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	<title>Wired Impact</title>
	
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		<title>4 Ways to Write Better Fundraising Appeals</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/JvN8q4bmZxA/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/4-ways-to-write-better-fundraising-appeals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 13:00:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copywriting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fundraising]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wiredimpact.com/?p=3941</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The benefits of using strong photos and compelling videos to appeal to your supporters are well documented.  And for good reason.  Visuals can help you paint a clear picture in the mind of a supporter, helping to propel them to &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/4-ways-to-write-better-fundraising-appeals/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The benefits of using strong photos and <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/nonprofit-video-benefits-and-drawbacks/">compelling videos</a> to appeal to your supporters are well documented.  And for good reason.  Visuals can help you paint a clear picture in the mind of a supporter, helping to propel them to action.  Generally speaking, more concrete depictions will be more emotionally moving.</p>
<p>But it’s important not to overlook the role that copy plays in creating compelling appeals and ultimately inducing action.  The words you write need to be just as meaningful as your multimedia as they will play a significant role in convincing a casual supporter to get involved.<span id="more-3941"></span></p>
<p>Below are four ways to strengthen the copy you write for your fundraising appeals.</p>
<h2>Use Statistics to Establish Need</h2>
<p>Using statistics can help to objectively establish the need your nonprofit is addressing.  Plus, effective use of a stat can convey a great deal of information in a few words.  For instance, <a href="http://www.unicef.org/" target="_blank">UNICEF</a> recently sent out the following tweet:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/UNICEF/status/202123102283509760" target="_blank"><img class="size-full wp-image-3946 aligncenter" title="UNICEF Tweet" src="http://wiredimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/unicef-hunger-tweet.jpg" alt="UNICEF Tweet" width="517" height="92" /></a></p>
<p>That’s an incredibly powerful use of 19 words (not counting the hashtag).</p>
<h2>Use Stories Whenever Possible</h2>
<p>Stories can be incredibly compelling.  They help us picture what’s being said.  Whenever possible, put a face on your fundraising campaign by including a moving story.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kiva.org/" target="_blank">Kiva</a>, an organization that helps connect donors with various projects worldwide, does a great job telling the story behind each project on their site.  They tell the backstory of not only the project, but also the people behind each project, including details on their home lives, their families and the impact they’re trying to make.  Donors don’t feel like they’re just giving to a project – they’re giving to a person.</p>
<h2>Share How Donations Will Be Used</h2>
<p>It’s helpful to get as detailed as possible when outlining how funds will be used.  Many donors will want to know what kind of impact their dollars will have prior to giving.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/" target="_blank">DonorsChoose.org</a>, a website that allows donors to help fund a variety of educational initiatives, shows an itemized list of every supply that a teacher is requesting:</p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3948" title="Donors Choose Itemized List" src="http://wiredimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/donors-choose-itemized-list.gif" alt="Donors Choose Itemized List" /></p>
<p>Doing so allows donors to see exactly where their money is going prior to giving.  It also makes the teacher seem more accountable, accounting for every dollar that’s being requested.</p>
<h2>Share Past Successes</h2>
<p>Sharing the success you’ve had in the past helps establish your track record and instill confidence in potential donors.  Donors can see you know what you’re doing, making them more likely to support your cause.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.charitywater.org/" target="_blank">Charity: water</a>, an organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water to populations all over the world, supports their awesome imagery with strong stories, weaving them together to create a <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/projects/fromthefield/india3.php" target="_blank">poignant showcase</a> of the impact they’ve had in the past.  They include concrete impacts coupled with statistics and a detailed story about individual people that have been affected by their work.  The words on their site complement the images to help a potential supporter feel the impact they’re having in the communities they serve.</p>
<p>Have you seen any examples of organizations using copy to tell a compelling story?  Or have you been moved to donate to a cause based on the story they told?  If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below.</p>
<h2>Related Reads</h2>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/nonprofit-video-benefits-and-drawbacks/">Using Video for Your Nonprofit: Benefits and Drawbacks</a></p>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/storytelling-important-part-of-website/">Storytelling: An Important Part of Any Website</a></p>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/bringing-authenticity-to-web-copy/">Bringing Authenticity to Web Copy</a></p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldflints/2744110717/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Linda Cronin</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>3 Tips for a Better Donate Button on Your Website</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/XnqXbySyMCQ/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/better-donate-button/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Usability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fundraising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ux]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wiredimpact.com/?p=3922</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many elements of a website that come together to make a compelling final product.  When discussing nonprofit websites, one of the most important aspects is the donate button.  Putting a bit of thought into the way you show &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/better-donate-button/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are many elements of a website that come together to make a compelling final product.  When discussing nonprofit websites, one of the most important aspects is the donate button.  Putting a bit of thought into the way you show visitors how to donate can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your online fundraising efforts.<span id="more-3922"></span></p>
