All this week, we are taking a look at what it means to be a CALM Communications Director (Collaborative, Agile, Logical, and Methodical). Today, let’s talk about being Agile. If you work in nonprofits, things are always in a state of flux. Same for marketing. To be successful, it pays to be good on your…
All this week, we are taking a look at what it means to be a CALM Communications Director (Collaborative, Agile, Logical, and Methodical). Today, let’s talk about being Collaborative. Communications directors are the translators and bridges between the people doing the work (inside the nonprofit) and the people supporting and benefitting from that work (outside…
Someone asked me the other day what the outcome of our Communications Director Mentoring Program and other coaching programs really was . . . what was the ultimate result of communications coaching? The word that instantly popped into my mind and off of my tongue was CALM. Communications directors are usually very busy, often frazzled, people. They…
At the start of each month, we send at least 10 writing prompts (usually more) to the subscribers of our Monthly Nonprofit Writing Prompts E-Newsletter. These prompts help you come up with ideas for articles, stories, press releases, blog posts, Facebook updates, letters, and other content. We send them a month ahead so you’ll have time to think…
Every single nonprofit org—across size, budget, location and cause—shares a priceless opportunity to position its organizations, programs, fundraising campaigns and special events. And yes, that means your organization. Start to rock relevant messages and you’ll join a growing cadre of healthy organizations whose messages help to build awareness of their impact and value. That’ll place your…
Even if you like to write like I do, it can still feel like it takes forever to produce something good. And let’s face it, time is not something you have a whole lot of. Below are five online writing tools we like and that were also recommended by friends. They’ll help you…
Happy Friday, everyone – I hope you had a great week! Let’s finish it off with some Mixed Links… We love Claire Meyerhoff for her straight-talk, and she’s dishing that out in spades in Your Donor Stories Are BAD. But here’s storytelling done right – Watch this Brilliant Second-by-Second Storytelling Masterpiece. Joanne Fritz is taking submissions…
Are you out of ideas for engaging supporters online? Try one of these tried and true digital engagement tactics to strengthen your relationships, move members to act, and build support for your programs and mission. 1) Try a Petition or Pledge This is a bread-and-butter tactic for advocacy organizations, but lots of orgs can use…
At Nonprofit Marketing Guide, we use Google Apps for Work to manage our email, calendars, etc. As a two-person company, we don’t have lots of time to waste. And neither do you. So if you are a Google Apps or Gmail user, you might like my three favorite Gmail hacks. (I know these work on…
Starting in just a few hours, we are kicking off a great quarter of training on everything from fundraising appeals – both direct mail and email – to Facebook Ads and donation pages to working smarter in general. We’re also working with some of the smartest trainers around like Tom Ahern, John Haydon, and Nancy…
Here’s the latest installment in our series on the “Day in the Life” of nonprofit communicators, where we ask you to describe your day in your own words. We’d love to hear from you too! Tell us what you do in a typical day as a nonprofit communications pro. ~Kristina Katie Houston is Marketing & PR Coordinator at…
Welcome to a “I just got back from vacation and am still on Pacific time” edition of Mixed Links! Joanne Fritz is hosting this month’s Nonprofit Blog. The theme is Year-End Fundraising. If you missed June’s edition, you should head over to the Wild Apricot Blog and get motivated. A new survey says Fun Runs…
