Thanks to co-guest-bloggers Amy Sample Ward and Allyson Kapin. Allyson is acclaimed for her leadership role in technology and social media, and runs Rad Campaign. Amy is the Membership Director for NTEN and blogs for Stanford Social Innovation Review.
To start, Amy and Allyson recommend you take these four simple steps to ensure your next multichannel campaign generates the most attention (and action) possible:
Your supporters and partners are one of the most productive marketing channels you have, and one of the least expensive. But I see so few orgs that ask supporters to spread the word on vital asks, and even fewer who make it easy (and far more likely) for them to do so.
This “spreading the word” strategy has been top of mind lately for, as it’s core to the program launch we’re marketing for a huge and complex New England human services org. I was surprised to learn that these folks had NEVER asked supporters to serve as marketing messengers. A huge opportunity missed but one to be harnessed a.s.a.p., and we’re doing just that.
So the pump was primed when I received an email from Aaron Bramley, CEO and Co-Founder of Lights.Camera.Help.
I was truly moved last week when I stumbled on this wonderful hug-in-a-video created by ONE to thank volunteers during Volunteer Appreciation Week. This fun but heartfelt four minutes quickly conveys how much the ONE folks value their volunteers. It’s an absolute winner.
“We got very positive feedback from our top vols (so much that we sent it to our high-action takers, offline action takers as well). It’s a [powerful] tactic that we’ve seen other orgs do really well,” says Garth Moore, ONE’s US Digital Director.
My dad, Manny Schwartz, together with Martin Luther King, Jr., inspired me to ask fellow bloggers to speak out on their big dream for their organization, cause or the nonprofit community this year, and how they’ll make it real, as they did in last January’s carnival.
This was a tough assignment, being so open ended. I purposefully left it the bloggers to frame it, and so many of them did that so beautifully—most on the theme of forward momentum.
I am inspired and energized by the creativity of these visions and the passionate commitment to getting there. Hope you are too:
This is such a wild approach and opportunity that I had to share it with you pronto, and invite you to join me today at 4:30PM ET (and/or tomorrow at 12PM ET) to see what it’s all about.
The folks at Creating the Future (CTF) believe that the way that nonprofits and consultants supporting orgs operate (in general) is ineffective. More specifically, CTF leaders believe that nonprofit leaders and consultants can grow their changemaking power hugely by need to work together sharing processes and products now held close. CTF’s mission is to increase .orgs’ impact on social change by changing that way of operating across all core functions.
CTF walks the talk, and uses its own evolution and practices as a demonstration project open to all organizations, a.k.a. Full Frontal Engagement. Opening up all of their planning meetings is a key component.
Join them (and me) today at 4:30-6PM ET (fine to cycle in and out) for the “first meeting on branding, identity and messaging strategy with a new client/consultant.” They’re meeting one marketing consultant today, and another tomorrow at 12-1:30 PM ET. If you can’t make these times, stop in via video at your convenience.
The first round of trends I shared with you came from big-name marketing experts, were strategic in nature, and all centered the single most important must-do for 2013. The second round featured predictions on activities, challenges and hopes from nonprofit marketers like you.
Next I’ll synthesize all trends in one place, and recommend three significant but doable changes you must make to boost relationships and responses this year. Subscribe here to get that email!
1) Social media continues to gain influence. Your use of social media is officially a must in 2013, no longer an option. It’s where most of your prospects and supporters spend their digital time, so you have to be there too.
I’m honored to host 2013′s first Nonprofit Blog Carnival, on your big dream for your organization, cause or the nonprofit community this year, and how you’ll get there.
Please join the carnival. Just describe your dream and how you plan to make it real in a blog post or article. Email the post permalink, your name and the blog name to nonprofitcarnival@gmail.com by COB January 28.
My January dreams (and resolutions I hope will lead there) are always tuned to the words of Martin Luther King, thanks to my dad, Manny Schwartz (that’s us in the photo).
What would it mean to live
in a city whose people were changing
each other’s despair into hope? —
You yourself must change it. —
what would it feel like to know
your country was changing? —
You yourself must change it. —
Though your life felt arduous
new and unmapped and strange
what would it means to stand on the first
page of the end of despair?
The first round of trends I shared with you came from big-name marketing experts, were strategic in nature, and all centered on the core must-do for 2013: Know your supporter, and connect with her wants, interests and habits as they intersect with your org’s value or impact. Not brand new but more important than ever, and now we all have the tools to do it better.
Today, I’m sharing out predictions on activities, challenges and hopes from nonprofit marketers like you. Here are some key findings, and and what you should do about each:
Like you, my heart and head are heavy in the wake of Friday’s tragedy in Newtown, CT. Especially since I feel so helpless.
My gut is that’s how many of your supporters and prospects are feeling as well, and what will be top of mind for at least a couple more days. So be respectful and responsive, even though you’re pressured by the year-end push for support.
Here’s how to communicate best post-catastrophe: READ MORE
This is such a wild approach and opportunity that I had to share it with you pronto, and 
I’m honored to host 2013′s first 
Trends: Part One
