Continue reading »]]> Nonprofit Fundraising Using Social Media:

 Basic rules of engagement

By Thomas R. Reich and Chris Romero

This is the year to imporve you skills with nonprofit fundraising with social media

Nonprofit fundraising using social media can be a lot more fun than you may think!  We are about to cover some fun, free projects your organization can try right out of this blog.  Let us know how they work!

Today, in 2012, nonprofit fundraising using social media has gotten both easier and way more complicated!  If you remember the basic rules of engagement, then nonprofit fundraising using social media can be a smooth running snap!

if you cause is the California Condor, nonprofit fundraising using social media lets you brand it that way!

One of the basic rules of engagement for nonprofit fundraising using social media is to come up with an event, because donation or item sales drive that is consistent with your mission statement.  If you are a charity designed to feed the homeless, a food drive and donation drive is appropriate.  If you an organization designed to save the California Condor, why not try selling logo embossed peanut brittle?

Letting the donor have something physical for their donation is a key method used today in nonprofit fundraising using social media, it gives the donor a feeling of value and lets them walk away with something that shows others they donated.  Another advantage of an item for a donation, is that item is advertising to everyone that sees it, the donors family and friends, if they take the item back to work who knows how many will see it.

Another great fundraiser is donations for an event, dinner, concert or even a car wash.  If it is to be a donation for a dinner or a concert, be very sure you have the funding to pull off the event even if you do not get the numbers of attendees you hoped for.  Concert venues want paid, lighting and sound must be paid, so consult with professionals before you get in over your head.

Nonprofit fundraising using social media can increase results 3 fold!

Back to the car wash idea, you have seen them many times, but we have a new twist.  Think in terms of old marketing first, sell tickets to get a car wash, this way you know in advance of the event that you will have money coming in and a successful event before it happens.  But it gets better, some who buy tickets will forget to come, and others that don’t want to let some kids wash their new car will buy a ticket to support your cause, but never use it!  Finally the event will draw the donors that see the car wash as a spur of the moment thing just like any other car wash anyway.  Can you see how nonprofit fundraising useing social media could increase this method even more?

Same rule applies for bake sales, thrift sales, arts and craft sales and raffles.  But where do the social media come in.  Nonprofit fundraising useing social media is simple if you follow the basic rules of engagement for a nonprofit event, and then talk about it constantly on you twitter feed, Facebook and LinkedIn to boost your exposure.

Basic Rules of Engagement:

1)      Design a realistic and achievable fundraising idea,  make sure you have the funds to cover any eventuality and that your price point is affordable to your core donor audience

2)      Have someone who is dedicated to the successful planning, running and execution of the event or drive, this is espicially critical for nonprofit fundraising using social media.  If you have an experienced person on staff or a volunteer who is reliable and known to complete tasks properly

nonprofit fundraising using social media puts you in the web

great, if not there are professionals who can organize and execute it for you at a reasonable cost.

3)      Set clear and attainable goals; don’t make the drive to raise a million dollars if you are selling 5 dollar car wash tickets.

4)      Clarify the purpose of the event or drive, what are the funds going to benefit, if it is to benifit the general funds of the charity or foundation, great.  If, however, it is to benifit the California Condor, then you might be able to get other organizations with similar goals to join in through the internet, remember nonprofit fundraising using social media offers a whole world of new options for partnerships in humanitarian goals.

5)       Use social media and traditional methods to market market market!  Nonprofit fundraising useing social media can be tied in with traditional methods to great effect; think about having a ticket sales booth at a cretin location and then announce it through social media as well as the way you normally do it, you will have the potential of many more coming by!

these are a key part of success in nonprofit fundraising using social media

6)      Use social media to publicize the event, blog about the cause and push the effect of a donation or participation in the drive.  Nonprofit fundraising useing social media expands your world, expands you influence and adds to the good you can do!

Let’s say your event is a Spaghetti Dinner, we will use that as our final example.  Traditional marketing says you sell tickets to friends church members working with you and maybe at the local grocery store, using a table with a hand

Think differently

written sign.