<p>Below are three suggestions to keep in mind as you think about implementing a donate button on your nonprofit’s website.</p>
<h2>Make Your Donate Button Stand Out Visually</h2>
<p>It’s important that your donate button stands out from the rest of your website immediately.  You can make this happen in a variety of ways depending on the design of your site, but some possible ways to do so include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Use a different color than the rest of your navigation</li>
<li>Give it room to breathe by physically setting it apart from other buttons and links</li>
<li>Make it larger than other elements of your website’s navigation</li>
<li>Use a larger, distinct font</li>
</ul>
<p>In the image above, the nonprofit organization <a href="http://www.wildaid.org/" target="_blank">WildAid</a> uses a yellow box with large, black text to make their donate button stand out.</p>
<p>People will likely want to know where and how to donate before they actually decide to do so.  Make it obvious.</p>
<h2>Ensure Your Donate Button Stays in the Same Place</h2>
<p>Put your donation button somewhere that doesn’t change as a user navigates your website.  Sure, you can link to your donation page from multiple places on your website.  But you want a visitor to know where that button is whenever they decide they’d like to donate.  Generally, the upper right of a website’s header can be a great, visible spot for a donate button that won’t change from page to page.</p>
<h2>Put Your Donate Button “Above the Fold”</h2>
<p>You want your donate button to be immediately visible to a visitor when they land on your website.  Putting your donate button high enough on your website so it isn’t cut off by your monitor (also known as content that’s “above the fold”) can help ensure every visitor will see how to give.  Again, the header can be great since it will show up on any monitor, no matter the screen size or resolution.</p>
<p>Regardless of your design, make that donate button stand out in whatever way you think is best.  True, not everyone will ultimately donate to your cause.  But at least you’ll know it’s not because a potential donor couldn’t find where to do so on your website.</p>
<h2>Related Reading</h2>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/library/get-more-online-donations/">How to Get More Online Donations</a></p>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/library/accept-donations-online-right-now/">How Your Nonprofit Can Accept Donations Online Right Now</a></p>
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		<title>Overcoming the Fear of Feedback</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/-br4D1aFr3Q/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/fear-of-feedback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 13:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wiredimpact.com/?p=3909</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We hear it time and time again.  An organization is excited about getting into social media or creating a part of their website aimed at engaging the community.  After a few minutes of discussing the merits of such endeavors, an &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/fear-of-feedback/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We hear it time and time again.  An organization is excited about getting into social media or creating a part of their website aimed at engaging the community.  After a few minutes of discussing the merits of such endeavors, an air of hesitation sets in.  The follow-up question is often the same – “what if someone writes something negative about us?”</p>
<p>It’s a valid concern.  In this age of increased connectivity two-way communication is more common than ever.  And with it comes the increased freedom for those in your community to tell you (and anyone else that’s listening) what they think of you.<span id="more-3909"></span></p>
<p>But this fear is often misguided and can lead to a potentially huge missed opportunity to engage in a positive way with your community.  Below are a few reasons you shouldn’t let a fear of feedback dissuade your nonprofit from publicly engaging with your community.</p>
<h2>Your Imagination Is Likely Wrong</h2>
<p>First off, it’s important to acknowledge that your imagination is likely misleading you.  It’s incredibly unlikely the doomsday scenario in your head will come to fruition.  It’s easy to imagine everything that could possibly go wrong.  It won’t be as bad as you imagine it might be.</p>
<h2>Eliminating Opportunities for Positive Engagement</h2>
<p>As long as you’re managing the expectations of your community and working hard to do what you say you will, it’s likely an overwhelming majority of your engagement will be positive.  If you eliminate the opportunity for people to provide feedback to your nonprofit, you’re cutting the good along with the bad.  And chances are you’re cutting a whole lot more good than bad.</p>
<h2>Competitors Likely Won’t Write Negative Things</h2>
<p>We sometimes hear organizations that are afraid a particularly ruthless individual with competing interests will make false accusations that will impact public perception.  Sure, this is a possibility, albeit a slim one.  There are always going to be bad apples.  But even if such a situation occurs, it’s by no means irreparable.</p>
<p>Almost every website that allows feedback or ratings also allows you to file a complaint against any false reviews or comments.  Plus it doesn’t make a lot of sense for a competing organization to write slanderous things about you since you could conceivably turn around and do the same back to them.</p>
<p>I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how rarely such a situation will arise.  And if it does, you can handle it.</p>
<h2>Negative Feedback is an Opportunity</h2>
<p>It is possible someone will have a negative experience and will see fit to mention it publicly.  In all honesty, such negative feedback can be a huge opportunity for your organization to demonstrate that you value community feedback.</p>
