There’s a disconnect in the nonprofit world. I read countless articles about technology and its powerful applications for the nonprofit sector, but their coverage of the critical interface between technology and communications strategies is rare. That’s a serious gap.
What’s happened, in my opinion, is that many of us shy away from technology. By leaving tech decisions to the IT department rather than schooling ourselves on these opportunities, we limit the impact of our communications strategies.
My advice is to learn what tech tools can strengthen your nonprofit’s communications strategies and what choices you have. If you have an IT team or consultant, ask them to dig into the details. But get to know the basics yourself. That way, you’ll make sure you get the right tool, and you’ll get the most out of it.
I interviewed nonprofit technology expert and author Michael Stein for his take on tech tips to strengthen your web and email communications impact. Michael, who has worked with Children Now, Groundspring, and now as an Internet strategist with the eOrganization.com, had some great ideas:
1. Improve how you gather personal information and email addresses from stakeholders.
Tip: Don’t just ask for email addresses when you ask your audiences to subscribe to your e-news. Take it one step further to do some quick surveying on issues. Gather name, street address, zip code, how they heard about you.
Tip: Think more like a business in terms of figuring out the sources of these leads. You want more of them.
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Tip: Ask for an email address when your web users request a PDF download.
Benefit: You’ll learn more about how various outreach techniques are working to validate (or not) marketing expenses and impact.
Insight: Many of your readers are likely to prefer HTML e-newsletters, so publish in both HTML and plain text versions. Studies show that HTML format performs much better in click-throughs, forwards to a friend, etc. (NOTE: Readers, there is conflicting data on this last point.) The format makes it much easier for readers to act.
Benefit: Better engagement with audiences by giving them a choice of format and the opportunity to take action with a click.
Caution: Don’t forego your text version. Many readers still prefer text.
3. Dive into blog publishing.
Definition: A blog (an abbreviation of weblog) is a website that serves as an online journal, updated very frequently with commentary on one or more topics. Blog authors — called bloggers — commonly provide links to related information with commentary. Because of their low barrier to entry (blogs are easy and cheap to implement), blogs are proliferating in the nonprofit sector.
Insight: The “blogosphere” is becoming huge, with content feeds (RSS readers deliver blog content to interested audiences) growing rapidly. Blogs are a great way to disseminate content in a timely way.
Benefit: Some high-impact ways to put your blog to use for your nonprofit include:
Serializing content, such as daily reports from an oceanographer on an expedition or an advocacy campaign hard at work. Building community by providing a venue for multiple voices (staff and/or members, experts, or others).
Critiquing events or news items in your issue areas as they occur. Reinforcing content disseminated via other communications vehicles — broadcast, print, or online. Providing personal perspectives, which enables your audiences to get to know your nonprofit’s, staff members. Emphasize the people in your organization to strengthen relationships with your audiences.
4. Explore using application service providers (ASP) to streamline your online operations.
Insight: There are now automated systems that you don’t have to maintain (they live on a server, which you access via the web) for operations from website content management and online donation processing to email messaging and online event registration. Consider moving these processes online and of your desktop computer.
Benefit: Easier software interfaces. Faster learning curve. Sometimes your software cost will be higher, but your total cost of operation (since you’ll save hours in set up and maintenance) will be lower.
Example: Take a look at Citysoft, an ASP targeted to nonprofits, associations, educational institutions, and other socially responsible organizations. Citysoft offers a menu of tech tools from email marketing to web content development software and donor and event management.
Depending on the modules you select, your organization can send email newsletters to members and constituents and track the results, create online communities for audience use, provide event registration, and much more.
