DISCLAIMER: This is a random list of frequently heard terms that relate to criminal activities. It is NOT comprehensive. It is NOT to be construed as legal advice. If you need reliable legal information, talk to a lawyer who practices law where you reside. Broadly speaking, U.S. law recognizes two types of crime: misdemeanor and felony. Not every state agrees as to the classification of misdemeanors and felonies. For example, in some states domestic abuse is a misdemeanor; in others it’s a felony. Nonetheless federal guidelines determine the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor…
Selected by jodikiely
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Daily Writing Tips
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20 Criminal Terms You Should Know
8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pm -
Word of the Day: Ostracize
7 Feb 2010 | 5:13 pmOstracize means to exclude someone from society or from any group of people. It comes from the Greek ostrakízein, which was the practice of banishing citizens by popular vote. Yet there is still a woeful reluctance in Africa to chastise, ostracise or help to oust villainous leaders, such as Mr Mugabe or Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted as a war criminal at The Hague; indeed, too many African leaders have rejected that court altogether. (The Economist) Nicholas D. Kristof reports on rape survivors in eastern Congo struggling to recover from violence and trauma in the face of… -
Having a Yen
7 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pmThe word yen has described a Japanese monetary unit since the 1870s. This use of the word derives from Chinese yuan, “round, round object, circle.” In English the word yen can also mean “desire” or “wish.” Do You Have a Yen to Go to College? Have a yen for policy? Apply to be a Nat’l Academies graduate Fellow Have a yen to be an entrepreneur? Dive in now The American Yen for Zen This use of yen is from another Chinese word, Cantonese yan, “craving.” It came into the language as yin (1876) with the meaning “intense craving for… -
Razed to the Ground
7 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pmThe englishmonarchs.co.uk web site reports that many monasteries were “raised to the ground” by Viking raiders during the reign of King Ethelred I. But how can a monastery be “raised to the ground”? Although commonly seen on the web, the phrase “raised to the ground” is almost always a misspelling of “razed to the ground”. Whilst it is possible for something to be “raised” to the ground, it would, logically, have to be below the surface beforehand. Miners could raise ore to the ground. But when talking about a building or a city the phrase should be… -
Word of the Day: Gestalt
5 Feb 2010 | 12:57 pmA gestalt is a configuration or system so unified that it cannot be described by the sum of its individual parts. In Germany, a country that is home to Mercedes-Benz and the autobahn, life in a car-reduced place like Vauban has its own unusual gestalt. (NY Times) Now comes a fresh, noble perspective from Leander Kahney, news editor at Wired.com and a longtime follower of Apple and its mercurial co-founder. Rather than float on the periphery of the Jobs gestalt, he’s decided to get inside the man’s head. (USA Today) Your eBook: Click here to download the Basic English Grammar…
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AdAge: Complete News
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Does MTV's New Logo Look Too Mainstream?
9 Feb 2010 | 11:04 amLOS ANGELES (AdAge.com) -- For the first time in its 28-year history, MTV has updated its iconic logo. Largely forgoing the network's music heritage, the new three-dimensional design instead showcases MTV's reality-TV talent, such as the casts of "Jersey Shore," "The Buried Life" and "Teen Mom." But is this new look enough for the struggling Viacom brand? -
Super Bowl's Twitter Winners? Coke, The Simpsons, Brett Favre, Betty White ...
9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 amAn informal review of sentiment -- conducted by checking the 50 most recent tweets that name-checked both a given brand and its associated celebrity (e.g., Megan Fox and Motorola) -- suggests that, at least with this subset of Super Bowl spots, consumers were mostly very happy with the match-ups. -
Super Bowl's Twitter Winners? Coke, The Simpsons, Brett Favre, Betty White ...
9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 amAn informal review of sentiment -- conducted by checking the 50 most recent tweets that name-checked both a given brand and its associated celebrity (e.g., Megan Fox and Motorola) -- suggests that, at least with this subset of Super Bowl spots, consumers were mostly very happy with the match-ups. -
Marketers Exhibit Cad-Like Behavior at the RFP Ball
9 Feb 2010 | 10:20 amEven though RFPs precede an actual business relationship, they contain an implied transaction: We'll invest heavily in time, brainpower and, yes, emotion to demonstrate how we can move your business forward. Your end of the bargain is to acknowledge that contribution at each step of the process. -
Why Visa's Going Big for the Olympics
9 Feb 2010 | 10:03 amVisa Global CMO Antonio Lucio visited with Advertising Age to talk about its new global Olympics campaign and why the Games are a key part of Visa marketing.
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ProBlogger Blog Tips
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Blog Like a Cartoonist – Six Stunning Secrets to Help You Break Through Bloggers Block
9 Feb 2010 | 11:24 amAnd now for a guest post with a difference from Cartoonist Mark Anderson from Andertoons.com who created this comic to illustrate the writing techniques he uses to create his cartoons, and how they can help bloggers push through writer’s block. Post from: Blog Tips at ProBlogger. Blog Like a Cartoonist – Six Stunning Secrets to Help You Break Through Bloggers Block Share This -
Have a 37 Minute Coffee Break with Me [Audio Interview]
9 Feb 2010 | 5:43 amIf you have a spare 37 minutes today to grab a coffee with me (or at least are doing something that will allow you to listen to something for 37 minutes in the background) check out this interview I did with Robb Sutton late last week. Robb’s also transcribed it for those who prefer to read. In the interview Rob asks me about a whole range of stuff including: my background in blogging my philosophy on lots of sites vs focusing upon a single (or just a few) sites the process of going full time (and my wife’s six month ultimatum) my shift in focus to e-books and membership sites a… -
What Is Your Blogging Goal for February?