<p>The key is <strong>do not get defensive</strong>.  If you start publicly battling you will lose in the eyes of the community.  Instead, engage the individual, asking for more details about what went wrong and how you can fix the situation.  Send them a way of getting in touch with you that can help ultimately solve their issue.  Then, of course, actually fix the issue they’re having.</p>
<p>There are two major benefits to addressing negative feedback in this way:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Reframe Their Message</strong> – Instead of complaining about their negative experience, they’ll be more likely to tell others what happened but also mention how you took care of it, ending on a positive note.</li>
<li><strong>Demonstrate How You Handle Feedback </strong>– You can show potential supporters that you’re receptive to feedback and value those in your community.  The way you handle critical feedback can actually help persuade potential supporters to get involved with your organization.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Provide an Avenue for Critical Feedback</h2>
<p>Chances are at some point someone will have critical feedback about some aspect of your organization.  If they have no place the voice this feedback, they may resort to telling anyone they can in whatever way they can.  By proactively offering an avenue for critical feedback you can control the conversation and work to fix the situation at hand.</p>
<h2>Use Feedback to Make Improvements</h2>
<p>There’s a good chance some of the feedback you receive can help you to improve an aspect of your organization.  It’s easy to get tunneled into the way you’re used to doing things at your nonprofit.  Consider making changes based on what your community has to say.</p>
<h2>Trust Your Community</h2>
<p>Ultimately it’s worth it to give up some of the control over the conversation surrounding your organization.  If you do what you think is right and take care of those that support you, you have no reason not to trust your community.</p>
<p>Have you been in a situation where you feared soliciting feedback?  Do you think it’s worth it to give more freedom to your community and invite feedback?  We’d love to hear your thoughts.</p>
<p><em>Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lululemonathletica/4229883622/in/photostream/" target="_blank">lululemon athletica</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>Put an End to the Illusion of Authenticity</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/srXVSRDgHV8/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/end-the-illusion-of-authenticity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copywriting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[email]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wiredimpact.com/?p=3896</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You’ve heard it time and time again – be authentic in your web copy.  Regardless of whether it’s your website content, your email newsletter, your tweets or Facebook posts, you need to be yourself.  Bringing yourself authentically to these various &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/end-the-illusion-of-authenticity/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You’ve heard it time and time again – <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/bringing-authenticity-to-web-copy/">be authentic</a> in your web copy.  Regardless of whether it’s your website content, your email newsletter, your tweets or Facebook posts, you need to be yourself.  Bringing yourself authentically to these various communication channels helps you be what nonprofit blogger <a href="http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2012/04/23/how-to-make-your-messaging-more-relevant/" target="_blank">Kivi Leroux Miller</a> calls “refreshing,” allowing you to deliver your message “with personality.”</p>
<p>Authenticity is something you just can’t fake.  It undeniably takes a bit of time to be genuine in all of your messaging, but it’s a worthwhile undertaking.  Being mindful of authenticity can go a long way in helping you to stand out from the ever-expanding crowd across the web.<span id="more-3896"></span></p>
<h2>Reducing Automation Disguised as Authenticity</h2>
<p>Most people set out with ambitions to always be genuine.  But as schedules fill and time becomes scarce, we often turn to tools of automation to help us scrape out a few precious minutes in the day.</p>
<p>Now I’m not condemning such actions.  Automating certain tasks is necessary to boost efficiency.  But <strong>we need to overcome the idea that we can automate authenticity</strong>.  An automatic form response rarely comes across as genuine.</p>
<p>As such, I’d suggest reconsidering the following two culprits:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Automatic Direct Messages</strong> – Some Twitter users have an automatic direct message set up that goes out to a new follower.  Eliminate such a message.  It doesn’t seem genuine.  It actually has the opposite effect on me, as I often get the urge to unfollow someone that sends me this type of message.</li>
<li><strong>Automated Email Responses</strong> – Of course sometimes these makes sense (like for an email opt-in).  However, consider carefully all of the places you’ve automated your email responses.  Most of the time your recipient will know such a message is automated.  If they’ve done something to warrant a personal response (like donated money to your organization), you should at least try to pair your automated confirmation message with a genuine thank you message to let them know they’re truly appreciated.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Authenticity Is a Point of Differentiation</h2>
<p>As we’ve been told since infancy, there’s no one else out there just like you.  Use your personality to your advantage.  In the sea of sameness we see everyday all over the web, your unique personality can help you to stand out.</p>
<p>Don’t forfeit your authentic voice.  It just may be one of your greatest assets.</p>
<h2>Related Reads</h2>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/bringing-authenticity-to-web-copy/">Bringing Authenticity to Web Copy</a></p>
