The Duck Call

Impactful Impact | Weekly Roundup

Meghan Teich — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:50:20 +0000

Meghan Teich

Impact is the current buzzword in the nonprofit world, and while it’s overused (in our opinion), the idea behind it has value. Check out Hubspot’s post on how to demonstrate your organization’s impact for donors and supporters by using smart, strategic content.
What if there were four quick and easy settings you could change on Facebook to help your page better reach your audience? Well, there are! Check out John Haydon’s post and take a few minutes to update your page.
The science behind using powerful storytelling to incentivize action online is just that - science. Check out Forbes.com's post on how emotions can motivate us to do something about a problem.
Don’t have any time to dedicate to social media? Well, if you can set aside just thirty minutes a day, Pardot has an action plan to rock your Facebook and Twitter presence.
Still want more social media resources? Get inspired by how the top fifty nonprofits “do” social media with this infographic created by CraigConnects.

Visit the Duck Call every Monday for our weekly roundup of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications.

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Are you my audience?

Elizabeth Ricca — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:25:58 +0000

Elizabeth Ricca

Whether you're branding your whole organization or running a campaign with a limited shelf-life, clear communications flow from an informed understanding of your audience—and, ideally, a tight focus on a particular group that you want to reach. Easier said than done. How do you determine priorities when you have so many stakeholders that are all important for different reasons?

It starts with defining your organization's goals and a sense of the strategies you'll use to achieve them.

Let's imagine that one of your organization's key goals has to do with reaching (and influencing) members of Congress. Does that mean that members of Congress are the primary audience for your communications?

Probably not.

It depends, of course, but you may decide that in order to reach those members of Congress most effectively, what you need to do is mobilize their constituents. Maybe you would even focus on a specific sub-set of those constituents, who can help organize and motivate their neighbors.

If so, that small group is the primary audience for your communications—the people you need to reach out to directly, inspire to action, and equip to message on your behalf. It's not that members of Congress aren't a part of your plan—far from it. It's just that the message you want to send doesn't reach them through your logo or tagline or even your website: it reaches them through the voices and faces of your supporters. Your strategy (i.e., mobilize grassroots activists) for achieving your goal (i.e., influence members of Congress) determines how you think about your audience for communications.

The same applies if you're considering asking your most enthusiastic supporters to fundraise for you, or making alums a key part of your recruitment cycle.

It sounds obvious, but it can be hard to do in the moment. So if you find yourself at a loss when it comes to identifying your communications targets, take a step back and start with your goals and a sketch of your strategy for making them happen. The right audience for your campaign or brand will pop into focus.

To learn more about finding the right audiences for you, join me at Big Duck on May 23rd for a workshop, "Bagels at Big Duck: Get to know your audience." Register today!

Roses are red, donation buttons are blue? | Weekly Roundup

Meghan Teich — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:45:55 +0000

Meghan Teich

What color should the most important button on your website be? The answer: it depends. Find out more over at Hilborn.
Some of the most important tools in your communications toolkit are your email subject lines. Are you spending enough time crafting and testing them? Check out Touching Clients’ 25 tips for creating great email subjects.
Ever feel like LinkedIn is an unexplored frontier for nonprofit communication? No one’s really cracked the code beyond job posting and networking - well, until now. The Chronicle of Philanthropy has some ideas on how to leverage the site for fundraising.
Are photos all they’ve cracked up to be on Facebook? By focusing just on image updates, you might be missing out on opportunities to engage with your fans through text updates, according to Small Act.
The debate over slacktivism rears its head once again, this time because UNICEF is asking for more than just Facebook likes. Read how they’re tackling the issue over at the Atlantic.

Visit the Duck Call every Monday for our weekly roundup of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications.

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Big Duck Trainings in May

Jenna Silverman — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:32:08 +0000

Jenna Silverman

This May, the Ducks are stepping into spring and leading various trainings all across the country. Learn more about our upcoming workshops, webinars, and conferences on all things nonprofit-communications-related—and be sure to register today!

Webinar

Webinar Series: How to Get Campaign-Ready: Your Roadmap to Multichannel Success

When: May 1, 8, and 15, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. (EST)
Where: Anywhere/the internet

Successful “blockbuster” campaigns almost never happen without a strong foundation in place, and this three-part webinar series, led by Strategists Rachel Hope Allison and Meghan Teich, is all about giving you what you need to build that foundation and kick your campaign program into high gear. They’ll share best practices and some inspiration for your next campaign, through stories of what other nonprofits have done or are doing today.

