Power of a well-told story

We’re all naturally curious.  It’s a human trait.  So when you start to tell a story you trigger that curiosity.  You impact the reader at a subconscious level. This is one of the reasons a well-told story is so powerful.  We want to know how it turns out.  You have captured our attention with ease. […]

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Lift notes boost response IF used correctly

You can boost response to your direct mail packages with a lift note.  But only if you use it correctly.  First let me share an example that wasn’t completely correct. Last week I received a direct mail package from a membership association that I belong to.  For the curious among you, the package offer was […]

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Helping the Disabled “Fly High”…Salute to Veterans…Runway Joggers

I have three neat stories to share today … all examples of aviation and charities working together. First, the nonprofit Able Flight has teamed with Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology.  The result is that this summer Heather Schultz and Chris Spaur will learn how to fly. Why is this special?  Both of these young people have […]

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Acme Charity does great work. Give us money.

What was your reaction when you read that headline?  Did you feel warm and fuzzy?  Did you grab your checkbook because you instantly saw how you could help make someone’s life better?  Did you feel happy, sad, sympathetic, angry, benevolent … or anything at all? I doubt it.  Except maybe you felt offended by the […]

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Crime pays for this charity

Strange as it may seem, there is good news from a story about crime. The charity, World Vision International will receive clothing with a retail value of $2.3 million.  It’s actually “counterfeit” clothing.  (Unique source of gift-in-kind donations; wouldn’t you say?)  That means the clothing had counterfeit trademarks of various famous brands. But what does […]

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Boost nonprofit multi-channel marketing with donor reviews

A Clickz blog post by Sam Decker, How to Make Customer Content Go Multichannel, has many points that apply equally to the nonprofit sector. Decker points out how much consumers trust and rely on the opinion of other consumers when making buying decisions. And how few companies leverage that trusted consumer generated content (i.e., product […]

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Mobile giving keeps getting easier

Updated … 6-9-10 (see below) Today I share a quick synopsis of two mobile giving news articles.  Specifically these articles highlight how more and more tools and flexibility are becoming available to nonprofits of all sizes.  It’s getting easier for everyone to add mobile to their fundraising and marketing strategy. 1 – On May 20th, […]

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How to make nonprofit copy – and stories – come alive

Many charities and associations recognize that their copy has room for improvement.  It isn’t generating enough response or conversions.  Your writing – including how you’re telling your nonprofit story – isn’t captivating readers. Stanislavsky to the rescue . Try using the Stanislavsky Method.  Many actors and actresses have used his method for around 100 years.  […]

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Art and Science of Nonprofit Storytelling

Guest post by: Erica Waasdorp Nonprofit storytelling is an art and a science.  It’s a journey and a challenge to create the story that evokes emotion and helps raise money . . . “I’m sitting on the edge of my seat. What I’m about to hear is intriguing and shocking at the same time, but I […]

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Sameness is the death of nonprofit copy

Does the copy on your nonprofit website read the same as everyone else’s?  Do your emails look like clones from other charities or associations?  If you write like every other nonprofit … if everything you do looks the same as everyone else … what you’re announcing to the world is that what you do is […]

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