http://www.theagitator.net Fundraising and advocacy strategies. Trends, tips ... with an edge Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:00:22 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Here is an excellent post from fundraiser Joe Waters, who blogs at Selfish Giving. Joe offers smart advice on how small- and mid-size nonprofits should pitch cause marketing relationships to small- and mid-sized businesses. Two of his observations: "As a mid-size nonprofit working with similar sized businesses on cause marketing programs I always ... http://www.theagitator.net/fundraising/selfish-giving-for-the-little-guys/ As reported in the Chron's online column, Prospecting, the University of Indiana's Center on Philanthropy says that the 140 fundraisers they surveyed are getting bummed out ... confidence in their expected results for the year is falling. Except for this bright spot ... "With the exception of direct mail, fund raisers say ... http://www.theagitator.net/fundraising/direct-mail-gotta-luv-it/ I'm sure you've seen all the gloomy articles and blog posts floating around noting the threat to nonprofit fundraising posed by a sinking economy. A threat compounded by data indicating further fall-off in new donor acquisition and retention rates throughout much of the charitable community, as fellow Agitator Roger has commented ... http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/what-i-would-do-first/ As reported in the Chronicle's online column Prospecting, the American Marketing Association and marketing agency Lipman Hearne recently surveyed 1012 nonprofits on their marketing practices. Their report, available here if you register, is an interesting read ... and lots of response data to benchmark your noprofit against. What struck me was te ... http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/measuring-your-marketing/ I'm sure most of you aren't sitting around planning to change your tagline. Believe me, it's one of the most challenging and contentious processes any nonprofit can undertake ... usually bringing out the worst in committee decision-making! But if you must plow down this path, definitely read the Getting Attention Tagline ... http://www.theagitator.net/branding/need-a-new-tagline/ By now, you know I'm trying to push nonprofits toward more use of online video. To follow what's happening with online video in the commercial marketing world, and get plenty of stimulating food for thought, make sure you sign up to get Ad Age's regular new web video report. Great stuff! Like ... http://www.theagitator.net/communications/zaproots-online-enviro-video-news/ Direct marketing guru Denny Hatch writes here on search engine optimization. Even the term scares me! But in essence ... how does Google (most importantly) find your website's most precious content? Another way of putting it ... if Google can't find you (your web content, that is), do you exist?! Denny's advice: ... http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/seo-isnt-for-dummies/ On a day when ComScore is reporting Americans watched 12 billion online videos in May, up 45% over the previous year, Marketing Sherpa offers this superb post on how to make low-budget online videos. Everything from planning and creative issues to equipment to editing software. I printed it out myself! But ... http://www.theagitator.net/communications/how-to-make-an-online-video/ This is a "chain post" for lack of a better term. I went from this Seth Godin post, to this Doshdosh post, to this essay. Skip right to the essay for some great advice on how to sharpen your writing. Preview of top three tips ... Avoid the obvious content. ... http://www.theagitator.net/pushing-the-creative-envelope/how-to-say-nothing-in-500-words/ This morning our friend and long-time colleague Polly Agee, 61, will be buried in the National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia Personally we mourn her death (and have had quite a good wake telling “Polly stories”), but we most of all want to note her passing because ... http://www.theagitator.net/dont-miss-these-posts/she-planted-trees-so-others-could-enjoy-the-shade/