept other than to say just read the ebook because anything I add will dumb it down. What I will do is call out Godin on his initial comments that "direct mail is dying".
I will be the first to admit my sensitivity lies with the fact that I am fully entrenched in the industry and have been working in direct response marketing since graduating college nearly 10 years ago. Sure, the statistics don't lie but I think he should have said, "direct mail as we know it is dying".
I'm not asking for much...just three extra words!
No question rising paper and postage costs are making mail less economical but I would argue that at least part of what is driving declines in response rate is increased competition in the mailbox. An earlier post in my blog regarding the boom in non-profits is just one example.
The USPS isn't going anywhere and neither is direct mail...that's not to say direct mail as we know won't or shouldn't change dramatically in the years to come!
C'mon Seth!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Monday, August 27, 2007
Blogging for CARE
Considering the content of my last post it would be a bit hypocritical of me if I didn't write a post about a great organization...
There are so many to choose from but I take my hat off to Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE). If you ever received a "CARE package" from friends or family while you were away from home you have this organization to thank for it!
CARE was founded in 1945 and today has projects ongoing in more than 60 countries fighting against global poverty.
What makes CARE better than the rest? Not only do they offer immediate emergency relief for the poorest communities in the world, but they go a step further to stay as long as needed to offer the tools and training necessary for lasting solutions and economic opportunities to ensure positive change can be sustained indefinitely.
For those of you who appreciate innovative efforts on the web I think CARE is leading the way as well with the Power Circle.
The slogan says it all, "She has the power to change the world. You have the power to help her do it."
Today I chose to use whatever blogging power I have to help CARE. Donate to CARE today!
There are so many to choose from but I take my hat off to Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE). If you ever received a "CARE package" from friends or family while you were away from home you have this organization to thank for it!
CARE was founded in 1945 and today has projects ongoing in more than 60 countries fighting against global poverty.
What makes CARE better than the rest? Not only do they offer immediate emergency relief for the poorest communities in the world, but they go a step further to stay as long as needed to offer the tools and training necessary for lasting solutions and economic opportunities to ensure positive change can be sustained indefinitely.
For those of you who appreciate innovative efforts on the web I think CARE is leading the way as well with the Power Circle.
The slogan says it all, "She has the power to change the world. You have the power to help her do it."
Today I chose to use whatever blogging power I have to help CARE. Donate to CARE today!
Blog for Charity...Because They Can't Do Everything
The blogosphere is rich with posts about “why you should blog” but I am not offering a savvy list of the “top 3” reasons why you should join in.
Instead, I offer you one simple reason…I think you should do it for Charity.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I was the facilitator on blogging at the New York Nonprofit DMA where we discussed the “Why’s” and “How’s” of blogging.
Everyone thought blogging had great potential for their organization but almost everybody agreed that there organizations didn’t have the resources to do it themselves.
Why leave the legwork of blogging to a nonprofit already short on resources when they have well versed blogging supporters like you who could do it for them. Don't you want them putting their time and money to work solving the world's problems anyway!
My suggestion, write a post about your favorite charity and why you support them. If I am reading your blog it means I respect your opinion…if your post is compelling I may join you.
If 100 million bloggers wrote just one post about why you should support their favorite charity what could happened?
If you need motivation or ideas on how to do this well check out Beth’s Blog and write your post today!
Instead, I offer you one simple reason…I think you should do it for Charity.
I mentioned in an earlier post that I was the facilitator on blogging at the New York Nonprofit DMA where we discussed the “Why’s” and “How’s” of blogging.
Everyone thought blogging had great potential for their organization but almost everybody agreed that there organizations didn’t have the resources to do it themselves.
Why leave the legwork of blogging to a nonprofit already short on resources when they have well versed blogging supporters like you who could do it for them. Don't you want them putting their time and money to work solving the world's problems anyway!
My suggestion, write a post about your favorite charity and why you support them. If I am reading your blog it means I respect your opinion…if your post is compelling I may join you.
If 100 million bloggers wrote just one post about why you should support their favorite charity what could happened?
If you need motivation or ideas on how to do this well check out Beth’s Blog and write your post today!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Tell-A-Friend Today!
Many nonprofits use creative methods to capture email addresses via online petitions, surveys, etc. and have had great success doing so but you or your organization doesn't need to have the next best campaign to save puppies AND children all at once to increase online subscribers/donors, just give them the option to "tell a friend" whenever and where ever possible.
If I visit your website, sign an online petition or donate it means I care about something you are doing. If you get my attention, provide me an answer I am looking for and if I care enough to give money I will probably tell friends about so make it as easy as possible to do so.
Include a "Tell-A-Friend" link on your homepage, on your donate page and even try it as part of a "thank you" email and e-newsletter and let us help you spread the word!
Might I suggest you start by passing on this post to someone you know?
If I visit your website, sign an online petition or donate it means I care about something you are doing. If you get my attention, provide me an answer I am looking for and if I care enough to give money I will probably tell friends about so make it as easy as possible to do so.
Include a "Tell-A-Friend" link on your homepage, on your donate page and even try it as part of a "thank you" email and e-newsletter and let us help you spread the word!
Might I suggest you start by passing on this post to someone you know?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Everything Nonprofits Need to Know about Web 2.0 is Here
The Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) has compiled a great resource of content about how nonprofits are using technology and posted this Google Document for all to view.
If you have questions about how you can leverage blogs, myspace, facebook, etc. to further your cause this is a must read.
If you have questions about how you can leverage blogs, myspace, facebook, etc. to further your cause this is a must read.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Web 2.0 - "Cultivate, Educate and Motivate"
I spent two days at the New York Nonprofit DMA listening to what's new in direct marketing and took every opportunity to here what organizations were doing in the world of Web 2.0.
