In the recent Chronicle of Philanthropy (Dated November 15) a study has shown that Americans who give to charity online are giving roughly the same amount as the traditional check-writers that offline agencies have relied upon for years.
In my many years of experience the online acquired donor has always donated more, and donated more frequently, [...]

I just received an email from a very large and reputable non-profit organization with a subject line that took me all of one millisecond to open.
Subject: Important Notice: Security Breach
Normally I would mentally file this away to the ‘phishing’ email scams, but since the email came from CARE I opened it immediately hoping that my [...]

When organizational awareness (and brand awareness) has more long-term value than immediate donations and sales.
In this new vast new web, the number of young adults getting online has increased but their activities are not matching those of us older, more seasoned internet surfers and users. For those of us that spend all day connected to [...]

“Sign-up for weekly email alerts and newsletters” - it’s a pretty common statement found on many non-profit and corporate e-commerce Web sites. Some organizations or companies even go the step further and ask for the user the frequency that they would like to receive email communications. Granted, nobody will say ‘email me daily;’ but bi-weekly, [...]

Many organizations send email appeals. JUST one email in the appeal cycle. Rarely is any thought given to follow up communications, or completing the appeal communication cycle. This blog entry will lay the foundation for thinking through a complete appeal email cycle.
First Email Send
This email will create the need that the organization has, or the [...]

Last week, I focused the first part of the email series on thinking about who your emails come from, and how you should approach the classic “signer’ issue in emails.
 This week, we are going to focus on the missed opportunities by not properly following up on email communications.
I’ve worked with many clients that spend countless [...]

THINK.
A Multi-part Email Strategy series to help you get the most out of your email program. Each Tuesday, I will focus on one aspect of email communications. Please submit a comment if there is an area you would like for me to focus on or a problem you are encountering with your own email program.
Over [...]

Silverpop has recently conducted a study to see what is really stopping your members or constiuents from opening their emails from you. Is it that catchy subject line that your marketing associate spent days thinking up? NOPE. Is is all the pretty pictures in the email? NOPE. Is it the time of day the email [...]

The other day I was giving Simon Heseltine, our Search Director/Guru a ride to Union Station in DC. Simon had parked his car at my house which is near Union Station, and coincidentally only three blocks from the home of Barack Obama. While we were driving, we saw the tell-tale signs of the politically important: [...]

One of the first rules of communication or establishing communications with your constituents is to recognize them when they come to your Web site, or are entered into your email stream. It’s just a good practice, and you can say you are doing great customer relationship management.
Or ARE you?
Simon, our Director of Search, or Search [...]