Workshop

Bagels at Big Duck: Get to know your audience

When: May 23 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. (EST)
Where: Big Duck’s office in Brooklyn

In the hustle and bustle of nonprofit life, it’s easy to get so caught up in thinking about the messages we need to share that we forget about what our supporters actually want to hear. Sound familiar? Join Elizabeth Ricca, Big Duck’s Director of Strategy, for a workshop on how to develop smart communications with your audience in mind.

Space is limited, so sign up today.

Conferences

Engaging Customers and Community Through Social Technology

When: May 7–8
Where: Portland, Oregon
Hosted by: NeighborWorks America

If you’re headed to Portland for NeighborWorks America’s SocialTech Symposium (and you definitely should be!), make sure you say hi to Farra, who’s Oregon-bound to lead various workshops and trainings throughout the conference. She’ll be taking on a range of social technology-related topics, like whether or not you should rethink your website, social fundraising, the future of social technology—and how it fits into your organization.

Learn more about the conference here.

Nonprofit Summit 2013

When: May 20
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
Hosted by: Georgia Center for Nonprofits

Our Creative Director, Dan Gunderman, will be in Atlanta to lead a breakout session on Brandraising. This workshop will help organizations apply Brandraising concepts to develop their own unique positioning and personality—and understand how online communications connect to their presence across other channels.

Check out the rest of the conference sessions and learn how to register here.

Communications and Fundraising Jamboree

When: May 21
Where: West Hartford, Connecticut
Hosted by: Connecticut Association of Nonprofits

Sarah’s giving a keynote presentation based on her book, Brandraising: How Nonprofits Raise Visibility and Money Through Smart Communications, and leading a breakout session, “Cultures, Values, and Content: Today’s Cornerstone of Great Communications,” in West Hartford. Join this lively gathering of nonprofiteers for a half-day jamboree packed with ideas and inspiration to help take your nonprofit’s communications to the next level!

Check out the other conference speakers and learn more about this great event here.

AFP Fundraising Day New York

When: June 7th
Where: New York, NY
Hosted by: Association of Fundraising Professionals

Can branding help your fundraising? Yes indeed—and Sarah will be talking about the relationship between a strong brand and your campaigns at Fundraising Day New York. Join her for “Brandraise to Fundraise: Build Your House Before You Throw a Party,” and learn how brandraising will help you spend less time reinventing new messages and more time reinforcing the right ones, so that your prospects are more likely to understand what you do and why you do it.

You can also visit us at the exhibit hall and take a picture at a our photo booth!

Check out the complete list of our upcoming workshops and trainings. Don’t see what you’re looking for? We’re always brainstorming new content to speak about. Leave a comment or send me an email about what you’d like to learn more.

Communicate like a science journalist

Madeleine Milan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:08:46 +0000

Madeleine Milan

Being a nonprofit communicator is a lot like being a science journalist—you have to deeply understand the issues you’re communicating about and (here’s the most important bit) translate them into interesting stories the general public can understand.

Little known fact: I’m kind of a science geek (thanks to Mr. Hill, the physics teacher of destiny). I’m also a public radio geek (thanks to the dear old BBC). Put those two together and you get a big fan of Radio Lab.

The other day I came across a great blog post from one of RadioLab’s presenters, Robert Krulwich. In the context of comparing an ad campaign for a nonprofit science and technology center in Canada to science journalism, he says:

We who are doing this, we reporters, we animators, we science teachers, we bloggers, we artists, we museum managers, we research scientists, we copywriters — we don't do what we do to speak to the Already Informed. We are doing this to tap ordinary, everyday people on their heads, people who might not have the time or the inclination, and say to them, "spend a few minutes over here, mulling this ..."

Sound familiar? That’s because that’s our job as nonprofit communicators, too: to tap on the shoulder ordinary, everyday people who don’t know as much as we do about our organization or issue and say “spend a few minutes over here, mulling this...”

And just like a science journalist it’s also our job as nonprofit communicators to do more than just share all of the geeky detail and “science” involved in the work we do. We have to understand all the complexity of what our organizations do and how they help, filter it to find the most compelling information, and then translate it into laymans terms for your audiences to get excited about.

Not an easy job, but a necessary one. Because if we don’t we’re likely to confuse and intimidate people, just like even the coolest science can confuse and intimate people if it isn’t explained in the right way.

The ad campaign that Krulwich mentions does a great job of doing that. It finds a few small sciencey facts that are interesting to pretty much everyone, and uses them to invite people in to learn more about science.

Head over to NPR’s Krulwich Wonders blog to see Robert Krulwich’s original post and the ad campaign he’s talking about, and get thinking about how might approach something similar for your nonprofit’s communications.