8 Feb 2010 | 6:22 amA few days back I asked readers a question: What Have You Been Putting Off and What’s Holding You Back? Some of the responses to the question in comments (and via email and Twitter) revealed a lot of bloggers really wanting to step things up and get what they’ve been putting off done. So – lets set some goals – what do you want to achieve by the end of February? I’m not going to be calling you up to check up to see if you’re meeting your goals – but hopefully in putting them down publicly you’ll find yourself a little more spurred on to reach… -
9 Tricks I Used To Triple My AdSense Earnings In 30 Days
7 Feb 2010 | 6:34 amGuest post by Daniel Scocco from Daily Blog Tips. I have been using Google AdSense to monetize my blogs and websites for as long as I remember. In fact it was the first method I ever tried (I made a whooping $15 on my first month… back in 2005). Over the years I migrated to other methods (e.g., direct sponsors and affiliate marketing), which made AdSense become merely an inventory filler. I was still making around $1,000 monthly from it, but whenever I could I would use other methods over it. Then some months ago I started noticing an upward trend on the CPC of my sites, and I figured that… -
How I Got Some Paying Sponsors Without Really Meaning To
6 Feb 2010 | 6:21 amA guest post by Josh Hanagarne. World’s Strongest Librarian was about four months old when I got interested in sponsors. I’d read the articles about how to do it, and none of them sounded that plausible for me and my situation. For one, my traffic wasn’t impressive, certainly not to the point where sponsors were approaching me. And, while my blog has become slightly more focused in its first ten months, it wasn’t targeted at any group of readers in particular, so I wasn’t sure how confident niche advertisers would be. It’s a little more focused now, but I can’t really think of a…
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Building43
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Boxee: Entertainment in the Age of Democratized Content
9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 amChances are if you watch building43, you aren’t just plopping on the sofa and watching countless hours of mind-numbing TV by yourself. Modern entertainment allows us to share videos on YouTube, hunt for great tunes on Pandora, and catch the latest episode of “Lost” on Hulu. Fortunately for us, there’s Boxee. Boxee is a centralized control panel for the media you consume online. Users can easily switch between GeekBrief.TV, the latest episode of Jon Stewart, and the Flickr pics they took on their latest Europe trip. It delivers a similar experience you’d get with… -
9 Quick Tips Learned While Raising $33 Million In Venture Capital
9 Feb 2010 | 6:54 amAs the market improves, my guess is that many of you will likely be thinking about raising funding for your company. With my latest startup, I’m now a venture-backed startup founder (I’ve raised $33 million in three rounds of capital for my marketing software company). So, I’ve got some direct experience with the process. Several of the companies I’m an angel investor in or otherwise involved with have also been in the fund-raising process. So, along the way, I’ve learned a few things, and I’d like to share them with you. There’s already lots of great content on the… -
The Anti-Bullet Test
8 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pmI’m sick of generic feature/benefit bullet points. They’re just too easy to make fun of. Here’s a sampling from a website that will remain nameless to protect the guilty: Easy to use Robust features Innovative systems Really, it’s easy to use? As opposed to what, difficult and temperamental? Robust, huh? Great, because it looks tenuously held together, the slightest breeze threatening to crumble its delicate construction, so it’s good to know that, actually, it’s robust. Oh I’m sorry, its features are robust, whatever that means. If you want to not… -
Gillmor Gang 02.05.10
7 Feb 2010 | 10:31 amThe Gillmor Gang — Andrew Keen, Danny Sullivan, Kevin Marks, and Robert Scoble — talk smack about Flash. Recorded live Friday, February 5, 2010. Audio only (right click to save to your computer) -
A new personal assistant on your mobile phone
4 Feb 2010 | 9:01 pmThe ultimate personal assistant allows you to find task-oriented information on the go, by connecting to the best services around the Internet, Siri is not a search engine; it is a do-engine. The app works by pairing your spoken request with the best services available by connecting you to these services to fulfill any request. The application takes a request, and breaks it down into parts. The user can tell Siri they want to go on a date consisting of an Italian dinner for two and a movie, a comedy. The application will then return movie times for comedy selections; Italian restaurants near…
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The Personal Branding Blog: William Arruda and the Reach-Certified Personal Branding Strategists
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Are you Planning Your Job Change Carefully? C-Level Executives Makes Mistakes When Changing Roles
9 Feb 2010 | 9:24 amThis week, I posted an article on my blog, Are you Planning Your Job Change Carefully? C-Level Executives Makes Mistakes When Changing Roles, about the mistakes C-level executives make when looking to leave their company and change jobs. The original HBR article that I cited talks about research that was done with C-level executivesin job search. C-level executives make the following mistakes in job search:1. They do not do their homework.2. They leave for money.3. They run from the pain.4. They have unrealistic expectations and self-awareness.5. They think… -
Wherever. Whatever.
