Recently, I received an email (twice), inviting me to at $1,000-per-person charity event.  Hmmm…there should be an engraved invitation for a thing like that, methinks.  Responding to the email with that very thought, the answer came back that their big donors got an invitation in the mail, and they just blasted the email to everybody else. Which begs the question: why send something to someone who wasn’t in the target audience to begin with? Of...

Notice how on a rainy day, suddenly you have a lot more stuff in your Facebook news feed?  On a pretty, sunny day, Facebook activity slows because people have other stuff to do.  Operating on the same premise as “fish where the fish are,” you should also fish when the fish are around.  If you’re using Facebook to promote your business or nonprofit, choose your spots carefully for maximum effect.  People with lots of friends...

Fiercely. Constantly. In every teeny, tiny detail. And we’re not talking about just a logo. A brand is the place your business occupies in the mind of your constituents…prospects, customers, donors, board members, employees. Anything you–or anyone else–does to the brand moves it a little, either toward or away from its true essence. Here are some things that can strengthen your brand… Graphic Standards: Guidelines...

With the first cup of morning coffee in hand, we fire up the PC and, even before checking email, start the day with a whole range of free online tools. Feedly: Organizes RSS feeds into a magazine-style format, arranged by subject area; keeps notifications of blog posts out of the inbox. Quickly scan for news and inspiration. Google Alerts: See what has hit the internet in the last 24 hours on topics we’re following. Diigo: Bookmark the...

The “social” part of social media has taken on a new meaning. The dictionary definition of “social” is:  pertaining to, devoted to, or characterized by friendly companionship or relations; seeking or enjoying the companionship of others; living or disposed to live in companionship with others or in a community. From a corporate perspective, social media has become just another advertising channel. Visit the Facebook...