Making the most of your Google Grant and 4 other things you need to read

Making the most of your Google Grant and 4 other things you need to read

by | Apr 30, 2021 | +Good Newsletter

1. Speak 🗣 up and be heard.

Since its launch in 2020, marketers have been chatting about Clubhouse, the limited-access social network where users can jump into audio rooms together. The app draws users in by promoting off-the-cuff, unplanned, and fast-paced conversations. It invites people to tell stories, meet interesting people, and share ideas about various topics. It’s too early to get a read on the longevity of Clubhouse, but nonprofit marketers are already finding value in the platform.  

Four reasons your nonprofit should try Clubhouse [via Swell+Good]

2. Make the most of your 💸 Google Grant. 

You got the Google Grant. Hooray! So now what? The average nonprofit doesn’t utilize the full $10k of ad credit the grant provides every month. Learn how to take advantage of the ad credit bonanza so you’re not leaving money on the table. From keyword research to analytics, these tips have you covered. 

Five tips for Google Grant success. [via Nonprofit Hub]

3. Refresh 🔄 your grammar knowledge.

You probably know the difference between loose and lose, but do you know how to stay in parallel when writing lists? Does your organization have an official stance on the Oxford comma? When your grammar is on point your message takes center stage! 

Do you make these common grammar mistakes? [via Copyblogger]

4. Content is 👑 king.

The adage exists because it’s true. Telling powerful stories helps you reach more people and raise more support. (Need help getting started with content marketing? Let us know!) But how do you know if these efforts are working? Contently’s ten-step Content Measurement Maturity Model helps you evaluate your work and make smarter decisions around content in the future. 

Make content marketing worth your while. [via Contently]

5. Get that psych degree 🎓 you always wanted.

If you’re looking to attract and expand your audience (let’s be real, who isn’t?), it’s time to take a page from your old psychology textbook. From the paradox of choice to the fear of missing out, learn how to grow your audience by appealing to the most human of behaviors.  

Avoid FOMO and other psychology tricks to improve your marketing. [via Content Marketing Institute]

Write like you talk and 4 other things you need to know this week

Write like you talk and 4 other things you need to know this week

by | Apr 2, 2021 | +Good Newsletter

1. TikTok for 👍 good.

TikTok has over 850 million active users and has become synonymous with dance challenges, cooking hacks, and Gen Z. But for nonprofits, the video-sharing platform presents a unique opportunity to tell stories and connect with new audiences—and promote fundraising, too!

Find out what the cool kids are up to. [via Swell+Good]

2. Write ✍️ like you talk.

Complicated sentences and confusing jargon are putting your audiences to sleep. Wake them up with conversational writing. Channel your inner Hemingway with short, snappy sentences. Toss your audience a question. Skip the jargon. Here are 12 ways to grab your reader’s attention.

Master the art of conversational content. [via Content Marketing Institute]

3. Showing 👀 instead of telling.

Data has the power to convince a customer to take action or make a purchase, but it can often feel impossible to decipher. The solution? Data visualization. Using graphics like charts, maps, and scatter plots makes your numbers tell a story. Make critical information more digestible and capture your readers’ attention more effectively with these helpful tips.

How to make a chart that tells a story. [via Neil Patel]

4. The basics of NFTs ⛓ in five minutes.

Non-fungible tokens…yes, we know, you’re probably already confused. What are they? How do they work? Why should you care? Ownership of digital objects can be fun and profitable if you know what you’re doing. Watch this video for a quick, simple rundown of the latest cryptocurrency craze. 

What is an NFT? [via Mashable]

5. Win back 🥇 your biggest donors. 

When it comes to creating a successful fundraising strategy, winning back lapsed donors pays off in a big way. On average, they’re more likely to give larger gifts, have better retention rates, and are less expensive to acquire than new donors. But not all reactivation appeals are created equal. The best way to win back a lapsed donor is to send them your best fundraising materials and think strategically about the messaging you deploy to reach them.


Don’t say goodbye to lapsed donors. [via Future Fundraising Now]

This issue of +good was written and produced by Allison Kooser, Ian Haisley, Sydney Bartlett, Lindsey Lincoln, and Katie Powers.

Following your donor’s lead and 4 other things you need to read this week

Following your donor’s lead and 4 other things you need to read this week

by | Mar 29, 2021 | +Good Newsletter

1. Your nonprofit needs a 📚 book club.

Start a book club to engage with your donors! Build community, educate donors, and spark action by featuring impactful stories and thoughtful discussions. Sound like a plan? Use our helpful book club guide to get started!

Every nonprofit needs a book club. [via Swell + Good]

2. Fundraising copy, best served 🥶 chilled.

Fundraising copywriters are adept at tapping into big emotions to elicit strong reactions, but sometimes we get a little too caught up in the glow of the moment. Bake a cool-off period into your deadlines, step away for a few hours (or, if you can stand it, a few days), and come back to assess your words with new eyes.

Fundraising copywriters, let your copy cool before serving. [via TrueSense Marketing]

3. Increase discoverability with Instagram 🎥 Reels.

From TikTok to Snapchat to Instagram, bite-sized videos are sweeping the internet. And you’ve probably already noticed Instagram Reels making their way into your feed. But did you know that the Instagram algorithm serves Reels to users who don’t follow you? That makes it a great tool to reach new eyes and connect with a new audience.

