by Ian Haisley | Oct 9, 2021 | +Good Newsletter
1. “Unsubscribe” is not a dirty š§¹ word.
It’s time to make your “unsubscribe” buttonĀ easierĀ to find! (Yes, really!) If you’re scratching your head wondering why any business would hazard losing subscribers, we’ve got a few good reasons:Ā Improving user experience helps your brand, and increasing deliverability for engaged email receivers helps you work more efficiently.Ā
Why you should let your readers unsubscribe.Ā [via sgENGAGE]Ā
2. When life hands you donor receipts…š
Receipts are one of those things you have to doāeven when it feels tedious. But idid you know that those same receiptsāwith the right toolsācan be a donor retention jackpot?Ā Learn how to make even the most boring and standard receipt shineāandĀ keep your donors coming back for more!Ā
The obligation and opportunity of receipts.Ā [via Bloomerang]
3. The non-tech š» skills you need to succeed.
In order to combat the lack of diversity in tech, Microsoft has designed a course called “The Growth and Resilience in Tech Toolkit” to help underrepresented coders as they build their careers. With guides for buildingĀ non-tech skills likeĀ recognizing discomfort, strategizing solutions, and persisting through setbacks, it’s a super helpful resource for any growingĀ team.
Learn the skills you didn’t learn in school.Ā [via The Next Web]
4. Learn a new way to write. āāā
Your 7th grade language arts class might have prepared you to write a five-paragraph essay, but it probably wasn’t getting you ready to write stellar fundraising copy. Effective fundraising communication isn’t about being a literary genius, it’s about learning a few tricks to maintain readers’ attention and tug at those heartstrings.Ā
6 things you need to know about great fundraising writing.Ā [via Future Fundraising Now]
5. The magic āØ of transcription.
In ourĀ search to constantly generate new content, one of our simplest tricks is to leverage transcription services. Turn a video into a blog. Create a text file of an audio recording. Add subtitles for greater accessibility. With super effective (like, wow, so so effective)Ā AI transcription services, putting words to video and audio is easier than ever.
Why you should start transcribing.Ā [via Neil Patel]
by Ian Haisley | Sep 24, 2021 | +Good Newsletter, Gratitudes
This week, we are thankful forā¦our favorite places. There is something so special about returning to a place you love. It could be a city, a restaurant, or even a street corner. In the words of Marie Kondo, revisiting places that are full of memories definitely sparks joy. They always make us feel a little bit more at home (and a heck of a lot grateful).Ā
by Ian Haisley | Sep 10, 2021 | +Good Newsletter
1. The important difference between personal content š and personalized content.
Spoiler: one is more effective than the other. Personalized content is content unique to the user. Personal content is content that uses info about their user to address a need and create an experience. Your name on an email is personalized. A restaurant preparing your favorite cake for your birthday meal is personal. Can you guess which content keeps your donors coming back for more?
Personal content experiences matter more than personalized content. [via Content Marketing Institute]
2. Choose the best pillar page content. š
Pillar pages are huge drivers of web traffic. Full of long-form content that uses links to guide users to more info about a topic, pillar pages help you up your impact by grouping topics to attract Google searches. Want to create pillar pages that bring the clicks? Become the master of your web topic and drive users to your page with this easy guide on pillar page strategy.
How to choose pillar page topics. [via MOZ]
3. Get noticed on Google Discoverāthe tool other sites are overlooking. š
Try Google searching something on your phoneādo you see a list labeled “Interesting Finds” at the bottom? Those personalized articles you didn’t search for? Those are your Google Discover results, tailored to your online habits and search trends. Think of it like Google’s version of Facebook’s feed. Not a bad place for your website to be featuredāand now you can learn how to get there.
Find out how to make your mark in Google Discover. [via MOZ]
4. The 11 principles of design šØ everyone can learn.
It doesn’t take a designer to look at a digital product and notice something’s a bit off. When the text is too large, the colors are too loud, or the page is too crowded, your user will noticeāeven if they’re not designers either. The good news is that you can use easy principles of design to guide you as you create something new. (Yes, even if you aren’t a designer.)
