Blog archive
What is strategy?
I’ve been involved in helping organisations with planning marketing strategy for over 15 years and often come to a stumbling block right at the beginning of the process because few people know what strategy is. So, what is strategy? Strategy is often confused with tactics, goals and even actions. It’s originally a military term, from [...] more>
How to make your DM more effective in 2012
How will you make your Direct Marketing more effective in 2012? Non-profit copywriting expert Karen Zapp has identified four key trends in direct marketing (DM) where organisations will need to improve in 2012, to get their messages across. The trends centre around one key theme – all your supporter audiences (donors, volunteers etc.) will respond less [...] more>
How to stop struggling with Social Media Part 1. What does it mean to you?
Social Media isn’t a myth anymore and it’s definitely here to stay. For anyone who’s struggling to get started I thought I’d share a few tips to unravel the myth and mystery. Reading Molly Maple’s blog post about Social Media being about conversations , I was struck by her assertion that, “until you know how [...] more>
10 ways to connect with your supporters better
All this technology for connection and what we really only know more about is how anonymous we are in the grand scheme of things. Heather Donahue A leader who loses his connection to his people soon loses the ability to lead them. Robert Ley We make connections with supporters in a variety of ways. Through [...] more>
10 ways not to get distracted by Social Media – the BIG distraction.
Let’s face it, social media’s here to stay, and it’s a BIG thing. Over 700 million users on Facebook alone say it’s a BIG thing. But, being BIG, it can start to get in the way,(rather like the elephant - or BIG Bird) in the room) and become something of a monstrosity that you can’t [...] more>
10 ways the telephone can increase your responses
The telephone is dead. Long live the telephone. Pick up a telephone these days and its barely recognisable from it’s predecessors. No longer a separate earpiece and microphone, no longer a bulky item that wraps around your head, connected by a wire to its handset. No, these days our telephones are slablike, svelte fashion items [...] more>
Direct mail. 5 tips for Data Best Practice.
Complaints about charities’ use of direct mail increased by 86% in 2010. This staggering figure was revealed by the Fundraising Standards Board’s annual report. So what are charities getting wrong? The report revealed that over a third of complaints were due to poor data, resulting, for example, in mailing people who had died. Complaints were also [...] more>
Raising the bar…code. QR codes – theory or really?
There’s an infection spreading across the world… All over adverts, brochures, websites, apps and more, small black and white dots are appearing, like like a rash across the marketing landscape. Is there a cure? Or will this rash spread like a virus, and soon be a part of every bit of advertising and marketing material we [...] more>
Social Media. Do you know who’s listening?
Last night, thanks to the wonders of sky+ (personal video recorder) I was able to catch up on Evan Davies’ “Business Nightmares: Marketing Mess Ups.” The show told the tales of a few infamous marketing mistakes made by some of our biggest brands. Of course, we all make mistakes and many of our business leaders [...] more>
The changing of the guard?
Yeomans is an inspiring marketing agency founded on Christian principles, working alongside many charities and Christian organisations. Yeomans provides support in both a commercial capacity and through its involvement in programmes that provide education, support and practical benefits for people in need. It all started seven years ago with two men who had a vision [...] more>