How to make a successful Instagram Reel. [via Social Media Examiner]

4. Following your donor’s 🤝 lead.

When it comes to fundraising, it’s not about you— it’s about your donors. And asking them for a major gift doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking. These five tips remind us that asking is a process and, just like giving, it’s one rooted in emotional responses to your mission. The next time you make an ask, trust your donors and your own instincts.

Five suggestions for when your nerves start getting the best of you. [via Gail Perry]

5. Collect food 🥫 and clothing with just one click.

In 2017, Facebook launched its Community Help Hub to centralize resources and allow users to connect quickly following a crisis. Now, it’s released Drives, a US-only feature that enables users to create and share initiatives, such as canned food and clothing drives, for those in need.

Rally your community through Facebook Drives. [via Tech Crunch]

 

 This issue of +good was written and produced by Allison Kooser, Ian Haisley, Sydney Bartlett, Lindsey Lincoln, and Katie Powers.

Quick and easy feedback and 4 other things you need to read this week

Quick and easy feedback and 4 other things you need to read this week

by | Mar 20, 2021 | +Good Newsletter

1. Make your Facebook group 💬 a close-knit community.

Your Facebook group can help you reach your goals, but only if you take the time to cultivate it correctly. Understanding what to post and what not to post is critical! These suggested rules and boundaries encourage deep engagement within your group, attracting your kind of people and fostering community.

Develop a loyal community. [via Social Media Examiner]

2. Finally learn what 🔍 SEO is all about.

You know what SEO is…but do you actually understand it? Neil Patel makes Search Engine Optimization (SEO) make sense and lays out a few practical techniques to increase your web traffic and brand awareness. Learn how to complete your own SEO audit, create SEO optimized landing pages, and more (way more).

Find yourself on the first page of Google. [via Neil Patel]

3. Increase your reach 🚀 with Instagram’s Live Rooms.

New features alert! You can now host an Instagram Live with one, two, or three other accounts using Live Rooms. A Live with a few cohosts allows you to engage with your community while connecting with their communities, too.

Using Instagram Live Rooms. [via Facebook]

4. Get quick and easy feedback 🗣 in just a few clicks.

Having access to actionable, qualitative feedback from your target audience is key to a project’s success. With Loops, you can post creative work and receive hundreds of honest and constructive comments from team members and strangers in just minutes. While that might sound overwhelming, it only takes a few easy clicks to analyze the feedback and find the most effective ways to implement it.

Find out what they think. [via Loops]

5. Find, use, and create GIFs to 📈 enhance your brand.

We might not know how to pronounce gif, but we definitely know we love them. Those ubiquitous, looping animations can be used everywhere — in emails, blog posts, social media, and more. Try out some of these suggestions, and use gifs to engage with your audience and promote your brand.

Get started with gifs. [via Neil Patel]

 

 This issue of +good was written and produced by Allison Kooser, Ian Haisley, Sydney Bartlett, Lindsey Lincoln, and Katie Powers.

Quick and easy feedback and 4 other things you need to read this week

Workplace spontaneity and 4 other things you need to read this week

by | Mar 12, 2021 | +Good Newsletter

 1. Cultivate Deeper Relationships 🤝  with your Donors.

We know you’re a whiz at using email to connect with donors, but there’s always room to improve! Is your strategy ready for a refresh? These proven donor cultivation strategies actually work (as in, they’ve been tested by real nonprofits!) and, just as importantly, are simple to implement.

Three Proven Non-Profit Donor Cultivation Strategies. [via NextAfter]

2. Make the 👍 Facebook Algorithm work for you.

The Facebook algorithm presents a unique challenge, and marketers need effective strategies to beat it. Posting a link on Facebook used to be an easy way to generate revenue or drive traffic, but now the average post will only reach 5 percent of your followers. This analysis offers 20 actionable ways to boost your organic reach on Facebook by utilizing strategies such as brand presence, cross-promotion on various platforms, and audience insights.

20 Secrets to boost your organic Facebook reach. [via Neil Patel]

3. Finding the right 🤳 shot.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so if your content doesn’t feature the right image, you could be missing out on an opportunity to convey your message to your audience. But have no fear. Pexels provides over 10,000 open-source stock photos and videos shared by talented creators. Marketers can search by keyword to find the right image for any project — and best of all, it’s free.

The best free stock photos & videos. [via Pexels]

4. Where workplace ⚡️ spontaneity lives again.

There’s been plenty of chatter around Clubhouse, the limited-access social network where users can jump into voice chat rooms together. The app draws users in by promoting off-the-cuff, unplanned conversations. Now, a slew of spontaneous social apps is following in its footsteps. For professionals bogged down in a calendar of Zoom calls and Slack check-ins, anything that resembles the water cooler chats and lunch breaks of days gone by is a welcome change.

A wave of spontaneous apps. [via Techcrunch]

5. Your Donors’ Love ❤️ Languages.

Valentine’s Day may be behind us, but romancing your donors is a year-round gig. From engaging new donors to stewarding your most faithful supporters, two strategies always pay off in a relationship: paying attention and communicating! Unique volunteer opportunities, segmented mailing lists, and handwritten thank you notes are just a few ways to show your donors some love.

Light the spark — and keep it alive. [via Nonprofit hub]