Let’s look at how nonprofit fundraising using social media could work.  In your announcements newsletter, you begin talking about the amazing spaghetti dinner coming soon, and that last year it sold out so buy tickets early.  Then you begin to Tweet the event and list it on Facebook and LinkedIn, now remember not just your organization social media, but the Facebook and twitter of every member, volunteer and booster of your organization.

Try a different approach; nonprofit fundraising using social media

Next, in your social cause’s blog you put a story about the cause followed by an announcement of the event.  Finally you put out a press release, and all social media coverage on the unique recipe of the spaghetti sauce.  Make sure there are comments listed on blogs and tweet responses expressing agreement at the unique good flavor of the spaghetti!

Can you see how this could cause a “viral” effect, because many people you never knew existed will now come and be exposed to your cause!  This is how nonprofit fundraising using social media works.

If this sounds interesting, but you still want to learn more, join the staff of CharityNetUSA for a totally free seminar on Wednesday February 8, 2012.  We at CharityNetUSA have helped a myriad of organizations with nonprofit fundraising using social media as well as all forms of business services.  In fact we have helped over 12,000 organizations over the years, and we can help you too.  We have a nonprofit webinar free on many topics every Wednesday and a small business webinar every Thursday also totally free!

Sing up now, it’s free and it is packed full of great information on fundraising in general and nonprofit fundraising using social media as well, remember as always this is not an infomercial, this is a true free webinar.

If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to set up and service a charity, foundation or church please contact CharityNetUSA by visiting www.CharityNetUSA.com or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002.  Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Face Book to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Award Winning Webinar series!

Continue reading »]]> Modern Marketing and Nonprofits

 by Thomas R. Reich and Chris Romero

The Phoenicians invented modern marketing and nonprofits!

In today’s competitive nonprofit environment, modern marketing and nonprofits is essential.  The first step in modern marketing and nonprofits is the same as it has been since the Phoenicians, develop a working marketing plan!

A marketing plan lays out your strategy and direction in the world of modern marketing and nonprofits.  The first step is to secure a solid corporate identity, with a common look, color and design throughout all aspects of anything from your company that is seen by the public or another business.  A complete corporate identity should include:

1)      Corporate Branding and Logo Design

• One consistent color pattern
  

  Nonprofit strategy is part of modern marketing and nonprofitss.

• Make sure logo is unique, distinctive and very reproducible to all media both media and print matter

2)      Brochures – containing the Logo and the color and consistent design which is to become your corporate identity

3)      Business cards and electronic signature – should also follow this developing pattern of color and design

4)      Press release blanks – should carry the corporate identity

5)      Newsletters with the look and feel of your corporate identity from front to back

CharityNetUSA can help with modern marketing and nonprofits

A company like CharityNetUSA can assist you in this type of design, inexpensively, and can get you on the road to modern marketing and nonprofits.  However you create this “Corporate Identity” it must be of prime concern.  Today, a business identity is your life’s blood, the key to modern marketing for small business.

The second step is to develop an integrated digital identity.  In today’s nonprofit world, the internet is not only reality, but is indispensible to a modern marketing and nonprofit plan!  You have, at this point, created a consistent corporate identity, logo, overall design and color scheme.

You must now carry this “Corporate Identity” into a “Digital Identity”, and do it correctly in order to survive

The internet must be part of modern marketing and nonprofits

modern marketing and nonprofits:

1)       Create a website consistent with logo, overall design and colors to match your already developed corporate identity

2)      Create a blog with consistent branding

3)      Customize you Twitter with consistent branding

4)      Customize your Facebook with consistent branding and create a fan page with a look consistent with your web home page

5)      Customize your LinkedIn account; create a grope membership list consistent with your nonprofit type.

There are so many aspects to modern marketing and nonprofits and each facet has books written concerning all the things you can do to maximize your exposure.  What I hope you take away from this writing, is that everything your nonprofit does must be with a consistent look.  Today, due to the internet culture, you can have the look and feel of a much larger corporation, if you plan and execute your corporate identity correctly.

Having a great Marketing Plan is essential in modern marketing and nonprofits

CharityNetUSA has been helping nonprofits plan and execute corporate identity, and all aspects of small business operations for many years.  CharityNetUSA has helped over 12,000 small nonprofits just like yours and we can help you with your modern marketing and nonprofits today!

