If Facebook isn't the future of social marketing, what is?
There was a short but intriguing article in the Ad Nauseum column in Private Eye last week. It suggested that some unnamed ad agencies were trying to bury a Forrester report that demonstrated that both Facebook and Twitter were pretty poor at providing an engaging...
What happens when Stephen Fry actually does mention you in a tweet?
Sit in any discussion about how a charity can promote a campaign on social media and it won't be long before someone suggests asking Stephen Fry to tweet about it. Being very kind, intelligent and rather lovely, he is known to tweet on behalf of...
Everything you need to know about fundraising in one photo
Yes, I know need is important, but there aren't many causes that lack need. What matters is how your donors feel. Make them feel special and you'll succeed.
Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling
Back in 2011, former Pixar artist, Emma Coats tweeted a series of rules for great storytelling that she'd picked up from her colleagues. Dinolgnacio has now painstakingly superimposed all 22 over images from Pixar's films as a means to remember them. They aren't all directly...
Why you need to entertain (and stuff like that)
Here's a great video produced for Red Nose Day in New Zealand. There is no real reason to share it other than it features Flight of the Conchords and, as a result, is rather amusing. But perhaps that should be reason enough. Outrage or pity...
Write a soap opera, not a news story
For the best part of thirty years, Eastenders has dominated the TV ratings. The Christmas episode from back in 1986 attracted over 30 million viewers and still retains the record for Britain's most watched TV show. And I bet this Christmas, it will be there...
The secret life of a donor – video evidence
I recently had the fantastic opportunity of appearing on stage in front of an audience of over 900 fundraisers as part of Tony Elischer's amazing experiment – Theatre of Fundraising - at AFP Congress in Toronto. One of the areas that Tony asked me to...
Please like the condescending corporate brand page
I couldn't help but recognise the behaviour of a fairly significant number of charities on the Condescending Corporate Brand Page. It's a spoof Facebook page which usefully highlights some of the more annoying things that organisations do on the social networking site. We know that...
Another way to measure supporter loyalty
I can't think of many charities that wouldn't want more loyalty from their donors. But as we all know, people can be very, very fickle. Just because someone has set up a small regular gift or responded to an appeal, it doesn't mean that they...
Bluefrog gets connected
An organisational case for support might help highlight some of the reasons why people give to you, but it will rarely help you identify why they don't. The reasons are surprisingly complex, but one is quite simple - it's a hassle. It's rarely a case...
The Essentials
Crack the Code to Regular Giving: Insights, Strategies, and a Special Giveaway!
‘Tis Halloween. Keep to the light and beware the Four Fundraisers of the Apocalypse!
Why do people give? The Donor Participation Project with Louis Diez.
A guide to fundraising on the back of a postcard
What does the latest research tell us about the state of fundraising?