Sue’s Muse

Like most fundraisers, I stay on the lookout for the next “BIG” thing.  Something that will give me an edge to raise those dollars. 

We continue to hear statements like … Direct Mail is DEAD … eMail is DEAD … TV is DEAD. 

R-I-G-H-T.

Reams, both real and virtual, have been written on blogs and industry publications to debunk these myths such as:

1- Direct mail still raises more than any other direct response vehicle (The Agitator);

2- eMail is still the #1 form of reaching people online (yes, even young people - eMail Insider ); and

3- TV viewership is up 1.5% over 2008 - great news for DRTV - nielsenwire).

So what is the next “BIG” thing?  Who knows … after all, were you participating in social networking sites five years ago? 

One thing that did catch my eye recently was a piece on the Today Show talking about Augmented Reality.  (Yea, I still watch Meredith, Matt, Ann and Al.) 

David Granger - editor of Esquire Magazine - unveiled their December issue (due out next week) that, when held up to a web cam, will play a video on your screen of Robert Downy Jr. and other celebrities on inside pages.  Mr. Granger explains that this technology isn’t designed to change the essence of the magazine, rather it is there to enhance the user experience.

Kind of reminds me of the newspapers in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies, where photos move around as the reader scans the pages.

The technology is not simple (and I would surmise not cheap)  … it requires layers of data … but thinking about how far online communications technology has progressed since I first tried e-mail fundraising in 1996, imagine this becoming accessible to the masses … it could bring a whole new meaning to interactive marketing.

Regards,

Sue

Recently while listening to one of my favorite TV talk shows … a guest possed the question ”Why would anybody blog - it’s so yesterday!”  The speaker seemed to feel that everyone should communicate in 140 characters or less. 

I will admit that sometimes folks do drone on … I mean “Why use 4 to 5 words when 10 will do?  Where can one go to share thoughts and ideas with oodles more characters? 

You could try Woofer.  It is a micro-blogging site set up initially as a gag by a couple of friends (Peter Martin and Portman Wills) in around three hours.  The main difference?  Woofer requires a minimum of 1,400 characters.  So much for the gag … the site has over 11,000 users and 13,000 woofs.  We will have to wait to see if it really does become a Twitter competitor.

For those real Twitter fans who simply don’t have time to go through all the palaver of finding just the right Tweet or multiple Tweets to stay current … then Tweetmix just might be for you.  Tweetmixx will match your interests, while ensuring that you don’t receive multiple Tweets on a common subject.  Very clever software -  just tell them your pursuits and specially selected Tweets will soon be coming your way!

How does this relate to your constituents?  Social net-workers are like donors … some Tweet, some use Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and, yes, even good old blogs. They have a preferred channel … just like donors prefer to give through mail, online, phone, face to face, or participating in an event.   

Don’t try and make the choice for them … use every channel available. Your donors will use their preferred way, so make sure your message is there.

Lastly - this business changes constantly. Stay awake, learn about any new channels and make sure you appear on the new ones that last, say, a couple of months - they could be the next New Big Thing.

Regards,

Sue

How do you communicate with friends and family … do you send emails, or are you a part of the larger movement of folks who communicate almost exclusively through social networks?

Okay, so you may use both … but most likely one more than the other, depending on your age group.

We continue to see an increase in the use of social networking sites for communicating – according to the latest stats:

            ·         53% of those 18 to 24

            ·         42% of those 25 to 34

Why?  The most mentioned reasons are:

    ·         More Messages in Email Boxes Viewed as Irrelevant

    ·         Social Media Sites empower users to Interact with the brand on

            their terms

In a recent briefing with eMarketer … MySpace CEO and co-founder Chris DeWolfe shares that MySpace is a next generation portal – not simply a social network.

So whether you send emails … post personal pages … write a blog … or ask a simple question through Twitter … you are connecting and sharing. 

And with that deep thought … I wish you each a wonderful weekend!

Regards,

Sue

For the past couple of years, I usually try and put some reference in my nonprofit presentations that older Americans are staying in touch with family, banking, becoming more engaged during election cycles … and they are doing it all online!

This blog has shared numerous examples of surveys, reports and studies that show a growing number of 55+ online constituents.

I could tell you why I think this is becoming more the norm over the past several years. (I speak from an in-depth discussion conducted with my “marketing survey of one” demographic who shares my office)! 

1-  Ease of use - online has been demystified - no longer do you have to have a technology degree to understand how to use basic interactive communications.

2-  Staying up on the latest trends and gadgets- just look at recent TV commercials (particularly during the evening news) “Remember the generation that promised never to get old!?”  Social networks, IPods, IPhones, Web-cams, Texting, VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) etc. are all being used by the over 50s.

3-  Using technology to make life easier - anything that makes my life easier is tops on the list of ‘must haves’ - particularly online banking, registrations, dinner reservations, catching up on the daily news, etc. 