<p><a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/be-heard-provide-value/">The Best Way to Be Heard? Provide Value</a></p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/3405291415/" target="_blank">Mykl Roventine</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>The Launch of Wired Impact – And Thank You</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/FmdNLtoJKTQ/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/launch-of-wired-impact-and-thank-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:44:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wired impact]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wiredimpact.com/?p=3853</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today is a big day for us.  Today marks the culmination of months of planning, writing, coding and conversing.  Today, the concept of Wired Impact is a reality &#8211; live on the web for anyone that cares to see it. &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/launch-of-wired-impact-and-thank-you/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today is a big day for us.  Today marks the culmination of months of planning, writing, coding and conversing.  Today, the concept of Wired Impact is a reality &#8211; live on the web for anyone that cares to see it.</p>
<p>We figured we’d take a minute to give you a quick rundown of our site.  And, more importantly, say thanks to all of you that made today possible.  We say it far too rarely, but we appreciate your support more than we can express.<span id="more-3853"></span></p>
<h2>A Bit About the Site</h2>
<p>Throughout this site, we’ve sought to provide resources for those in the nonprofit world.  Whether you work for a nonprofit, serve on a board, donate your time or money, or generally support people that are doing good things, it’s our hope you’ll find something of interest on our website.  The best places to start looking are probably either the <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/library/">Library</a> or on our <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/">Blog</a>.</p>
<p>If you want to stay connected with us, there are a few ways you can do so.  We’re up and running on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wiredimpact" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/wiredimpact" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/107344236806618268791" target="_blank">Google+</a>.  You can also sign up to get our email newsletter if you’d like to do so by filling out the form at the bottom of the sidebar on the right.</p>
<h2>And Thank You</h2>
<p>We both feel compelled to thank all of you who have helped us along our path to launching Wired Impact.  There are far too many people to mention individually, but to everyone that’s taken the time to ask questions, provide feedback, take surveys and have conversations, we appreciate it all.  Each of you has left a mark on both this website and this organization.  Every conversation we’ve had with all of you has in some way shaped what we’re launching today.</p>
<p>In addition, there are multiple people that have been influential to us during the entire process as we transitioned from JG Visual to Wired Impact that we have to appreciate.  To Phil, who offered his insights time and time again, editing documents, developing strategy and brainstorming everything from mission to names.  To Molly, who supported us with her creativity, thoughtfulness and positivity at every step of the process, poring over every minute detail with us.  To our families, both immediate and extended, who have engaged us on every facet of our idea, asking thoughtful questions and providing endless support that continues to fuel both of our passions.  To Max and Aaron, who provided inspiration on numerous occasions and laughed with us through many fruitful Skype calls.  To Jason, who lent his design expertise to our project and helped us to get every pixel just as we envisioned it.  To Pat and Keith, for answering what at times must have seemed like an endless barrage of questions and providing guidance throughout our transition.</p>
<p>And to all of our clients, who offered their support and excitement by phone and email when they found out about our transition.  We’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing people at JG Visual, and we hope to continue to do so as we move forward as Wired Impact.</p>
<p>We’re both excited to see Wired Impact develop into our vision of what it can be.  Thank you for all you’ve done for us, and continue to do for us on a daily basis.  We couldn’t do this without you.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Jonathan and David</p>
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		<title>Using Video for Your Nonprofit: Benefits and Drawbacks</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/c1cnvigCiH0/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/nonprofit-video-benefits-and-drawbacks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:00:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[It seems lately there’s been something of an online arms race to get videos up.  More than ever before people are flocking to the power of video, repurposing content that once was conveyed in text or picture and packaging it &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/nonprofit-video-benefits-and-drawbacks/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It seems lately there’s been something of an online arms race to get videos up.  More than ever before people are flocking to the power of video, repurposing content that once was conveyed in text or picture and packaging it into short videos.  There’s no doubt video can be a powerful medium for telling your nonprofit’s story and connecting with a wide variety of people.  But there are some drawbacks to using video as well.</p>
<p>Before jumping into the world of online video, here are a few things to bear in mind.<span id="more-3520"></span></p>
<h2>Some Benefits of Video</h2>
<p>There are many benefits of using video, with many of them coming down to the fact that you can tell a compelling story in a concise and personal way.</p>
<h3>Compelling, Concise Story Telling</h3>
<p>One of the reasons so many people are flocking to online video is because it’s effective.  Video allows you to tell your story in a compelling way that photos and words on a page just can’t capture.</p>
<p>True, great writers can weave a beautiful scene with only their words.  But for such writing to be effective, it takes an active, engaged reader, which generally doesn’t describe 99.9% of visitors to your website.  Attention spans are short amongst web surfers.  You need to capture their attention.</p>
<p>Video allows you to share stories in a compelling way while requiring minimal mental effort from your visitor.  You can share what your nonprofit is doing anywhere in the world, allowing those interested in your organization a glimpse into the kind of impact you’re having in the communities you serve.</p>
<h3>Unique, Minimally-Filtered Perspectives</h3>
<p>Video is a great opportunity to show website visitors a perspective outside of your own.  While not totally unfiltered (since you’re still responsible for shooting and editing), using video to allow members of your community to speak directly to website visitors can be quite moving.</p>