8 Feb 2010 | 7:30 amFor years, it’s been said that the only constant is change, an idea that goes way back to Greek philosopher Heraclitus. And while it may be true that change is always with us, there is a truer idea that has even more relevance to our lives and careers: “No matter where you go, there you are.” The title of a mediation book by Jon Kabat-Zinn, and variously used and attributed as a quote, this idea came to mind, today, as I watched this great video, by William Arruda at personalbranding.TV. Why Personal Branding? from William Arruda on Vimeo. Sure, the opening seconds… -
Start Being Visible and Valuable in One Minute
6 Feb 2010 | 9:25 amTime is a scarcity. We’re moving, receiving, listening, answering and engaging at speeds faster than ever before. Have you ever watched a video longer than one minute and become impatient? Proof positive that we must accelerate to even participate!The Value of One MinuteTo realizeThe value of one minute:Ask a personWho has missed the train, bus or plane.In less than one minute, we make a lasting first impression. The AICI (Association of Image Consultants International) publishes that it happens in the first 7 to 15 seconds. We make judgments on… -
Strong Brands Are So Resilient
28 Jan 2010 | 9:41 amWhen I was enrolled in numerous Reach certification training courses, Kirsten Dixon and William Arruda always would emphasize how strong brands would be able to charge more for their products and services and also survive economic downturns. During the past 18 months, as the economy has tanked, I have repeatedly watched Apple Computer not only thrive but soar in revenues and profits. This week, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “Demand for Macs, iPhones Fuels Apple: Quarterly Profit and Revenue Surge: Steve Jobs Touts Upcoming Device a Major New Product.”How is that… -
Credibility and Profitability Start with Visibility
23 Jan 2010 | 6:26 amClassy. Conan O’Brien’s final evening with NBC he spoke directly to the audience sharing with them that on this last night he could speak in whatever manner he wanted to about the network with no ramifications. After the last show, he was then in a legal agreement to not say any disparaging remarks about the network. He literally had a “get out of jail free” card to say whatever nasty, anger felt, ugly remark he wanted to say about the network and this huge debacle they created.Instead, he shared how he had spent most of his adult working life with the network. From…
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PRSA Tactics and The Strategist Online
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PRSA to Address Intellectual Property Protection
7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmPRSA to Address Intellectual Property Protection -
For teens, blogging is so 2006, Pew survey finds
4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmFor teens, blogging is so 2006, Pew survey finds -
Mechanical fix might not solve Toyota’s accelerating PR problem
2 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmToyota's effots in the wake of the recall may not be enough to convince a skeptical public that its latest fix will prevent vehicles from accelerating out of control - especially if the company had known about the problem previously. -
What’s top of mind for PR pros in Los Angeles?
1 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmWhat’s next for the PR profession in Los Angeles? The following highlights from the panelists in the “State of the State of PR” event, hosted by PRSA’s Los Angeles Chapter, look ahead at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. -
Writing the conversation: How social media is redefining PR’s content creation
31 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pmThe explosion of social media, combined with the decline of traditional media, presents a new challenge for PR writing.
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Kivi's Nonprofit Communications Blog
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Ensure Your E-News is Read – Not Dead – on Arrival
9 Feb 2010 | 11:33 amI just wrapped up an hour-long teleconference for Network for Good’s Nonprofit 911 series titled “Ensuring Your E-Newsletters are Read – Not Dead – On Arrival This Year.” The focus of the call was on creating a newsletter strategy that really provides value for your readers. I created two new pages at Nonprofit Marketing Guide for the call: Making Your Newsletter Valuable to Your Readers, which I used as my speaking notes for the call Newsletter Ideas for Every Month of the Year, which helps you come up with good hooks for starting your articles The recording and… -
Mixed Links: Free Training, Special Deals, and Fab Info
2 Feb 2010 | 8:51 amWith freezing rain falling and snow on the ground here in North Carolina, it’s time for some hot mixed links! Free Training on E-Newsletters I’m doing another free conference call for Network for Good’s Nonprofit 911 series, this time on Ensuring Your E-Newsletters are Read – Not Dead – On Arrival This Year. Join us next Tuesday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. As for our weekly webinar series here at Nonprofit Marketing Guide, here’s what’s coming up next: February 10: How to Write a Quick and Dirty Nonprofit Marketing Strategy February 16: 10 Ways… -
Integrating Your Website, Email Newsletter and Social Media Sites
26 Jan 2010 | 11:28 amTomorrow I’m presenting a brand new webinar on How to Integrate Your Website, Email Newsletter, and Social Media Sites. It was the #1 requested topic in last fall’s survey of what you wanted to see on the weekly webinar series schedule. I have to admit, it’s a rather ambitious topic for one hour. I’m in the middle of the PowerPoint deck now trying to find the sweet spot between giving you enough information to really make a difference in your online marketing strategy and giving you too many to-do list items that you run screaming from the whole idea of integration. -
A New Coaching Program for Freelance Writers Serving Nonprofits
22 Jan 2010 | 10:04 amThis blog is all about helping small nonprofits and one-person marketing departments communicate as effectively as possible with their supporters. Sometimes the best way to do that is to outsource your content creation to a professional freelance writer. The problem is that there really aren’t all that many writers who specialize in producing the kind of content that nonprofits need. At the same time, there are lots of freelance writers who would love to do more work for nonprofits, if they only knew how. To help solve both problems, I’m launching a new “Writing for… -
The One Question Your Annual Report Must Answer
19 Jan 2010 | 12:42 pmA good nonprofit annual report answers the questions that donors are most likely to have about last year’s work: What did you do? Whom did you help? On what did you spend money? Where did that money come from? But the single most important question that your annual report must answer is “So what?” You did a bunch of stuff. So what? What changed in the world as a result? You helped a bunch of people. So what? How are their lives different now, and why does that matter? You raised money and you spent it. So what? What do your income and expenses tell us about your values,…
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Strategic Public Relations
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Thesixtyone Turns Social Media Up to Eleven*
26 Jan 2010 | 7:43 amCharacterized by TechCrunch as “a Digg for Indie music,” my new favorite site of the week/month and beyond is thesixtyone. Thesixtyone serves up the latest Indie bands in a format that is as simple as it is dramatic, telling visitors that “new artists make music and listeners decide what’s good.”With well-established sites like the Hype Machine and Pandora indulging my online music needs, why am I proclaiming my love for this self-described music adventure? Well in addition to music, thesixtyone has several interesting elements in social media and design to catch my… -
The REAL Wisdom of Flash Mobs, Crowd Sourcing and Social Shopping
31 Dec 2009 | 9:06 amHappy Holidays from FRCH from Dan Reynolds on Vimeo**When I see trends discussing crowd sourcing, wisdom of the crowds or flash mobs, I'm always reminded of the misconception of "free PR."The misconception behind all of these shiny topics is the assumption that in some capacity they're faster, they're cheaper, they're easier to execute or, in some cases, they're "free" because they involve passionate consumers.This could not be farther from the truth. he REAL wisdom behind all of this is the reality. You have to participate in the crowd and be a member of the community to get their wisdom or… -