The good news is that there are several organizations really jumping in with both feet and using the tools well despite the fact that their success appears difficult to measure and the financial support is minimal to date.
The bad news, is that much of the focus seemed to be on how much money is being raised using these new tools. If new revenue was the key measure of success in month one, or even year one of any direct mail program would half of these people still have jobs and be hear talking direct mail?
Back to the good news, I did make note of a great phrase I heard -- I believe the credit goes to the ASPCA -- "Cultivate, Educate and Motivate". Notice, there was no mention of, "ask to donate". Then again, I suspect if you can do all three of these things well raising money will be no problem!
Web 2.0 is a great platform to cultivate, educate and motivate. Building relationships with empowered people who share your views could turn into "boots on the ground" supporters that could have a huge impact on your organizations ability to raise money, gain public support if/when the next natural disaster hits at home or abroad.
The good news is that there are several organizations really jumping in with both feet and using the tools well despite the fact that their success appears difficult to measure and the financial support is minimal to date.
The bad news, is that much of the focus seemed to be on how much money is being raised using these new tools. If new revenue was the key measure of success in month one, or even year one of any direct mail program would half of these people still have jobs and be hear talking direct mail?
Back to the good news, I did make note of a great phrase I heard -- I believe the credit goes to the ASPCA -- "Cultivate, Educate and Motivate". Notice, there was no mention of, "ask to donate". Then again, I suspect if you can do all three of these things well raising money will be no problem!
Web 2.0 is a great platform to cultivate, educate and motivate. Building relationships with empowered people who share your views could turn into "boots on the ground" supporters that could have a huge impact on your organizations ability to raise money, gain public support if/when the next natural disaster hits at home or abroad.
Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us
I saw this video for the first time in January and was really impressed with its message and creative delivery.
I had assumed "everyone" had seen it until last week when I was the facilitator for a round table discussion on blogging at the New York Nonprofit DMA.
If you have seen it, I suggest watching it again as it gets better and better each time. If you joined me for the round table on blogging, and are visiting my blog thanks for a great conversation and welcome to the "blogosphere"!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Live Life the Ebay Way
I am a huge fan of Ebay and have talked at length about my wins and losses to anyone who will listen.
Ebay offers a medium to find almost anything you could imagine and gives you a chance to get it for less than face value if your lucky.
Log on, search for what you want, put in the maximum price you are willing to pay for the item and go about your life until the auction ends. Ebay is so helpful that you don't even need to check back to see if you won, they will email you directly as soon as the auction ends to let you know you've won.
Yeah right!
I have bid on many auctions and can't remember one that didn't end with a flurry of last minute bids by people outdoing the current high bidder by $2.50 and in the interest of full disclosure I can't remember one auction I bid on where I wasn't one of THOSE PEOPLE!
The trick here is knowing what your MAXIMUM is...and if you know this you won't only be a power seller on Ebay but a master at life!
Outside of the Ebay world this concept can be referred to as your "Walk Away Position". At what point are you simply going to say this price is too high? Knowing the answer to this question before you log on to Ebay or walk into a car dealership will save you a lot of time and agony.
Understanding if your walk away position is stronger than the other bidders, the car salesman or your potential clients will make you a master at negotiation!
Ebay offers a medium to find almost anything you could imagine and gives you a chance to get it for less than face value if your lucky.
Log on, search for what you want, put in the maximum price you are willing to pay for the item and go about your life until the auction ends. Ebay is so helpful that you don't even need to check back to see if you won, they will email you directly as soon as the auction ends to let you know you've won.
Yeah right!
I have bid on many auctions and can't remember one that didn't end with a flurry of last minute bids by people outdoing the current high bidder by $2.50 and in the interest of full disclosure I can't remember one auction I bid on where I wasn't one of THOSE PEOPLE!
The trick here is knowing what your MAXIMUM is...and if you know this you won't only be a power seller on Ebay but a master at life!
Outside of the Ebay world this concept can be referred to as your "Walk Away Position". At what point are you simply going to say this price is too high? Knowing the answer to this question before you log on to Ebay or walk into a car dealership will save you a lot of time and agony.
Understanding if your walk away position is stronger than the other bidders, the car salesman or your potential clients will make you a master at negotiation!
What Makes You So Special?
On the surface this question seems sarcastic, especially when you hear it from your Mother as a young boy or girl caught taking the last cookie without offering it to at least split it 50/50 with a sibling.
Fast forward to a time in your life when your priorities extend beyond cookies and this question should be at the top of your list as consumers looking for a new mobile provider, as clients looking for financial or legal advice and most of all as charitable donors!!
Let's ask the question a little differently, "What makes you relevant?" In a crowded marketplace of nonprofits a great answer to this question will separate you from the rest of the crowd.
When looking to donate dollars would you be compelled by some carefully worded, all encompassing mission statement or an organization that could say, "If our organization were to disappear tomorrow the world would lose XYZ"?
It's not an easy question to answer but remember, nothing worth doing ever is! This article can help you start the process of understanding your value proposition.
When you can tell me what makes your organization or business relevant I hope to hear from you!
Fast forward to a time in your life when your priorities extend beyond cookies and this question should be at the top of your list as consumers looking for a new mobile provider, as clients looking for financial or legal advice and most of all as charitable donors!!
Let's ask the question a little differently, "What makes you relevant?" In a crowded marketplace of nonprofits a great answer to this question will separate you from the rest of the crowd.
When looking to donate dollars would you be compelled by some carefully worded, all encompassing mission statement or an organization that could say, "If our organization were to disappear tomorrow the world would lose XYZ"?
It's not an easy question to answer but remember, nothing worth doing ever is! This article can help you start the process of understanding your value proposition.
When you can tell me what makes your organization or business relevant I hope to hear from you!
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