It’s a common frustration for nonprofit communications directors who are trying to work collaboratively with staff: getting people to meet their deadlines. This is a hard first step, but one that’s essential: If you want someone to meet your deadlines, they have to believe it’s important to do so. And that means that they understand…
Getting great results from your communications work is often contingent on timing. It needs to get out the door or online quickly to be relevant. But a painful review and approval process can cripple your creative work, no matter how good it is. We’ve all been there . . . You missed a great opportunity…
In a few short weeks, we will open up the 2017 Nonprofit Communications Trends Survey . . . But before that happens, I have to put this year’s questions together, and I need your help. Think about your own work challenges, and where having some data about what other nonprofits are doing could help you…
A creative brief is a quick worksheet that you fill out before you get started on any significant piece of communications work. You can also use a creative brief as a mini-strategy for how you’ll use a particular social media channel (e.g. how is what we do on Facebook different from Twitter?). Using a creative…
I’ve received several emails in response to Tuesday’s post about other ways to measure email engagement asking about the accuracy of open rates. The main concern is that if the open rate data is bad, any additional analysis like I suggested is also bad. For example, you might categorize someone improperly, and more likely as…
Let’s talk about email engagement. Right now, I bet most of you are looking at your open rates and click-through rates, and maybe your click-to-open ratio. The email service providers spoon feed us those numbers, so they are easy to track. But they don’t really tell us much about the real percentage of people who…
This week’s cartoon from Marketoonist made me laugh out loud . . . You know why. Replace the Sale bag with a Donation Jar or a Volunteer Sign-Up form or any other nonprofity transaction tool and it’s pretty much the same cartoon, right? But you don’t have to feel that way, and you shouldn’t, if…
Welcome to the August edition of the Nonprofit Blog Carnival! The Carnival is a round-up of posts from people working in the nonprofit sector around a theme, and ours is “what you did this summer.” Here at Nonprofit Marketing Guide, we spent our summer giving a lot of thought to ways that we can…
Just about every day, I talk to a nonprofit staff person who thinks she is alone with the challenge or drama or weird situation she is in at work. And 95% of the time, I assure her I’ve heard it before. If you feel isolated with what you think must be special dysfunctions of your…
A while ago I saw this Facebook post by Mark Horvath, founder of Invisible People, a unique digital storytelling organization that uses video and social media to fight homelessness and poverty: Since we are big fans of repurposing here at Nonprofit Marketing Guide, I asked Mark to share his process with our community. ~Kivi Guest Video/Post…
Are thought leadership and media relations on your to-do list? Then you need a plan to make it happen! I invite you to join us for our next Accelerator Course on Becoming a Thought Leader and Media Darling. During the six-week program, you and your team will develop a Thought Leadership Communications Plan. With my coaching, help from…
Susan King Cope, the director of development at Carolina Tiger Rescue recently sent me this question: Right now, we provide tours and folks provide their contact info when they check in. We are currently using an “opt out” function. (check here) I do not want to receive mailings (check here) I do not want to receive…