10 Years in One Picture?
28 Dec 2009 | 9:25 amThe ability to boil down a lot of information without oversimplifying it is an art and a science. This NYTimes inforgraphic, "Picturing the Past 10 Years," illustrates my point quite literally. This opinionated summation of a decade of news reminds me that if you can't boil content down to something simple and easy to remember, perhaps it's too complex? -
Using Visuals to turn Data into Content | Four Links | 11.22.09
22 Nov 2009 | 6:51 pmMy appreciation for all things visual did not peak with my article on why PR needs visual thinking. My focus on the topic has increased and there are plenty of sites driving this passion. Here are just a few of them. The Popular Ones: It’s no surprise that Indexed and Post Secret have books stemming from their popular sites. Post Secret tapped into an entire world’s need for expression while Indexed shows us the power of simplicity. The Smart Ones: Flowing Data and Infosthetics are my two must reads when it comes to the latest in data visualization. They even point to great content like… -
Fight Club 2.0: AdWeek’s Digital Hot List | Brian Morrissey Interview
9 Nov 2009 | 7:06 pmReading AdWeek’s “2009 Digital Hot List” it becomes clear we’re in store for a dynamic and competitive digital landscape in 2010. As the brands on the list fight for market share, it almost reads like a script for Fight Club 2.0. Brian Morrissey provided Strategic Public Relations his opinion on some of these brands and, in the process, some insight into the Hot List. 1) Social networks are comparable to a bar scene. There's always a hot bar everyone goes to until it gets old and they move onto the next hot bar. How long can Facebook hold onto their hot bar status that, in part, put…
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PR Meets Marketing
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Are You a Crazy Marketer
4 Feb 2010 | 3:25 pmI was speaking to a friend the other day and we both joked about “Crazy Marketers.” After being in-house for four years now, I now understand why marketers may seem crazy to agencies. Here is a quick 5 step quiz to determine if you’re a crazy marketer or work with one: Scatterbrained: Your attention is split among 100 different projects, all equally important in terms of priority. If yes, give yourself 5 points. Constantly Changing Decisions: You make a decision but change it days, if not hours later. If yes, give yourself 5 points. Your To-Do List Never Goes Down: You start your day… -
One year later
1 Feb 2010 | 3:33 pm"Pink Slipped" One year ago, both my husband and I were laid off within days of one another. That experience spurred the post about the worst week of my life. Though I was able to find work quickly, the same could not be said of others, including my husband. When reflecting on the past 12 months, I realize how blessed I am – a roof over our heads, food on the table and loving husband, family and friends. It could be worse. There is hope with news of GDP growth in the 4th quarter. Unemployed friends see “signs” of a stirring job market, though we all wish it would… -
PR Freelancers versus PR Agencies: Five Points to Consider
15 Dec 2009 | 7:09 amFour years ago this month, I left the agency side to move in-house. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to work with different types of agencies, do an agency search and consider the value of working with a PR freelancer. If you decide to bring in outside PR help, here are five points to consider: Administration The general rule of thumb is that 10% of any retainer goes toward administration. On this point, I do favor opting for a PR freelancer over an agency, especially if you have a smaller budget. Working closely with a contractor streamlines the process, focusing more on the… -
Marketing and Public Relations – Nothing but lies?
11 Oct 2009 | 5:34 amNote: This past year has been one of reflection regarding family, friends and career, especially in light of what happened earlier this year. This will be one of many posts regarding various topics that I’ve mulled over from time to time through the year. Thank you in advance for your support and comments as I explore these topics. My husband likes to say that marketing and public relations is about who lies the best. When he tells me this, I am completely offended. Yet, I have to admit, there is a kernel, and probably a big one at that, of truth in his perception. Our job is to… -
Five Simple Tips for Managing a LinkedIn Group
7 Sep 2009 | 9:18 amOne of the great things about LinkedIn is the ability to start a group around an organization or topic. I co-manage the Virtual Events Forumwhich addresses topics related to virtual events and environments. In managing this group and looking at successful examples as the Event Planning and Management group founded by Julius Solaris, whom I’ve met virtually and one day will meet in person, I have these five simple tips for managing your LinkedIn group: Set Up Email Templates: There is an option to set up automatic email responses to people seeking to join the group and when they are…
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Frogloop
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What Do You Want to Switch?
