Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart Communications By Sarah Durham Published by Jossey-Bass, 2009 208 pgs $33.58 from amazon.ca For the last several years, I’ve been following the folks at Big Duck who provide excellent information on nonprofit communications through their blog, podcast and other resources, including workshops. When I stumbled… Read More »
Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible By Alina Wheeler & Joel Katz Published by John Wylie and Sons, 2011 144 pgs $22.53 at Amazon.ca As a former brand manager and current branding consultant in the nonprofit sector, I know brand is a word that comes with baggage. If your organization chooses to focus on… Read More »
Entrepreneurial roles and causes that resonate: this combination has served as the guide for Meghan Reddick’s nonprofit marketing communications career. Understanding that nonprofit roles are just as intense and require just as much personal sacrifice as corporate roles, Meghan believes that putting her efforts behind a cause in which she truly believes is critical. Since… Read More »
If the importance of marketing can be a hard sell in the nonprofit sector, then the importance of investing in strong nonprofit taglines is even harder. Too many nonprofits are operating with ineffective, unoriginal or even no taglines at all, missing valuable opportunities to add power to their marketing messages. I recently asked Nancy Schwartz,… Read More »
Is your marketing communications copy strengthening your brand? To be successful, your message must not only be compelling, but it must also be aligned with your brand position. Here are five key points that will help you to assess the brand-strengthening potential of your words: 1. Key messages Your brand is most likely based on… Read More »
Are mission statements being abused by nonprofits? Given all of the heavy lifting we expect of mission statements, is it a mistake to also expect them to serve as effective marketing messages – taglines in particular? We invited mission statement expert, Sam Frank, Principal at Synthesis Partnership, to weigh in on the matter and ended… Read More »
Three (period-separated) word taglines are everywhere. Are they making a comeback? Gaining popularity? Or have they just been a far-too-prevalent (and boring) staple for years? Here are a few examples: Wisdom. Power. Change. Young. Professional. Connected. People. Planet. Profits. Live. Learn. Cure. This one doesn’t exactly fit the criteria, but I’d say it can be… Read More »
Working with trade organizations is a specialty for Kate Sherman, Director, Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors. Kate’s experience within the sub-sector has included roles at the Pennsylvania Society of Association Executives and The Foundation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society prior to her current workplace. She explains that she has been attracted by the small-office environment,… Read More »