The Accidental Techie | Weekly Roundup

Meghan Teich — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:36:46 +0000

Meghan Teich

Are you an ‘accidental techie’? Liberal arts major, maybe you never planned on getting into anything digital related, but here you are, running online campaigns for a nonprofit. If that sounds familiar, check out the top five things you should know right now from the Connected Cause.
Blogs: so 2002, or so hot right now? WiredImpact makes the case that a blog is still a top priority for your nonprofit that can help you connect with your supporters and establish your role as a thought leader.
Annual reports: the bane of your existence, or an opportunity to show your creativity and innovation? According to the Calgary Zoo, definitely the latter. They just released the world’s first annual report exclusively on... wait for it... Instagram. Read all about it over at Osocio.
The shorter the better for successful emails, right? Maybe not. Business2Community turns everything you thought you knew about emails upside down, and stakes the claim that scrolling is your friend. Are you convinced?
Making the shift from Mad Men to math men: does data help modern day Don Drapers craft a better story? Over at the Harvard Business Review, they make the case that marketers (whether for- or non-profit) need to let go of their egos to succeed.

Visit the Duck Call every Monday for our weekly roundup of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications.

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What we learned at NTEN's 2013 Nonprofit Technology Conference

Farra Trompeter — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:30:02 +0000

Farra Trompeter

Earlier this month, I joined 1,500 other nonproifteers in Minneapolis for NTEN's Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC). As usual, it was chock full of smart thinkers sharing informative case studies, exchanging ideas, and questioning the keys to success--and how to handle failure. Like last year, I put a call out for takeaways and asked the community what they learned. Here is a recap that I hope you'll spend some time to read, click around, and soak in the goodness. If you had other learnings that I missed--or burning questions--leave them in the comments!

Do you floss? | Weekly Roundup

Meghan Teich — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:48:53 +0000

Meghan Teich

Tracking analytics is just like flossing. You know it’s good for you, but man, it sure is hard to start. Rest easy, because NPEngage has a guide to help you get going and make it part of your routine. You’re on your own to start flossing.
Once you do start tracking data, check out these objectives that can guide your social media efforts over at Socialbrite.
A great campaign tells a compelling story about your work, and it hooks your audience right off the bat - within 30 seconds, if you want to get technical. Easier said than done? Not with these 12 tips from the Open Forum.
Chances are you have some kind of competitive relationship with a rival at work. Turns out that with the right mindset, that person can actually supercharge your work. Learn more over at the 99 Percent’s blog.
Everyone likes to be rewarded for their hard work, and your super fans online aren’t any different. Social Media Today has four ideas for showing your community that you appreciate their efforts (beyond just saying thank you... which you’re already doing, right?).

Visit the Duck Call every Monday for our weekly roundup of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications.

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What’s your design IQ?

Rebecca Hume — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:14:19 +0000

Rebecca Hume

As an art director, my role is often what our clients consider “the fun part.” After wrestling with the complexities of strategic goals and key messages, they’re almost always excited to weigh in on form and color. And while I like to emphasize that what I do isn’t all fun and games, designing for a living really is wildly enjoyable.

So, think you can design? Try your hand at these online quizzes to see how tough it can be—or discover a hidden talent.

Should I stay or should I go now? | Weekly Roundup

Meghan Teich — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:48:35 +0000

Meghan Teich

How often does your organization reevaluate your online tools, like your CRM and CMS? The Connected Cause has tips to help you set up a roadmap to the right tools.
Still caught up in the the eternal struggle for good photographs and images? Socially Stacked rounds up four easy ways to find great pictures for your emails, website, and social media.
Sure, you’re measuring analytics, but are you really measuring what matters? Sift through the data to get to those valuable nuggets with these tips from Wired Impact.
Are you ‘viterate’? Learn what that means, and get more social media advice straight from the experts over at Impatient Optimists.
Calling all data nerds and wanna-be data nerds: Beth Kanter’s got ten pretty great spreadsheet secrets to add to your toolkit.

Visit the Duck Call every Monday for our weekly roundup of interesting reads from the online world of nonprofit communications.

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The Duck Call

Impactful Impact | Weekly Roundup

Are you my audience?

Roses are red, donation buttons are blue? | Weekly Roundup

Big Duck Trainings in May

Webinar

Webinar Series: How to Get Campaign-Ready: Your Roadmap to Multichannel Success

Workshop

Bagels at Big Duck: Get to know your audience

Conferences

Engaging Customers and Community Through Social Technology

Nonprofit Summit 2013

Communications and Fundraising Jamboree

AFP Fundraising Day New York

Communicate like a science journalist

The Accidental Techie | Weekly Roundup

What we learned at NTEN's 2013 Nonprofit Technology Conference

Do you floss? | Weekly Roundup

What’s your design IQ?

The Rather Difficult Font Game

Color: A Matching Game

Cheese or Font?

Should I stay or should I go now? | Weekly Roundup