9 Feb 2010 | 12:31 pmI’ve lost 3.5 pounds since January. My goal was to get to the gym every day of the week and because I’ve managed to do this (most days), I’ve lost some weight. I realize this isn’t very interesting or surprising. Everyone knows that exercising helps you lose weight. What is surprising is that, unbeknownst to me, the reason I trimmed a few pounds is because I’m doing something different. I’m following the “change pattern” outlined in Switch: How to Create Change, when Change is Hard, the new book by brothers Chip and Dan… -
Five Online Fundraising Tips to Raise More Money
6 Feb 2010 | 4:20 pmRepeat after me. "I will no longer send out fundraising appeals with boring subject lines and long-winded pitches." In today’s battle of the inboxes, tweets, Facebook updates, text messages, and banner ads flying across the screen, organizations can’t afford to ignore online fundraising 101 strategies to motivate and inspire supporters to donate money. Don’t have the budget to hire fundraising strategists to help you craft your online fundraising campaigns? No problem. Follow these five tips and you will be on your way to increasing open and click-through rates and more… -
Cheap, Fast, and Good. Can Nonprofits have them All?
5 Feb 2010 | 11:52 amWhen a nonprofit organization is beginning the process of doing a software implementation (such as a new website, or a new CRM or donation management product,) it is often unaware of the things that might underly whether such a project will succeed, how long it will take, and how much it will cost. Since nonprofits focus on their mission, and not software projects, that is an unknown to them, and understandably so.In software development or implementation projects, this triangle (shown below) is often talked about. Software projects can be fast (that is, done quickly), done well, and/or… -
Care2's Community Impacts Global Change
2 Feb 2010 | 6:11 pmCommunities like Facebook, Twitter, and Ning are great networks to help brand your nonprofit, engage with your supporters, and connect with potential new members. But there’s no question you need to invest time in finding those people who are passionate about your organization's issues. With cause-based communities like Care2 (the B Corporation that started the Frogloop blog) however, it’s easy for nonprofits to connect with over 12 million do-gooders who care to make a difference in this world. In 2009, Care2's community created more than 22,000 petitions resulting in more than… -
Nonprofit Social Media Benchmarks Study
31 Jan 2010 | 4:28 pmInterested in setting Facebook and Twitter benchmarks for your nonprofit but don’t know where to start? Check out M+R Strategic Services first Nonprofit Social Media Benchmarks Study, which includes sample research by groups such as Easter Seals, Oxfam, Human Rights Campaign, League of Conservation Voters, and more. Facebook Key Findings: Organizations posted to their Facebook Pages about six times weekly. 2.5% of each organization's Facebook fans took some sort of an action weekly such as…
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Connections
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Online Giving and Rapid Response Trends
4 Feb 2010 | 8:54 amThe recent Haiti earthquake disaster has once again brought to the forefront the role that new giving channels play in helping those most affected. The combination of online giving and mobile giving were the first response channels of choice by donors. I will save the pros and cons of mobile giving for another blog post. I did some research to look back at previous major events and the volume of online giving that took place. Blackbaud has online giving data going back to 1999 and that allows us to look at some historical trends. USA Today referenced some of these trends in their recent… -
Blackbaud NetCommunity 6.15 - Release Preview
1 Feb 2010 | 9:03 amBlackbaud NetCommunity 6.15 represents a major step forward for our Internet Solutions based on thousands of hours of research, customer feedback, usability design, application development, testing, and validation. The updates and new features in this release are another sign of Blackbaud’s commitment to improve our online solutions. From a technology perspective, BBNC 6.15 also represents a major milestone as the entire application has been migrated to Blackbaud’s next generation Infinity platform. There are a few high level requirements for this upcoming release. BBNC 6.15 is a PA-DSS /… -
Independent Fundraising Event Trends
22 Jan 2010 | 11:00 amBlackbaud and Event 360 have released a new white paper based on a joint research project to better understand the common denominators of a successful programmatic approach to third-party fundraising. Independent fundraising events (IFE) are activities designed and run by volunteers to raise money on behalf of a specific nonprofit organization. You can download a copy of "Raising More Money Online with Independent Fundraising Events" and register for a free webinar on February 3rd at 2pm EDT. The research team analyzed data from nearly 30,000 donors and… -
Support Disaster Relief in Haiti
14 Jan 2010 | 5:05 amThe images coming out of Haiti following Tuesday's earthquake are heartbreaking. It is comforting to know that so many nonprofit organizations are already helping on the ground and more relief is on the way. People are using the Internet to stay informed about the disaster, help communicate what's happening, and to donate to charities. The volume of online donations on January 13th was 3 times that of December 31st and growing. There are several organizations accepting online donations to support their relief efforts in Haiti: Doctors Without Borders Medical Teams International… -
Is the Fundraising Pyramid Really a Lie?