Join us for a free webinar which will cover “Key Marketing Ideas” this coming Thursday, February 9, 2012.  As always, this is not an infomercial, but a true free full hour of pure information.  Want to know more about modern

marketing and nonprofits, we will see you there!

If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to set up and service a Small Business please contact us by visiting CharityNetUSA or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002.  Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Face Book to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Award Winning Webinar series!

Continue reading »]]> How to Use Social Media for Nonprofits:

LinkedIn for Nonprofits Part 1

LinkedIn gives you access to over 135 million business people and professionals in every field

By Thomas R. Reich and Chris Romero

LinkedIn has rapidly become the premier professional communications network worldwide and a big part of social media for nonprofits.  This innovative social media site allows you to pre-screen everyone in your network, in essence permitting you to specifically design who you want to deal with in your world. When using Social Media for Nonprofits, often you end up with followers that are inappropriate for what you are trying to achieve. On the contrary, LinkedIn tries to address within social media for nonprofits, all the pitfalls in Facebook, to create a professional environment- a platform designed in your personal and professional image.

According to Patrick Schwerdtfeger, author of the New York Times best selling book “Marketing Shortcuts”, today 80% of buying or donating decisions are made before personal contact is made with an organization! A modern, successful nonprofit organization will first be searched on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn all now part of social media for nonprofits. The public will also look for your website and search for your name on Google or other search engines.

In today’s society, your organization is judged by your digital presence. Remember when planning your digital

Social media for nonprofits is the new handshake!

presence: “If you try to sell to everyone you will sell to no one”.  LinkedIn can be a big part of your digital presence, and a link to other social media for nonprofit efforts and for nonprofits in general.

Remember, selling your cause to donors and volunteers is a relationship-building process, and social media for nonprofits is the new handshake. Set up properly, LinkedIn gets you the introduction to new prospects and presents your organization to them in a positive light. LinkedIn for Nonprofits all but eliminates the dreaded cold call!

LinkedIn facilitates access to a network of over 135 million business people and professionals in every field. It allows you to network, prospect, pre-qualify leads and actually generate leads without speaking to a soul! Do you think you could use such a network in your organization?

the 3 big players in social media for nonprofits

LinkedIn = Business to business and professionals

Facebook = Loyalty, engagement, and retention of existing relationships

Twitter = Additional input linked to LinkedIn and Facebook

LinkedIn contains 75% of all fortune 500 executives, has over 2million company and organization pages, and allowed over 2 billion free searches last year!  LinkedIn is the heart of social media for nonprofits and is used for prospecting and lead generation. In addition to this there are over 1.3 million small businesses and nonprofits and over 500K groups to join and become involved in.

To utilize LinkedIn and most of social media for nonprofits properly you must set up and complete a proper profile, which includes:

1)   You must complete your profile 100%

Take time, your profile in all social media for nonprofits compleatly

2)   You should have a professional head shot

3)   You must write a compelling summary, give it some thought

4)   List all your specialties not just one

5)   List all relevant experience

6)   Post recommendations Customize your profile URL

7)   Pay attention to keywords in all sections

**NOTE: Never use your logo on the LinkedIn profile in place of your personal head shot- this is not an option, this is a hard rule. You may use the

LinkedIn is the premier social media for nonprofits communication network worldwide

logo other places in LinkedIn, but not in place of head shot!  This is suggested for all social media for nonprofits, but it is most important in LinkedIn

Do add to skills list list: Sales, Meeting Organizer, Social Media Expert, Foundation Advisor, Nonprofit Consultant, Trainer, Author and so on.

DO NOT LIST: Nice Person, Cat Lover, Geek, single and looking– this is totally inappropriate for LinkedIn.

Do Include: a concise, well produced video 30 – 45 sec in length.  Introduce yourself, your cause, why they should care and how to contact you, repeat your name and cause at the end.  Again this holds true for most of social media for nonprofits components.