<p>Sure, you can thank your volunteers with a heartfelt email or blog post.  But you could also have those directly impacted by the work your volunteers are doing thank them personally by way of video.  If done well, chances are that video will resonate a bit more with your supporters.</p>
<h3>Can Be Very Personal</h3>
<p>Video allows you to show all of the nuances in everyday conversation that are often lost in the written word.  For instance, a video that genuinely conveys how much you appreciate your donors very well may resonate with them more than a “Thank You” page on your website.  There’s nothing wrong with expressing your appreciation in writing, but video puts you in the room, which can be quite powerful.</p>
<h2>Some Drawbacks of Video</h2>
<p>While there are certainly many benefits of using video, it’s worth seriously considering some of the drawbacks prior to diving in.</p>
<h3>Video is Time Consuming (Which Can Be Expensive)</h3>
<p>The biggest drawback to using video is the amount of time it takes to do it well.  You can’t take shortcuts when it comes to video production if you want the product to turn out well.  It also requires at least basic equipment and editing software.</p>
<p>Developing a compelling video will take either a good deal of time on the part of your staff or a fair amount of money to hire a professional.</p>
<h3>Poorly Done Video Can Make You Seem Amateur</h3>
<p>Video that’s poorly done (either improperly lit, hard to hear or just generally a low quality production) may actually hurt the way a visitor views your nonprofit.  If you’re going to prominently feature video on your website, make sure you show it to a variety of people that will be honest enough to tell you if it stinks.  And if it stinks, don’t go ahead and use it anyway.  It can seriously undermine the amazing things your nonprofit is doing.</p>
<h2>Examples of Strong Nonprofit Videos</h2>
<p>The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/nonprofitvideoawards" target="_blank">6<sup>th</sup> Annual DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards</a> are up on YouTube and definitely worth checking out.  These videos can serve as a model for high quality nonprofit video production.  All of the entries are well shot and tell a captivating story in a way that’s easily digestible.</p>
<p>Here are a few of the videos I couldn’t stop watching:</p>
<p>Adding Tomorrows – <a href="http://www.cff.org/" target="_blank">Cystic Fibrosis Foundation</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EsCfijn-z1E?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>“Yes, That’s My Father” – <a href="http://www.worldmemoryproject.org/" target="_blank">World Memory Project<br />
</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OiP5Zj0z9A4?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://protectourdefenders.com/" target="_blank">Protect Our Defenders<br />
</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B6a-Dtt8yU4?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Upside Down – <a href="http://fosterparentsrock.org/" target="_blank">FosterParentsRock.org</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pSReRt5iKWo?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Robert – <a href="http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/" target="_blank">InvisiblePeople.tv</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ae3YIcs_Xb0?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Solid Women - <a href="http://fonkoze.org/" target="_blank">Fonkoze</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tq8uSiP6_lQ?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Define American: Jose’s Story – <a href="http://www.defineamerican.com/" target="_blank">Define American</a></p>
<p><iframe width="700" height="394" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TJH1IKqF8PA?fs=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Have you used video effectively in the past?  Which DoGooder video was your favorite?  We’d love to hear what you have to say.</p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/movieingmemories/6245351564/" target="_blank">Movieing Memories</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>6 Questions to Ask When Editing Website Content</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/OXw6KJzFJYk/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/6-questions-editing-website-content/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Web Content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copywriting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jgvisual.com/?p=2806</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Perfecting website content is often one of the hardest parts of overhauling or totally remaking a site.  It feels good when you’ve developed a website structure you’re excited about and have written plenty of words for each page.  But are &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/6-questions-editing-website-content/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Perfecting website content is often one of the hardest parts of overhauling or totally remaking a site.  It feels good when you’ve developed a website structure you’re excited about and have written plenty of words for each page.  But are they the right words that will appeal to your website visitors and convey what you’d like?  That can be a tough question to answer.</p>
<p>Fret not, woeful writer of web content (yeah, that’s you).  Here are a few question you can ask yourself to help polish up that website content.<span id="more-2806"></span></p>
<h2>Can I Cut This?</h2>
<p>Instead of approaching everything from the standpoint of “do I need this?” try reframing your thinking to favor cutting out anything that’s not essential.  If you think in terms of “do I need this?” the answer will often be a resounding affirmative.  But if you instead focus on removal of any unessential information, you’ll be left with only the best.</p>
<p>Every additional piece of information you include demands some amount of attention.  Make sure you’re not risking something extraneous distracting from what’s essential.</p>
<h2>Can I Break This Section Up?</h2>
<p>Whenever possible, break pages into sections.  Break sections into paragraphs.  Break paragraphs into sentences separated by explanatory headings and subheadings.</p>
<p>Strive to use headings wherever you can reasonably do so.  You and the most cooperative of your colleagues may read your content in full.  Most readers will skim at most.  Keep sections short and make sure everything in each section matches the corresponding heading.</p>