13 Jan 2010 | 10:01 amThe nonprofit sector needs more spirited debate. Mark Rovner over at Sea Change Strategies blogged some strong opinions about the state of fundraising. So I asked Lawrence Henze, managing director of Target Analytics, to write this guest blog post in response: Mark Rovner recently offered up the opinion that the fundraising pyramid is a lie because "most major donors at most organizations do not rise up through the ranks of $15 donors, who become $100 donors, and then ultimately become $100,000 donors." My 30 years of experience in the fundraising world give me a very…
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A Volunteer's Guide to Changing the World
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A Call for Nonprofits: Ask less, give more
4 Feb 2010 | 10:22 amWe know budgets are reduced and giving is down. Asking for more won't help. Sending more emails, planning more events, and hosting more auctions are signs of desperation.People don't need to give money. People don't need to raise money. People NEED to belong to something special. People NEED to be recognized for their contributions.Communicate a mission that people can support. Provide a place where people feel like they belong, and are recognized. Create a community where people get more than they give. Only by doing that can nonprofits grow their network... and with a larger network be… -
RE: Online Outreach on a Budget
28 Jan 2010 | 12:46 pmMore than ever, online outreach is VITAL to your and your organizations ongoing success. I hope this post provides you valuable information and tools to stay ahead of the curve.Currently, there is a nonprofit blog carnival sweeping the Internet... Its full of great information, tips, and tools for nonprofits and volunteers. This month, IssueLab collected some amazing posts about improving online outreach.I recommend reading the full and original post by going to the Issue Lab blog, but if you are strapped for time, here are some of the highlights:Webinar Recap: Connecting Advocacy to… -
Creative Crowdsourcing Empowers Non-Profits to Spread the Word
22 Jan 2010 | 4:58 pmCrowdsourcing has been a growing trend and its a wonderful way to find new volunteers. There are a variety of different types of crowd-sourcing that fit almost any need that a nonprofit might have. Recently, National Association of Federal Credit Union leveraged a crowd-sourcing group to help launch advertisements to promote its nonprofit branches across the nation. I thought the crowdsourcing methodologie was very interesting and invite you to read this guest post from the creator of the program Peter H. LaMottePersonally, I have never working with GeniusRocket nor do I receive any incentive… -
3 Rules for Nonprofits: Belonging belonging belonging
13 Jan 2010 | 2:38 pmJust like the first three principles of real estate are priority, priority, priority, the first rule for nonprofits to engaging volunteers and donors should be BELONGING, BELONGING, BELONGING!This rule is inspired by Marsha Shenk, and her presentation, Brain, Body and Business.You can see the full presentation here:View more presentations from marsha shenk. -
3 Sites That Make a Difference
12 Jan 2010 | 12:47 pmIncreasingly, you can do the things that you like to do, and do them in the name of a charity or cause. I have recently experimented with the following and I love what these groups are doing. I encourage you to check them out. And if they haven't listed your favorite cause, contact your cause and see if you can get them enabled.(NOTE TO NONPROFITS: If you haven't connected with sites like this, you are behind the times. Its free money, and it increases your social media presence...)Rec.fm | rec.fm is a tool that simply allows you to make great recommendations to your friends and help your…
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Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media
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Opening Session at NASSCOM and Social Innovation Winners
9 Feb 2010 | 12:28 amLighting of the lamp is a traditional way to begin a conference here in India. I'm still very jet-lagged and adjusting to both the time zone and culture in Mumbai. I was lucky enough to have a front row seat in the reserved section with laptop and digital camera in hand to cover the opening ceremonies on Twitter. Following the #nilf was an excellent way to gain a better of understanding of what was happening on the stage. The opening session started with the lighting of a lamp and welcome from NASSCOM officials to the crowded ballroom fill with 1600 conference attendees from 27… -
The Universal Language of Technology Conferences: Schwag
8 Feb 2010 | 8:24 pmI arrived in Mumbai on Monday morning in the very early morning hours (3:00 am) after a trip that lasted nearly 24 hours and hopped across 12 time zones. I greeted at the airport with a sign that read "Nasscom Leadership India Forum - Miss Kanter." The driven took me to the Grand Hyatt Hotel saying that during the day the traffic is much different. The conference hotel one of the largest hotels in Mumbai with many rooms and a large convention area. After going through security to enter the hotel and registering, I got into my room and then I crashed. Although my body still thinks it… -
Win A HP Computer and Printer: What's Your Theory of Change for Social Media Use?