More to come in Part 2 of Social media for Nonprofits: LinkedIn for Nonprofits! We will discuss the Corporate page, the free mini web site, and a little more about the video section. Then we will discuss the pipeline, how to begin getting leads with searches directly from your LinkedIn FREE account.  We will also discuss joining and participating in LinkedIn groups, and wrap up this 2-part blog on LinkedIn with a discussion of what do daily and how to get the most out of LinkedIn for Nonprofits and social media for nonprofits in general

Small Business Tool Center Nonprofit Resource Center

Did you know CharityNetUSA provides help in many areas.  We are you one stop for anything from 501c3 preparation and certification in many areas, bookkeeping and marketing services.  We can help with web sites and yes even social media for nonprofits strategy.

If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to Set up a Charity, Nonprofit or Foundation please contact CharityNetUSA by visiting www.CharityNetUSA.com or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002.  Please FOLLOW us on Twitter and LIKE us on Face Book to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Award Winning Webinar series!  Now is the time to start a small business!

Continue reading »]]> You Have it in You: Start a Nonprofit;

Be a No Lack Person

Quit Saying I can’t and Say I Can!

By Chris Romero and Thomas R. Reich 

You have it in you to do whatever you truly believe in! You know who is behind you, the greatest power in the universe, you can do anything!

Last weekend I was inspired by a sermon delivered by the great Joel Osteen.   So much of it seemed fitting for those with the calling to start a nonprofit.  His words of vision and action were my inspiration for what follows:

Maybe you are up against a Business obstacle, but remind yourself, you have the knowledge, the talent and the

Question: Is now the time to start a nonprofit?

experience to hit those challenges head on, maybe now is the time to start a nonprofit business.

Quit saying “I can’t” and know that you can!  Any deal you can visualize, tell yourself you are a “No Lack Person.”  Tell yourself “These obstacles aren’t going to get in MY way” Tell yourself now is the time to do good, now is the time I am going to start a nonprofit!

CharityNetUSA makes the obstacles lighter; we make them a bump in the road.  See every adversity as being light and temporary.  You are ready for and equal to anything that comes your way and you will overcome every obstacle, now is the time to start a nonprofit.

We are here to help you start a nonprofit every step of the way

Your obstacles may have been facing you for years, but they can turn around now – obstacles are never Permanente.  You have seeds of greatness on the inside, you are a winner!

Brake out of your box; believe you can reach your goals.  Don’t set limits for your success, you can accomplish whatever you believe you can, you are a No Lack Doer, now is the time to start a nonprofit!

Don’t have a cheap narrow vision; it will limit your accomplishments.  Don’t wait for it to go on sale, create the competition that forces a sale, you can get what you deserve, you can make a difference.  Don’t be dependent on one sale, have a bigger vision, don’t settle for what is on sale, and settle for what brings you an abundance of success, now is the time to start a nonprofit.

Have the vision to start a nonprofit

You are full of talent, strength, creativity and vision, live your dreams, make them a reality.  You are a No Lack Person, and you will accomplish your dreams if you believe in yourself.  let us help, now is the time to start a nonprofit!

CharityNetUSA can help you every step of the way, whether helping establish your charity as a 501c3 or helping perfect every aspect of your plans, which will help you successfully start a nonprofit.

If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to Set up a Charity, Nonprofit or Foundation please contact CharityNetUSA by visiting www.CharityNetUSA.com or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002.  Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Face Book to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Award Winning Webinar series!  Now is the time to start a nonprofit!

Continue reading »]]>

Twitter for Nonprofits Tips and Tricks:

An Amazing Search and Free Nonprofit Tool – Twitter for Nonprofits

For years you have heard Twitter, Twitter, Twitter, and SEO this and Social Media that.  You have heard that Twitter for Nonprofits is great and saves time and money, but what can Twitter for Nonprofits do for you, something that shows real results for Philanthropy.

With so many options in the internet jungle, Twitter for Nonprofits is one that will get your organization seen.

You finally figured,” OK we will Set up a Twitter account“, you built a nice home page and gathered followers, now what?  At first look Twitter for Nonprofits is just a Social Media Network, a short concise social messaging system.  I am about to show you that Twitter for Nonprofit

Twitter for Nonprofits is an amazing Tool

is a vast FREE Nonprofit Business Tool.

Let’s look at two ways Twitter can assist you and help bring you donations and volunteers, all free!  Sound like a Twitter for Nonprofit Tool you want to hear more about, read on!