<h2>Can I Create a List?</h2>
<p>Skimmers love lists.  They’re easy to read and make content readily digestible.  If your list has a specific order or quantity to it, use a numbered list.  If it doesn’t, go with a bulleted list.  Doing so will help make your content easier to scan and force you to use a certain amount of brevity.</p>
<h2>Will Everyone Know This Word?</h2>
<p>If you use any words that require you to ponder whether someone outside of your industry will know it, change the word right away.  Chances are high you’re using jargon without even being aware of it.  We do this everyday, especially when explaining what it is we do for a living.  <strong>People are not going to look up words they don’t know</strong>.  They’re either going to guess what it means or leave.</p>
<p>It can be helpful to have an outsider read your content at this point.  Pick someone honest enough to tell you words they don’t know or sections that are confusing.  And remind them you’re looking for their honesty.  It doesn’t do you any good if they tell you your content is perfect (outside of that short term ego boost from being crowned the unofficial poet laureate of the web world).  A little critical feedback can be the difference between entirely mediocre and very strong website content.</p>
<h2>Will Search Engines Know What This Page Is About?</h2>
<p>Search engines aren’t great at reading between the lines.  They crawl throughout your pages, looking for information to tip them off as to what the page is about.  Make it easy on them by using keywords repeatedly throughout your page content.  Think of what someone would type into Google to find your page and use that phrase a few times.</p>
<p>As a general rule, try to use your keyword phrases at least three times on the page.  Not only is it better for search, it’s also better for your readers.  Some of them may not read between the lines all that well either.</p>
<h2>Does This Sound Like I’m Talking?</h2>
<p>We write in bizarre ways.  We often use long sentences with complex structure and shiny words to showcase our smarts.  Such tactics are great in a term paper.  They’re far less effective when it comes to web copy.</p>
<p>Read all of your content, slowly and aloud.  If you’re worried about the judgment of others (as I often am at this point in the process), go somewhere private.  This is an incredibly valuable step in the editing process and is worth doing right.</p>
<p>See if your content sounds natural.  It should sound just like you’re talking to someone.  Keep it conversational.  Use simple sentences that are easy to understand without the help of inflection or further explanation.  You know what you mean.  But you need to make sure your visitors will as well.</p>
<p>And don’t worry &#8211; <strong>you can still be professional while making your content accessible</strong>. There’s a time and a place for formality.  Web content is generally not such an occasion.  If you’re trying to establish a connection with your visitors, being overly formal likely isn’t the best route to take.</p>
<h2>Do What Feels Right</h2>
<p>Ultimately, the goal of your website content is to genuinely convey your organization and help you connect with visitors in some way.  Write honest copy and do what feels right to you.</p>
<p>Do you find you prefer a certain type of web copy?  Or care to share your experience with writing your own web copy?  Think we left out any other essential questions?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.</p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/etharooni/2648639630/" target="_blank">etharooni</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>6 Website Navigation Best Practices</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/tK0FwILTNhw/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/6-website-navigation-best-practices/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Usability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[navigation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ux]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jgvisual.com/?p=2784</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A visitor has landed on your website in search of something.  Navigation is often the guide to what it is your visitor seeks.  Something as simple as word choice can be the difference between a visitor finding what they’re looking &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/6-website-navigation-best-practices/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A visitor has landed on your website in search of something.  Navigation is often the guide to what it is your visitor seeks.  Something as simple as word choice can be the difference between a visitor finding what they’re looking for or leaving in frustration.</p>
<p>Effective navigation can facilitate a fruitful visit and increase the likelihood of a return visit in the future.  Ineffective navigation can lead to an unproductive visit and feelings of frustration, which don’t generally bode well for a return visit.<span id="more-2784"></span></p>
<p>Here are six best practices to bear in mind as you think about the navigation for your website.</p>
<h2>Avoid Jargon in Website Navigation</h2>
<p>Remember, your website navigation is not for you – it’s for your visitor.  Don’t use language that only insiders will understand.  If you’re unsure whether or not someone will know what you mean, try rewording it.</p>
<p>This is also a great time to ask for second opinions.  Solicit feedback from people that aren’t as familiar with your industry about the type of content they’d expect to find if they clicked a certain part of your navigation.  Such feedback can be enlightening.</p>
<h2>Use Common Page Names in Website Navigation</h2>
<p>As Louis Lazaris highlights in <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/07/horizontal-navigation-menus-trends-patterns-and-best-practices/" target="_blank">a post on Smashing Magazine</a>, it’s important to align your navigation with the expectations of your visitors.  Navigation is not a time to get overly creative with your word choice (design is another matter altogether).  The goal is to provide users with a structured way to find what it is they’re looking for on your website.</p>
<p>Use common page names in your navigation, like:</p>
<ul>
<li>About Us</li>
<li>Contact</li>
<li>Blog</li>
<li>Portfolio</li>
<li>Products</li>
<li>Donate</li>
</ul>
<p>If you’re going to deviate from the norm, make sure it’s evident what a user can expect to find in each portion of your website.</p>
<h2>Keep It Short</h2>
<p>Sum up what information a visitor will find in a word or two.  You don’t have much real estate in the navigation bar.  And your users don’t have much patience.  Be succinct.</p>