8 Feb 2010 | 4:51 amHP is giving away laptop and printer bundles as part of its HP’s Create Change program which is an example of "embedded giving." That's a buzz word coined by Lucy Bernholz to describe the common practice of building a philanthropic gift into another, unrelated, financial transaction. Embedded giving is easy for individuals to do, and probably gives them an added psychological boost to know that spending money on purchasing something is not just an act of commerce, it's an act of generosity. The idea here is that if you purchase an HP product, they'll donate 4% to one of seven… -
PepsiFresh Contest: Real Tracking and Social Impact Analysis
6 Feb 2010 | 11:01 amI've been following the PepsiFresh contest since the launch in December, the largest social media for social good cause marketing effort put forth to date. I recently posted a guest post by Bonin Bough from Pepsi that gives the insider view. This is a big bold effort. I'm most curious to see how Pepsi will demonstrate leadership in social marketing and of course the longer term result - social impact.Jeremiah Owyang has shared his initial analysis of Pepsi's Contest, summarizing the opportunity, risks, strengths, weaknesses, metrics, and impact. Strengths:Pepsi's campaign has a few… -
I'm Headed for Nasscom Foundation's Indian Leadership Forum in Mumbai
6 Feb 2010 | 9:54 amThe Nasscom Foundation in India is the epicenter of nonprofit technology and social innovation. They are hosting the Global CSR track at the Indian Leadership Forum in Mumbai Feb 9-11. I'll not only be speaking at the conference and CSR Track, but will be leading two workshops for NGO and CSR practitioners. Nasscom Foundation is a partner of TechSoup Global and has an impressive technology product donation program called "BIGTech"Here's how they describe their mission and impact.NASSCOM Foundation was set up to support the Indian IT industry’s role in nation building and to…
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YouTube: Nonprofits
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Managing Nonprofits In Tough Times - Ellen Johnson
17 Jan 2010 | 2:40 pmManaging Nonprofits In Tough Times - Ellen Johnson Environmental nonprofits need to manage through tough economic times in order to survive. Learn how to do that in this point by point presentation. Keep your donor base and your mission intact. Ellen Johnson of the Georgia Center of Nonprofits tells you how. Contact: Ellen at : www.gcn.org From: ProtectGeorgiaRivers Views: 13 0 ratings Time: 09:43 More in Nonprofits & Activism -
Derreck Kayongo, Keynote Speaker at Blackbaud's 2009 Conference for Nonprofits
17 Nov 2009 | 1:27 pmDerreck Kayongo, Keynote Speaker at Blackbaud's 2009 Conference for Nonprofits Watch more from Blackbaud's 2009 Conference for Nonprofits at www.blackbaud.com/bbcontv. From: blackbaudinc Views: 291 3 ratings Time: 04:32 More in Nonprofits & Activism -
How Nonprofits Can Promote Community Engagement Across Generations -- Panel Discussion - Part II
3 Nov 2009 | 8:07 pmHow Nonprofits Can Promote Community Engagement Across Generations -- Panel Discussion - Part II Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties How Nonprofits Can Promote Community Engagement Across Generations Panel Discussion -- Part II From: alexmia23 Views: 4 0 ratings Time: 10:24 More in Nonprofits & Activism -
Cool New Features for YouTube Nonprofits
14 Oct 2009 | 11:18 amCool New Features for YouTube Nonprofits We're introducing two new features for youtube Nonprofit Partners -- the ability to select custom thumbnails and the ability to use video annotations to link to external websites. Check out this video for step-by-step instructions on how your video can use these features! From: citizentube Views: 7213 52 ratings Time: 04:51 More in People & Blogs -
Donor Names on Projects Costs Less as Nonprofits Compete: Video
9 Oct 2009 | 7:15 amDonor Names on Projects Costs Less as Nonprofits Compete: Video Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Nonprofit institutions and universities may be more willing now to negotiate over how much donors have to give and how long they have to make the payments in exchange for recognition as the number of large gifts decline. Bloomberg's Alexis Leondis talks with Erik Schatzker and Deirdre Bolton about the price wealthy individuals give in return for getting their names on hospitals, parks and college buildings. (Source: Bloomberg) From: Bloomberg Views: 184 0 ratings Time: 02:10 More in Entertainment
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the Communications Network blog
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Going Beyond Transparency
1 Feb 2010 | 6:21 amLast week, the Foundation Center launched a new web portal, Glasspockets, which is dedicated to showcasing and promoting foundation transparency. That foundations need to operate transparently is a given among foundation communicators. But how do our program colleagues view transparency -- as well as using communications to advance their organization's work? To find out, we asked regular contributor, Elizabeth Miller, Senior Program Associate, at the Overbrook Foundation. Her thoughts follow. Going Beyond TransparencyBy Elizabeth MillerWhen I think about communications in the context of the… -
What's in Your Toolkit?
26 Jan 2010 | 5:02 amLast month, The Joyce Foundation hosted a panel that looked at the ways advocacy groups are successfully harnessing the power of new media strategies and tactics, including microtargeting, social networking, and online community building, to identify and mobilize supporters to advance their issues and causes. Panelists were: Stephen Geer, Vice President, New Media at OMP political strategy firm and former director of email and online fundraising for the Obama presidential campaign Alex Johnston, executive director of ConnCAN, a statewide education advocacy organization in Connecticut Steve… -
To Publish or Perish?
22 Jan 2010 | 8:08 amJonathan Swift is credited with the quote, "He was a bold man that first ate an oyster." These days, in foundation circles, it takes almost the same amount of courage to raise the question about whether to publish annual reports, and not just in print, but even online or in any other form. At a 2008 Network conference, when it was suggested that foundations stop publishing annual reports entirely, the conversation started calmly and then heated up, indicating that there was no clear consensus about what to do. In the years since, the discussion has continued, though mostly below the… -
Dispensing With Myths About Foundations
20 Jan 2010 | 4:35 amIn our last post, we talked about the general lack of knowledge about philanthropy -- and foundations in particular -- among "influentials." This guest post discusses how the Council of Michigan Foundations is using a novel approach to address this problem and finding ways to engage foundation leadership and trustees in the effort. Guest Post: Rebecca Noricks, Communications Manager, Council of Michigan Foundations Here in Michigan, we think it’s high time that people stop thinking of foundations as “ATM” machines – an idea that our friends at the Philanthropy Awareness Initiative… -
Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Piece
11 Jan 2010 | 9:32 amIt's hard to work in this field and not be impressed by the passion and commitment of the people who are responsible for using communications to help advance their foundations' work as well as helping promote greater understanding of what their organizations are trying to accomplish. That's also why it continues to be so puzzling -- if not confounding, even frustrating -- that, despite all this effort, the full story of philanthropy still remains a mystery to so many. So if it's not for a lack of trying, what is it?Some observers say part of the problem stems from the reluctance of…
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Holy Kaw!