When was the last time you searched a specific topic or question on Google, Bing or Yahoo and actually got the perfect answer without finding advertising for virtually anything, most not even related to your search; I’m waiting??

Twitter is an amazing search tool, since Twitter has no advertising involved in the search process; you are more likely to receive tangible results to your query.

Here are some tips and tricks to get tangible search results.  Using this Fantastic Tool, Twitter for Nonprofits

becomes more useful!

Here is a step-by-step guide:

1)   Go to your Twitter Home Page

Effective Questions On Twitter for Nonprofit is a great Tool

2)   Click on the search box

3)   Type in a short concise question  (Example; Do Ask “How do I Facebook” Don’t Ask “How do I delete a like on Facebook”)            Simple is best

4)   The results bring up a long list of Tweets

The Results cover many topics but in my search I wanted to know how to delete a person from my Facebook page.  3 Tweets from the top said “New question and answer, how do I delete one person from Facebook highlights section.  This sentence was followed by a link, I clicked it and was lead not to an advertisement for web services, but right to a list of questions and answers about Facebook, my answer was there.

For the Fun of it tweet your own name or that of your business.  I “Twitter Searched” Thomas R. Reich and got some interesting results.  This is another Twitter for Nonprofits Tool to see if others are Tweeting about your charity, or about you, and again it is always free to Tweet!

The point is you will get actual results from Twitter users like you.  The results may not be what you wanted, but they are honest, not influenced by pay-per-click structures that haunt the big search engines.  You never see banner ads on Twitter, just pure results, from real potential customers.

Twitter for Nonprofit searches are not for sale to advertisers making it a great Tool for those wishing to answer a question.

Now, try it, play around with different searches and ask yourself; “What have I learned about a FREE Twitter for Nonprofit Tools that can help my business?”

1)   Twitter is an alternative search tool to the                                                                                              big search engines

Asking Questions and giving Answers can be an effective Twitter for Nonprofits Tool

2)   Answers are usually contained in links with Twitter

3)   The new Twitter accounts I am seeing have tweets that are answers to specific questions.

4)   Did I just learn a new trick, a Twitter for Nonprofits Tool to make my own tweets more broadly read?

5)   Now Create some answer Tweets of your own, in your area of expertise!

We, here at CharityNetUSA are always looking for ways to help our friends.  When we find ways to make your Charity, Nonprofit or Foundation run more smoothly, we all benefit.  Help us help you help others, leave suggestions for topics of discussion below.  Remember, CharityNetUSA is still asking for topic suggestions for our 2012 webinar series, and we have gotten some great suggestions so far.

If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to set up and service a Charity, Nonprofit or Foundation please contact:

Nonprofit Tool Center Nonprofit Resource Center

CharityNetUSA by visiting CharityNet USA or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002.  Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Award Winning Webinar series and more information on Twitter for Nonprofits!

Continue reading »]]> What Free Nonprofit Webinars do you Want CharityNetUSA to give in 2012 ?

Some Nonprofit Webinar Suggestions could be Running a Charity, Marketing a Nonprofit, Charitable Tax Reform, Social Impact Bond, Infographics or Storytelling of Success in Philanthropy? What are yours?

By Chris Romero and Thomas R. Reich

Free Nonprofit Webinars are the best tool in keeping you and your organization up and running. People want to give. Our Nonprofit Webinars can help keep you and your N.P.O. informed and help you get in front of some of the most giving people in the World : Americans. However we need your input as to what you would like to see. (Note: Please join our First Nonprofit Webinar on January 18, 2012)

Free Nonprofit Webinars at CharityNet USA

There is great news for 2012 in the world of Nonprofits, Charity and Philanthropy: the World Giving Index (WGI) ranks the United States by far #1 in total giving and giving as a % of total income as well!  Add to this astounding report that 43% of respondents in the US do some volunteer work.  The WGI also found that 73% of Americans said they helped a stranger in 2011, which is up from 65% in 2010!

Our goal at CharityNet USA is to create a community of resources through Free Nonprofit Webinars and information sharing. If you need any assistance we are there for you. Our services are as inexpensive as they possibly can be.

Nonprofit Webinars

What makes this report even more exciting and encouraging is that the World Giving Index (WGI) is compiled by the United Kingdom based Charities Aid Foundation and that is the first year the United States has ranked first in overall giving in the many years this report has been compiled. Way to go USA!