<h2>Use Dropdown Menus in Your Navigation</h2>
<p>If the pages in your navigation have subpages, you should include dropdown menus.  Dropdown menus allow users to scan the different types of content in each section of your website without unnecessarily clicking through the pages of your site.  By getting a feel for the content in each section, a user can make a more informed prediction as to where the content they seek resides within your site.</p>
<h2>Make All Menu Items Clickable</h2>
<p>If an item is in your navigation, make sure it’s clickable.  For instance, even if you have an “Our Mission” page in a dropdown under “About” in your navigation, a visitor should be able to click on the “About” page if they’re so inclined.  Going back to expectations, most users will expect these items to be clickable since they’re in your navigation.</p>
<p>Striving to meet visitor expectations whenever possible will lead to a much better user experience throughout your website.</p>
<h2>Make Your Logo Take a User Home</h2>
<p>There’s a good chance your website has a logo in the upper left.  Make sure your logo is clickable and takes a user back to your homepage.  This is a common convention and many visitors to your website will expect it to be the case.</p>
<p>Such simple improvements to your website’s navigation can have an impact on the overall experience a user has on your website.</p>
<p>What do you think?  Does the navigation of a website impact your view of the site?</p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/calsidyrose/4925267732/" target="_blank">Calsidyrose</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>Effectively Using Twitter Lists to Get More Out of Twitter</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/TgHLItN2Lgg/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/twitter-lists/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jgvisual.com/?p=2769</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So you’re on Twitter.  You’re at least somewhat active and have seen fit to follow back a bunch of the people that have followed you.  When you were first starting out, you were able to keep an eye on most &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/twitter-lists/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So you’re on Twitter.  You’re at least somewhat active and have seen fit to follow back a bunch of the people that have followed you.  When you were first starting out, you were able to keep an eye on most of the Tweets you cared to see.  But now you’re following hundreds (if not thousands) of users.  When you watch your Twitter feed, the Tweets roll in nonstop, barely allowing you ample time to read any given one before it’s knocked into the abyss below the bottom boundary of your screen.</p>
<p>As often happens, you care much more about what some users have to say than others.  Organizing those you follow into Twitter Lists is a great way to make sure you’re pulling the content you find useful out of the vast sea of Tweets floating around.<span id="more-2769"></span></p>
<h2>What Are Twitter Lists?</h2>
<p>A Twitter List is a group of people you’re following, organized in some way that makes sense to you.  It’s a way to prioritize Tweets from a certain cohort of folks, allowing you to display their Tweets in a separate stream so you don’t miss what they have to say.</p>
<p>Lists can either be:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Public</strong>: Anyone can see and subscribe to a Public list.  Users that you include in the List will also be notified of their place in your list.</li>
<li><strong>Private</strong>: Affords you the same organizational benefits, but without the publicity.  No one other than you will be able to see your list and members in the list won’t be notified of their membership in it.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Some Potential List Ideas</h2>
<p>Of course the lists you create will be totally unique to your organization, but here are some possible ideas to get your mental gears turning:</p>
<ul>
<li>Donors to your nonprofit</li>
<li>Avid supporters of your organization</li>
<li>Writers that share particularly helpful info on a topic you care about</li>
<li>Your close friends</li>
<li>People that work within your organization</li>
<li>Collaborators on a project or upcoming event</li>
<li>Other organizations that do what you do</li>
</ul>
<p>Regardless of what you decide, the key is to create your lists around groups that you really care to follow.  And be selective.  If you dilute your lists with people you’re pseudo interested in, the list loses value as a whole.  Only include those voices you want to make sure you routinely hear.</p>
<h2>How to Create a Twitter List</h2>
<p>There are actually quite a few ways to create a Twitter List, but here’s one of the simplest:</p>
<ol>
<li>Click the Profile dropdown menu (the silhouette of a person) at the top of the page and select “Lists.”<br />
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2835" title="Creating a Twitter List" src="http://wiredimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/create-twitter-list.jpg" alt="Creating a Twitter List" width="600" height="217" /></li>
<li>Click the “Create list” button.</li>
<li>Type in a List name and brief Description.<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2837" title="Creating a New Twitter List" src="http://wiredimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/creating-new-twitter-list.jpg" alt="Creating a New Twitter List" width="664" height="343" /></li>
<li>Indicate whether your list will be Public or Private.</li>
<li>Click the “Save list” button at the bottom of the window.</li>
</ol>
<p>That’s all there is to it.  You can now start adding folks to your lists.</p>
<h2>Adding People to Your Twitter List</h2>
<p>Once you’ve created a Twitter List, adding someone to it is easy:</p>
<ol>
<li>Navigate to the user’s page.</li>
<li>Click their Profile menu and select “Add or remove from lists…” in the dropdown menu.<br />
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2838" title="Adding to a Twitter List" src="http://wiredimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/adding-to-twitter-list.jpg" alt="Adding to a Twitter List" width="550" height="159" /></li>
<li>Check the box beside any list you want to add the user to.</li>
</ol>
<p>They’ve now been added to your lists.  To make sure, head back to your lists and ensure they’re showing up as a member.</p>
<h2>Follow Your Twitter Lists</h2>
