For the sake of argument let’s say I work with a client, a client whose name and identity I wish to keep confidential. Let’s also say, hypothetically, that it is a membership organization that is interested in re-branding themselves. Further, in this effort, the marketing committee of the organization undertook a considerable amount of time to prepare a survey, distribute the survey to their members, to crunch the results and report findings back to the committee. Findings that maintain the confidentiality of those who participated and, for the most part, are positive.

So, with the first major step in the re-branding process under our collective belts I recommended that the committee determine ways to share the results with the membership. The committee agreed and planned several firm communication actions to take place.

Read the rest of this entry »

Earlier today, in a online community group I belong to [www.inside919.ning.com] a member posed the question, “What does web 2.0 mean to you?” Of course, being the member who started the discussion group I was obligated to respond. In doing so, I pulled together a lot of ideas I’ve been ‘believing’ for a while but hadn’t put into written word. So, in essence, the following describes some of my theories about marketing and communicating on the internet and in general. Here’s what I wrote:

For me, Web 2.0 marks an evolution [or revolution depending on your POV] in the way people and organizations approach and utilize the internet. As the new approaches have gained some traction it has sparked considerable technology growth and, and has resulted in the misconception of an ‘upgraded’ internet. Web 2.0 isn’t a new version, it is a new approach and a set of tools for using the web to communicate, collaborate, build relationships, create communities, and ultimately innovate.

Read the rest of this entry »

When I looked in the closet of my mind this morning, I found I had many more hats than I had heads. This wasn’t too alarming; I knew that hats had been piling up for a while now. But, what is increasingly amazing to me is how many of those hats I can wear at any given time. It seems with age one’s head only gets more “hat capable.” Of course there is a point of diminishing returns and while some might argue otherwise, I think I’m still years from that.

Of course I am not speaking literally. But I was recently reminded of the, ‘many hats we all wear’ during a recent Association of Fundraising Professionals breakfast meeting. On this particular morning Mr. Terry Barber, Vice President and Senior Strategist for the Grizzard Communication Group was in attendance to share some thoughts in his presentation “Build your Brand and they will come.” I attended the meeting because of the obvious connection between the topic and my goals as a consultant and I expected I’d learn a thing or two from someone like Mr. Barber.

Read the rest of this entry »

Or - Why DRM is DReaMy!

Corporate America can and should take a page or two from the handbooks of many nonprofit organizations, and if this Strange Bird has anything to do with it, some of them soon will.

I’ve already talked here [some might say rant] about CRM being CRuMmy [and I'm not done yet either] and for the most part I’m laying the blame at the feet of Corporate America. DRM, or Donor Relationship Managment is the nonprofit version and deserves some face time too but for very different reasons.

Sharp nonprofit professionals looked at CRM some years back and, looking at the ’six-million dollar man’ that corporate had created, decided they could make it even bigger, stronger and faster while leaving out a few of they annoying sound effects. [Yes, I know I am aging myself with the Steve Austin references, but hey - I am proud of my hokie 70's television show upbringing.]

Read the rest of this entry »