This is a new year and 2012 comes with unique challenges for our country and Philanthropy in general.  So we ask you, how can we help you make 2012 an even greater year for charity?  What Free Nonprofit Webinars do you want to see now that 2012 is upon us?

Would you like to see a free nonprofit webinar on Social Media and SEO for charities?

Maybe one on the new Craigslist for nonprofits or, perhaps, fundraising platforms like Voucherry or Frendo?  Did you know that YouTube offers a platform for Nonprofits? Or maybe you just want to know more about successful fundraising efforts and grant filing methods that could make your nonprofit prosper as well and stay in regulatory compliance with the new IRS reforms for charities!

Have a suggestion for a Free Nonprofit Webinar ?

At CharityNetUSA, we are here to help you in your efforts to help others.  Nonprofits, Charitable Organizations and those involved in Philanthropy are our business and our life’s blood. That is why we want you to view our  free nonprofit webinars, ask questions, give suggestions.

As you know all CharityNetUSA webinars are free to our friends and followers, help us help you help

CharityNet USA is a Resource Center for Nonprofits and Corporate Foundations. We handle it all. Call 877-857-9002

others, is our theme for 2012.  You will find a vast collection of free resources for the nonprofit at CharityNetUSA.com, including many archived past webinars, seminars and helpful videos and many topics.

This is a call to action; this is a question you should respond to! Remember, this is a blog, comment below or send us a twitter, it is that easy!  “What topics would you like us to include in the 2012 webinar schedule?”  Chris Romero and Thomas R. Reich are open to your ideas; you suggest it and we will consider it!

Email Chris@BizCentralUSA.com or follow us on twitter or like us on facebook

CharityNetUSA has been helping non-profits since 2003, over 12,000 happy clients and hundreds of successful webinars over the last 8 years.  Help us make 2012 the best year of giving ever!  Help keep America #1 in charitable giving worldwide and join our community with great free Nonprofit Webinars throughout 2012!

Charity Net USA hopes to grow sustainable Nonprofits

If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to the Nonprofit community, please contact CharityNetUSA  by visiting www.CharityNetlUSA.com or by calling 1.877.857.9002.  Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Face Book to receive daily tips and tricks!

Continue reading »]]> Social Media, SEO and Your Web Site, What Your Nonprofit Needs to Know; What You Must Do in 2012 to Survive the Raging River that is the Internet!

 By Thomas R. Reich and Chris Romero

Why are Social Media, and the internet Important to you as a Nonprofit Director today in 2012?  First let’s look at Social Media and how it can help your Organization in a number of ways.  As an invaluable tool of today’s Business, Social Media can work in conjunction with your website to help create an amazing internet “mailing list”.  But what do Social Media, your Web Site and the Internet as a whole have in common and how are they important to your business in 2012?

Think of the days before the internet revolution, an organization would design a flyer if the organization had a siginificant product or service to launch they would probably make a nice brochure.   In order to give the work a professional look the organization would use the services of an outside company to finalize the art work and prepare the piece for the printer.  At that point the piece would be sent to the printers to print it and to the fulfillment house to begin addressing the finished brochures to your established mailing list.  If the release was important enough, the organization might even buy one or even several additional targeted mailing lists to reach thousands or tens of thousands of potential customers, many of the brochures  would be thrown away some would be read,  and a few became leads.

The point is, there was cost involved in traditional marketing and the design process, the mastering and printing process, the addressing of the pieces to be mailed, the costs of the mailing lists and finally the postage charge of sending your beautifully prepared work of art out to the “targeted” masses.  Fortunately, the internet cuts many of those costs with its no cost mail delivery.   Heck, it has effectively bankrupted our postal system.  However, there are still costs involved.  Advertising is never entirely free, but the cost of not using cutting edge methods to reach your potential customers is not only foolish but may kill your organization.

In the past, when you used a print house, you didn’t bring in an offset press to your facility, did you?  You probably used a fulfillment center to address and mail the thousands and thousands of pieces as well, right?  We must understand there are still costs involved in a properly executed Social Media and SEO campaign.  Lists of targeted “addresses” still cost money, SEO or Search Engine Optimization is an art, and unless you are a big enough organization to have a specialist in house this should be out sourced and is an ongoing, never ending process.