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13 geeky Valentine’s Day gifts
9 Feb 2010 | 12:33 pmLooking for a way to knock the argyle socks off your geeky lover this Valentine’s Day? Skip the computer programmer-themed porn and try gifting your nerdy loved one some HTTPanties or “Tweet Me” Sweethearts candy. The Huffington Post tracked down thirteen geeky gifts that scream “I love you, nerd face.” Full geeky gift list at Huffington Post. Get your geek on. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Google Buzz's official demo [video]
9 Feb 2010 | 11:25 amGoogle has just unveiled its latest attempt to become more relevant in the social media space—Google Buzz. The product is integrated within Gmail and will be rolled out gradually to all of the webmail service’s users over the next few days. While this development is still unfolding, you can check out Google Buzz’s two-minute demo of Buzz in action both online and via mobile. What are your initial reactions? Another soon-to-be-forgotten Google product like Wave, or a Facebook/Twitter killer? Full story at Mashable. Total Google coverage. Permalink | Leave a… -
Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video]
9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 amImagine a galaxy far, far away where Darth Vader sounded like any other British bloke strolling down the corridors of the Death Star. Before James Earl Jones provided the menacing voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, English actor and bodybuilder David Prowse delivered the lines from inside the Darth costume. While George Lucas never intended for Prowse’s voice to make the flick’s final cut, it’s weird to imagine how different Star Wars would have been with a different Vader voice. Full story at Huffington Post. Tons of Star Wars tidbits. Permalink | Leave a… -
7 things you didn’t know about condoms
9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 amRubbers. Raincoats. Inconvenient. Whatever you call 'em, condoms remain a must-have in the safe sex tool box. Long before the days of Durex and Trojans, men used animal intestines to protect their willies (that sounds lovely, eh ladies?) and still to this day use lambskin condoms for latex allergies and supposed extra sensitivity. Want to learn even more fun facts about condoms that will surely impress your friends and potential lovers? Check out Asylum's seven things you probably didn't know about condoms that includes tantalizing tidbits like: Vaseline + condoms = Disintegrated rubber and… -
Horror flick mirror scare mash-up [video]
9 Feb 2010 | 9:25 amHorror movies love to rely on cliches to scare the bejeezus out of us, but does it really surprise anyone that the axe murderer is going to pop in the reflection of a mirror? Ok, yes, it still totally sparks a few pee-in-pants moments. Check out this mash-up of mirror scare moments (fair warning: don’t watch alone in a big, dark, scary house): Full story at Four Four. Boo! Tons of scary and not so scary movie news. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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PR-Squared
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Social Media Abhors A Vacuum
9 Feb 2010 | 8:07 amOne of the issues that large brands must worry about — especially franchise brands — is IF and HOW local affiliates and employees decide to participate online. For example, take a look at a well-known brand like real estate giant Century 21. In addition to the official @C21realestate handle managed by Corp Comms in Parsippany, there are over 350 Century21 employees and/or franchisees on Twitter. Their Twitter handles range from @C21_SUNBELT to @Cntury21, from @Century21Seller to @RealtorToCall (and any number of @firstnamelastname combinations, i.e., no C21 affiliation). Some of these… -
Guess Who’s Talking: Social Media Ethical Dilemmas
8 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amContinuing our series on Social Media Ethical Dilemmas, this post is about the guidelines related to agencies who help client contacts to identify and engage, via commenting, on industry/influencer blogs. The goal is to insert our clients’ executives and perspectives into industry conversations; to help them build up their credibility, and ultimately to create valuable relationships with influencers. How do you do this? How can you effectively inform and educate busy clients while also cultivating the bloggers’ goodwill in an authentic way? Here’s the general process… The Agency… -
Will RSS Fall to Apps?
5 Feb 2010 | 9:15 amSeveral of my friends have launched iPhone apps recently. (I am lookin’ at you, Brian Solis, Chris Brogan, Tamar Weinberg and C.C. Chapman.) This is getting easier and easier to do, thanks to emergent services like Mobile Roadie and Motherapp. On the one hand, yea, I admit it, I smirked at each new announcement. Felt a little too self-reverential. Even Mitch Joel — no shrinking violet — called them “Golden Calf” apps. But I parleyed with C.C. about it, and read his post carefully. His point is not lost on me: RSS is a tool of the elite; most folks surf their Bookmarks… -
SHIFT’s NYC PR Agency Debuts!
3 Feb 2010 | 2:12 pmLast Thursday was a banner day for SHIFT, as we cut the ribbon at the opening of our NYC office. We celebrated in style, ‘natch, with a party that included everyone from SavvyAuntie Melanie Notkin, to reporters from the Wall Street Journal, PRWeek, MediaBistro and RealSimple, to venture capitalists, and many more friends and colleagues. Full-house. Raucous and fun. David Parmet of Marketing Begins at Home probably did the best job of capturing the “real me” — an unmatched combination of goofiness and ego. I half-drunkenly stumbled out onto our NYC… -
Trail of Breadcrumbs
1 Feb 2010 | 4:20 amA new survey conducted by Cision and Don Bates of The George Washington University’s Master’s Degree Program in Strategic Public Relations found that “an overwhelming majority of reporters and editors now depend on social media sources when researching their stories.” Specifically, “89% said they turn to blogs for story research, 65% to social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, and 52% to microblogging services such as Twitter.” Per the news release: While the results demonstrate the fast growth of social media as a well-used source of information for mainstream…