Need more convincing?  I suggest you read one of my favorite fundraising blogs “The Agitator”  where Tom Belford shares his views regarding a recent DMNews article … Nonprofits Adopt Social Media … which looks at two organizations AARP and The Arthritis Foundation … and how they are offering more tools that can be custom­ized by members.  AARP Members can also invite friends to view their profile, send and receive messages and join or create special interest groups.

Yep, I would definitely say “The generation that promised never to get old!” is adapting, utilizing, and making the “wide wide world of technology” their own!

Regards,

Sue

I can still remember having a conversation with my husband almost ten years ago … fed up with trying to find information on the Internet … he told me about a small search engine called ‘Google’.  First thing I thought was ‘what a ridiculous name’!  After getting him to spell it for me three times, I went to Google and have never looked back!

Goggle immediately went into my favorites list and now is the search engine of choice when I open my web browser!

Okay, Sue, you ask what does this have to do with nonprofits?  Well quite a lot …

1- Goggle Grants - 5 years ago, Google created their philanthropic arm ‘Google Grants’.  Google Grants has allowed nonprofits to begin testing the waters of Search Engine Marketing - and despite the limitations, without these grants - many nonprofits would never have looked at SEM as a viable online acquisition tool.

2- Google Earth - provides site maps and images that go beyond “gee, there’s my house”. This feature made it possible for a number of nonprofits that provide direct service delivery, whether nationally or internationally, to bring their part of the world a little bit closer to their constituents - making it that bit more real.

3- Google Video - Viewers can search and watch millions of videos indexed from all over the web. Users can also upload and share videos.

There is also Google Talk, Google Images, Google Translate, Google Street View, Google Mail, Google Analytics (Ad Planner - Sues Muse 7/02/08), Friend Connect (Social Networking - Sue’s Muse 5/13/08) and ‘Chrome’ - Google ’s new web browser - coming soon to a computer near you!  I have no doubt the list will continue to grow with this innovative and exciting company.

So thank you Google, for making my life easier in the wonderful world of search, for those nonprofits who you have given an opportunity to play with the big boys in the world of SEM, and for all those creative innovations you have and continue to create.   

Happy 10th Birthday Google!

If for some unknown reason your nonprofit has not applied for a Google Grant- I would get started filling out the paper work immediately!

Regards,

Sue

Happy Labor Day! 

To start your weekend off right … I wanted to share a website that really got me tickled … and I hope gives you a chuckle. 

My wonderful husband (and yes, for those of you in the know - my “Muse”) reminded me about this little game they use to play in the Royal Air Force 20 some years ago when they wanted to find phrases or sentences to impress senior officers - that made absolutely no sense! 

Yes I am talking about BUZZZZZZZwords!  Or better yet - a string of BUZZZZZZwords!

Enjoy … and when you get back to the desk next week and find that you have an indecipherable copy or report on your desk or computer … you will now be able to respond with equal flurish as you can now tap into your own set of BUZZZZZZwords!

Regards,

Sue

When I was a professional with the Boy Scouts of America in the eighties and early nineties, I remember thinking the best time of my working day was when I was on the road … in my car, in a plane, on a train … as it was the one time I could stop and reflect without a fax machine wheezing out a message or the phone ringing.

Yes … there was a time when these were the only forms of communication to reach those of us who worked in an outlying office! 

Jump ahead to the mid-nineties … when cell phones became a part of the job equipment package … and peace as I knew it was over! 

Go back just 6 years when I was handed my first Blackberry.  Now not only could I be reached on my cell (if there was a tower in the area), but I could read all my emails instantly … which normally waited until I turned on my computer and had my first cup of coffee!

These instant forms of communication became so ingrained that I couldn’t imagine life without them. 

Airlines for years have been the final bastion of peace and tranquility (that is until you land and a flight attendant tells folks “you can now use your electronic devises”) has announced that they will now be WiFly accessible.

Bad enough that I always end up sitting next to a guy that no matter how many times is told to TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE SIR, continues to chat away as if this is the last meeting he will ever attend and immediately upon landing … is back on the phone or TXTing, because obviously the two to three hours he has been on the plane was extremely difficult for his company to move forward without his input … now I get to experience this through an entire flight!

BOSE - TAKE ME AWAY!

Don’t get me wrong … there are a number of organizations that benefit from instant communications, like my former employer, The American Red Cross … and companies that support and are responsible for communications such as phone companies, web host providers and the like that are able to quickly respond to critical issues because of these advanced forms of communication. 

But let’s be honest … the number of folks that truly need an instant communication tool are far less then those that use them … with bluetooths hanging out ears or thumbs TXTing.  It has become such a phenomenon that states and the federal government are now keeping statistics on accidents (there were two pedestrian deaths reported this week in CA) involving distractions due to communication devices.

I have made a strike for sanity and given up my Blackberry … I now only have a cell phone which I have gladly given my clients to call, so they have access when they need me.  (Most would still rather send an email.)

Not hiding … but rather taking a moment to think through a process and frankly simply give my brain a rest.  You would be amazed at how more creative you can be … by taking a little breather … and yes simply hiding out for a few moments in the day.

Regards,

Sue