Maximizing Your Resources
Strategy and marketing consultant Anne Boyle has a strong opinion about nonprofits that claim they “can’t afford” to create a marketing strategy. The idea is simple: organizations should be putting strategy and planning first in order to maximize their resources. One of her tips that’s actually really helpful, in my opinion, is to not try to be perfect but to just get it done.
Ditch The Digital Department
This article really threw me for a loop. “Digital” has been a buzzword for a while now, but do organizations even need someone solely dedicated to it? The short answer is no. The long answer is still no, but with more nuance. Basically, it’s advised that your organization “hire digitally skilled staff to populate every department” rather than invest in a digital department.
Using Data to Brew the Nation’s Best IPA
Down here in Charlottesville, Champion Brewing company has teamed up with machine learning company Metis Machine to craft an innovative beer using machine learning. The article says the process begins by inputting data about the ten best and worst-selling IPAs nationally, then relying on an algorithm to determine the best recipe. It’s dubbed the ML IPA, and for creativity alone I give it a 10/10.
The Power of Stats
Knowledge is power. And thanks to HubSpot, we are really powerful. The company has put together a comprehensive report of “The Ultimate List of Marketing Statistics for 2018” and it doesn’t disappoint. If you need some stats to sell your boss on investing in SEO, content, email marketing, and social media, check out this list.
A Proclivity For Productivity
You know I’m a sucker for analytics. Well, I’m even more of a sucker for proactivity. Preventing an issue from arising is far more cost-effective than having to fix an issue after it’s happened, and no one knows this better than nonprofits. A startling statistic from a Forrester Research survey found that “only 12% of data in organizations today is being analyzed, and the majority of organizations are not using analytics efficiently.” There’s an easy way to change that. Rather than focusing on gathering data, spend more time analyzing and gaining insights.
My Favorite Advice
The life-changing magic of tidying up your content
As a nonprofit, the budget — or lack thereof — is usually the deciding factor. That’s where content marketing and content intelligence comes in! Take stock of what you have on your site and how it is performing. Make the most of your content by implementing routine content audits and using the right data management tools.
A Very Cool Visualization
Back down to Earth
If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you’re likely looking for something to take your mind off the madness. Look no further. While we have the tendency to view life from our own self-centered and completely unique point-of-view, leave it to this data visualization to give you some much-needed perspective.