If an outside advertising firm or art house was used to make brochure designs in the past, perhaps you should use professionals to do this process for your Nonprofit’s on line materials as well.  Just because you can buy a copy of Adobe In Design, having this or other programs does not mean you could or should consider doing all the design work in house.  There are specialized professionals to which design for use on the Internet is second nature.  Your brochure must be top notch, professional and induce a potential customer to call your office.  If you couldn’t create a finished brochure in-house in the 90’s your organization would probably still be best suited to have this done professionally by a proven expert in your market.

What you can do is learn to manipulate Social Media for nonprofitsin such a way as to accumulate large “mailing Lists”.  You can develop a Social Media Profile to point back to your company’s website.  A website  that represents your Nonprofit and its dealings 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but again, it is best to accept guidance from a professional to make this website as outstanding as possible.  Twenty years ago when showrooms were the rage, an organization would hire a decorator to guide them as to what colors to use what drapes the material to use for the carpets and the look of the display tables.

Website SEO Social Media and Nonprofits

They would have custom wall hangings and mock ups of their services, maybe even miniatures of a facility or the new building they hoped to build, made by a professional miniature model maker.

Today, you website is your display room.   It must be perfect, it must represent you, it must be interactive as if a representative, one that you trained and trusted, was there with the potential donor.  Your Organization must have a professional and targeted Web Site, linked to Social Media and maximized for SEO, or you are throwing money out the door.  Just as we discussed with the brochures, the costs are significantly reduced, but you still may need professional help.  Do you really want to trust your main showroom design to the receptionist?  You may be surprised, but in many cases it is the receptionist  who many Boards get to pick a template from a free site, one of those do it yourself domain hosting destinations advertised so much today, later, leaving the important decisions of picking the type fonts and colors to, yes, the receptionist!

Your Web Site is your showroom.  Like it or not, that is the reality of 2012. Your Organization can no longer call it “that web thing”, you can no longer ignore it, because your competition is not ignoring the Internet!  With a well planned strategy, good branding, and exceptional brand maintenance, your Web Site, in conjunction with Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and other Social Media resources, can be a better tool than direct mail ever was.  It combines direct mail with lead generation, a show room and even demonstration area or Update from the site of a particular project with the clever use of video and YouTube.  Beyond this, with the use of things like Google analytics, and the clever following of the right competition or peers  on Twitter and facebook,(see other blog postings on BizCentralUSA that cover these subjects) you can know more about your market and your competition than you could have dreamed of in the past.

The Internet is not a fad, Social Media is not a fad, and your Organization’s Web Site is as important as your home office, perhaps even more important, since it can be seen instantly around the world.  These are the facts of 2012.  Isn’t it time to at least ask some questions, hear some advice, talk to some Internet professionals and see what can be done to strengthen your position in the new world of 2012?  The Internet is now a raging river of unrelated data, but  with proper guidance and direction your company can build an internet strategy that can be an island with a beacon of direction and light in the center of that raging river of potential customers!

Before you waste one more cent on Yellow pages, and obsolete printed mass mail material which must then use postage, take a little time and listen to an updated strategy that could bring your Nonprofit, with all its quality and good will, smoothly into the New Year.  Make 2012 the year you truly wade into that raging river that is the Internet and tame it!

At CharityNetUSA, we have been on the cutting edge of internet strategies and Social Media Marketing since 2003.  We can’t start the conversation without a call from you!  We are here to help your Nonprofit.  Give CharityNet a call and let’s discuss an Internet and Social Media Strategy.  With the right SEO and Social Media Operation, combined with a fantastic, targeted Web Site, we can help you make 2012 a record year for your organization, and help increase your Internet exposure to the world!

** If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to the Non-profit community, please contact Chris Romero at CharityNet USA  by calling 1.877.857.9002 ext 509 or emailing him Chris@BizCentralUSA.com  Keep visiting www.CharityNetUSA.com .  Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook to receive daily tips and tricks!