<p>Your Twitter Lists don’t serve much of a purpose (outside of flattering members of your public lists) unless you actually follow them.  If you’re using a tool like TweetDeck or HootSuite (which we’d recommend you start doing if you’re not doing so already), check out their advice on how to add each list’s feed directly into the application.</p>
<p><a href="https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169620-getting-started-with-tweetdeck" target="_blank">How to Add a Twitter List in TweetDeck</a> (you’re interested in the “Columns” section)</p>
<p><a href="http://help.hootsuite.com/entries/115076-how-to-import-twitter-lists-to-hootsuite" target="_blank">How to Add a Twitter List in HootSuite</a></p>
<p>Have you used Twitter Lists in your social media efforts?  Have you found them to be useful or a waste of your time?  We’d love to hear what you think.</p>
<h2>Resources</h2>
<p><a href="https://support.twitter.com/articles/76460-how-to-use-twitter-lists" target="_blank">How to Use Twitter Lists</a> – Twitter Help Center</p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eldh/5858249526/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Andreas Eldh</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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		<title>Page Reach on Facebook: Who’s Seeing Your Content?</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WiredImpact/~3/UifcOwmWgb8/</link>
		<comments>http://wiredimpact.com/blog/page-reach-facebook-insights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Hartstein</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[analytics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jgvisual.com/?p=2753</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you run a Facebook Page, I’m sure you’ve heard at some point you shouldn’t simply count your Likes.  While a few weeks ago we defended the Facebook Like, this is undeniably true.  There’s a lot more to social media &#8230; <a href="http://wiredimpact.com/blog/page-reach-facebook-insights/">Continued</a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you run a <a href="http://www.jgvisual.com/tag/facebook/">Facebook</a> Page, I’m sure you’ve heard at some point you shouldn’t simply count your Likes.  While a few weeks ago <a href="http://www.jgvisual.com/social-media/defense-of-facebook-like/">we defended the Facebook Like</a>, this is undeniably true.  There’s a lot more to social media success than the number of people that have clicked that little blue button situated atop your Page.</p>
<p>One metric you should keep an eye on is your Page’s Reach.<span id="more-2753"></span>  While not at all the sole indicator of success, it can be a valuable way for you to gauge your progress towards fulfilling your social media goals.</p>
<p>Here’s a bit about what Reach is, why you should care and how you can measure it.</p>
<h2>What Is Facebook Reach?</h2>
<p>Facebook explains that Reach is “the number of unique people who saw any content associated with your Page” over the past 7 days.  There are three different <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/?faq=285625061456389#What's-the-difference-between-organic,-paid,-and-viral-reach?" target="_blank">types of reach</a> that make up your Total Reach:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Organic Reach</strong>: The number of unique people, fans or non-fans, who saw content associated with your Page in their News Feed, Ticker or on your Page.</li>
<li><strong>Paid Reach</strong>: The number of unique people who saw content that you paid to promote, such as a Facebook ad or a Sponsored Story.</li>
<li><strong>Viral Reach</strong>:  The number of unique people who saw your content via a story shared by a friend (including Likes, comments or shares on your post, answers to questions you asked or responses to an event).</li>
</ul>
<p>Since it’s possible for someone to see content through multiple channels, the sum of your Organic, Paid and Viral Reach may be higher than your Total Reach.</p>
<p>The important thing to remember is the higher your Reach, the more people are actually seeing the content you’re producing on your Facebook Page, which of course is a good thing.</p>
<h2>Why Reach Is a Better Metric Than Likes</h2>
<p>The whole point of sharing content on Facebook is to reach others.  While Likes can facilitate communication with your community, the number of people that Like your Page doesn’t account for anyone actually seeing the content you’re publishing.</p>
<p>Reach on the other hand measures the number of people that see your content.  While it may be just a quick glance instead of active engagement, such an interaction helps bring your organization to the forefront of your community member’s mind, if only for a moment.  Being top of mind, if only fleetingly, can help remind your community of the good things your organization is doing.</p>
<h2>How to Access Reach</h2>
<p>Accessing your Page’s Reach is quite easy using <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/?page=120881494659811" target="_blank">Facebook Insights</a>, which you’ll have access to once your Page garners 30 Likes.  All you do is:</p>
<ol>
<li>Navigate to your Facebook Page</li>
<li>Click the “See All” link beside Insights in the Admin Panel</li>
<li>Click the “Reach” link in the navigation at the top of the page</li>
<li>The graph you’re looking for is about halfway down the page</li>
</ol>
<div><span style="color: #777777;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2842" title="Page Reach Graph on Facebook Insights" src="http://wiredimpact.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/page-reach-facebook-insights.jpg" alt="Page Reach Graph on Facebook Insights" width="368" height="268" /></span></div>
<p>If you hover over a specific data point, Insights will show you the data for that day including your Reach and the associated date range.</p>
<p>Facebook Reach is a simple way to see how many people are seeing the content you’re producing.  Have you been using Facebook Insights to measure you’re social media success?  Have you used Reach in the past, or do you plan to do so in the future?  We’d love to hear your thoughts.</p>
<h2>Related Reads</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.jgvisual.com/social-media/defense-of-facebook-like/">In Defense of the Facebook Like</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.jgvisual.com/social-media/facebook-insights-for-small-business/">HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Facebook Insights for Small Business</a></p>
<p><em>Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritolibero85/2939544686/" target="_blank">Alessio</a>, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/" target="_blank">Flickr</a></em></p>
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