Get the 11 principles of design (and learn how to use them). [via dribble]
5. Instagram is retiring the š± swipe up.
Listen up, nonprofits: Your Insta stories are about to get a makeover! Instagram announced recently that it will be launching a new feature to replace the swipe-up method of navigating to external sites. Get ready for link stickersāand keep using social media to drive traffic back to your website.
Instagram is retiring the swipe up. [via The Verge]
by Ian Haisley | Sep 3, 2021 | +Good Newsletter
1. Don’t miss out on this library of free content š marketing resources.
The Content Marketing Hub 2.0 is jam-packed with everything you need to know about content marketing, including instructive articles and professionally designed charts, visuals, and templates. Brush up on your content marketing fundamentals, including content production, promotion and distribution, and so much more!
Dive into the Content Marketing Hub 2.0.Ā [via Backlinko]
2. What is lead generation? š§
Well, to get started, what’s a lead? If donors are the people who are actively giving you money, leads are the people who might give you money one day. Think: your newsletter list, your prospect list, or your social media followers. Want to learn how to boost your list of leads? It’s time to get great at lead generation.
How to be a pro at lead generation.Ā [via Neil Patel]
3. Make your project š
icon-ic.
Digital icons make everything better. They make your website more user-friendly, your text more visualize-able, and your avatars more fun. But you no longer have to pay to get the top-tier icons ā lots of sites now share their collections for free!Ā
Get free open-source icons.Ā [via Smashing Magazine]
4. Secrets š to a great capital campaign.
Have a major initiative, new building, or enormous expansion in your future? It just might be time for a capital campaign. But how do you begin? And how do you get your donors on board? Capital campaigns operate differently than traditional month-to-month fundraising, but luckily there a few simple secrets that will help you succeed.Ā
Become a capital campaign pro. [via Gail Perry Group]
5. Do what is right šŖ for your team.
It’s easy to feel trapped by budget restrictions or your donors’ preferences. But here’s the deal: You are leading an organization, and you need to do what is right for your team. That means that you get to define your priorities ā and use the resources at hand accordingly. Stop waiting for permission. You already have it.
Break the scarcity thinking habit. [via Social Velocity]
by Ian Haisley | Aug 29, 2021 | +Good Newsletter
1. Why video š„ is leading the content marketing revolution.
If a picture’s worth a thousand words, how many are videos worth? š¤Ā Here’s what we’ve learned recently about visual content marketing: 1)Ā Successful media is getting more video-centered, and 2)Ā one-size-fits-all content making isn’t cutting it anymore.Ā That means personalized videos are the new frontier of cutting-edge marketing!Ā
The what, why, and how of using personalized video.Ā [via the Content Marketing Institute]
2. I’ve got a blankĀ space, baby, and I’llĀ boost your page.Ā šµ
Any other T-Swift fans out there? Just us? ButĀ seriously, sometimes less is more. And one of the best ways to dial up your site’s landing page quality is learningĀ how to get the most out of your (limited) real estateāincludingĀ fighting to keep as much white space on a page as possible.Ā
How white space can boost your landing page conversions.Ā [via unbounce]
3. The magic āØ is in the experience.
There’s a reason kids’ birthday parties are even more awesome withĀ paintball or a piƱataābecause the best events are designed around experiences! This is especially true for your nonprofit events. Experiences can transformĀ a fundraising event from a box to a check to an exciting memory for your guests.Ā Need help taking your event to the next level? Let us know! We’d love to help!
How to design an experience-first event.Ā [via Bizzabo]
4. Jump back into the QR code š¤³ game.Ā
Remember when QR codes came out and we all tried to put them on…everything? If your experience was anything like ours, they didn’t workābut maybe we were just ahead of our time! Thanks to the pandemic (QR code menus, anyone??) and advances in cell phone technology, these days we are all super familiar with scanning for more info. So maybe it’s time to give them another shot.Ā
Why (and how) you should try using QR codes. [via Nonprofit Marketing Guide]
5. Get that Google ā¤ļø love.Ā
We all want to be at the top of the search engine pile, but raking on SEO without a budget can feel impossible. Lucky for us, there are content tricks you can implement right now to take advantage of Search Engine Result Page (SERP) featuresāand reach more of your donors and prospects than ever.
Learn how to hack your SERP. [via Moz]