Continue reading »]]> Filling out Grant Applications

Continue reading »]]> CharityNetUSA, a division of BizCentralUSA, Is honoring the Veterans organizations of America with OPERATION: VETERANS OUTREACH ORGANIZATION GRANTS by awarding generous grants to 10 recognized small veterans’ organizations aimed at improving and expanding veterans outreach programs within their organizations.  CEO Efrain Rodriguez, himself a proud Veteran, said “Our US Veterans have given much to this nation, and if these grants can help set up worthwhile outreach programs that will benefit our heroes throughout this great country, it is our honor, here at CharityNetUSA to do our part.”

Contact CharityNetUSA to apply for Veterans Outreach Organization Assistance Grants

CharityNetUSA has provided a full range of business services for the nonprofit community over many years.   Through ChurchNetUSA they are the nation’s leader in the preparation, filling and annual requirements for 501c3 Tax Exempt Status Corporations which is how outreach programs operate most effectively.  Once an organization is designated 501c3, they can apply for additional grants from thousands of grant funders in the public and private sectors.  The preparation of those grant applications is also a specialty of CharityNetUSA.

The Goal of these grants is to help Veterans Outreach organizations create more awareness for their services, enable them to more efficiently run their operations and enable them to more fully concentrate on their mission.  This will be made possible by the CharityNetUSA Veterans Organizations Grants this holiday season.  “Sometimes, we all need to give a little back to the community of man, I am happy to do my part” said CEO Efrain Rodriguez.

Veterans organizations interested in being considered for the generous grants from CharityNetUSA can contact representatives at: 1.877.857.9002 or email info@CharityNetUSA.com

To learn more about CharityNetUSA and the full range of services we provide small to mid size non – profits, visit www.CharityNetUSA.com or call 1.877.857.9002

Continue reading »]]> In today’s economic environment many people are being put in the tough position of losing their jobs. Today it is more difficult to find another job due to increased competition from other unemployed individuals.  There are others who are maybe looking to transition from their current job to something else, but are uncertain in the current economic environment.  Then there are those who have worked in the non profit sector through various ways and have seen firsthand the effects of the economy on non profits as they have had to scale back their offerings, and some have even been shuttered closed.

Despite a struggling economy with high unemployment rates, tight salaries and a crumbling corporate world, a recession is actually a great time to start a small business.  History has shown that recessions can be birthing grounds for some of hardest working, most successful and creative entrepreneurs today.  A recession can teach an entrepreneur a lot about running an effective business that has the potential to do great things in a sprouting economy. Practices such as learning to operate on a budget, investing more time in client satisfaction and take time to trial and error your business model.  The truth is if a business can survive even the toughest of times, that business is most likely to be a forerunner in the best of times.

A recent report suggests that approximately 70% of home-based businesses will last over a three-year period, compared to 29% of other business ventures. With estimates of the total number of home-based business ranging from 34 to 36 million, it’s clear that home-based businesses offer a less expensive alternative to traditional businesses.

So, what does this all mean?

It means that one of the best options is to become your own boss.  Independent consulting can be a very rewarding experience, both personally and financially.  This is especially true in the non profit sector.

The non profit sector has been hit very hard by the current recession.  Many are looking for new ways to reach out to people, and find new ways to grow their organizations.  Who are they going to turn to?  It could be you.

There are some advantages and disadvantages to starting your own business, such as:

Advantages of Starting a Business:

One of the first benefits that people associate with starting a business is being your own boss. Working for yourself can provide freedom, independence and, a profound sense of satisfaction as you watch your small business grow and succeed.

Disadvantages of Starting a Business:

Larger businesses generally have safety nets that are not as readily available to the self-employed. If your computer breaks down or if you have networking problems, you must handle the issue yourself rather than call the company computer technician or IT personnel.

There is also another option. That is to become an affiliate of another established company.  The way this works is you are your own boss.  You set your own appointments, you work with your clients, and you do the work that you love.  However, you also have the support of a team of people that will do the production side of the work, as well as prepare a lot of the necessary tools for you to be successful.

There are many affiliate programs out there. Make sure you take the time to research different opportunities, to make sure that you find the one that is the best fit for you and your particular skills.

This is a great compromise for starting your own business.  It’s just a matter of making the decision to begin this journey towards being your own boss.