Bee Measure

Get Direction From Your Data

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Fundraising During a Pandemic, How to Run a Remote Workshop & the Non-Designer’s Guide to Data Viz

Results are in, and the Winner is… Facebook

Guess what’s back, back again? It’s the new M&R Benchmarks nonprofit report! The published findings can be found here and, let me tell you, it’s beautifully designed and incredibly comprehensive. A major finding for nonprofits: Facebook giving accounted for 3.5% of all online revenue. Giving Tuesday was a major driver. And given that “the vast majority of all Facebook revenue (97%) was donated through the peer-to-peer Facebook Fundraisers tool,” grassroots fundraising via social media is something to focus on in 2020.

It’s a Global Pandemic, but You Can Still Ask

Nonprofit leaders are reading the room right now and it’s filled with uncertain, fearful people. That said, we nonprofits still rely on donations. What should we do? This HBR article touches on exactly this — the right way to outreach during a challenging global time. As the writer says, “In the coming weeks and months, successful requests for charitable donations will need to be embedded in a larger expression of mutual support, empathy, and solidarity.” Be transparent about the suffering your donors are experiencing, offer support, and emphasize your mutual commitment to each other.

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Aid for Nonprofits, What’s Trending & the Rise of Digital Marketing

Aid for Nonprofits Dealing With COVID-19

The $2 trillion federal stimulus package, CARES Act, is expected to go into effect on Friday, much to the relief of thousands of individuals, nonprofits and organizations. If you’re currently struggling with shrinking operational funds, this article from Nonprofit Quarterly details how nonprofits may be eligible to access funds to avoid laying people off or closing your doors. From emergency support for nonprofits with less than 500 employees to loan support for larger entities, there’s relief for everyone… even donors.

Fewer Events, More Digital Marketing

Right now, I’m having trouble looking a few days into the future — not to mention several months of years. Nevertheless, I thought this analysis of how the coronavirus may change marketing (at least in the B2B space) was insightful. Budgets that were allocated for in-person events, retreats, conferences, fundraisers and trade shows are now being shifted to the online space for marketing. Whatever you do, don’t totally chop your marketing and communications budget! It’s important to stay connected with your audience and maintaining a sense of normalcy — even if the current situation is so unpredictable.

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My Favorite (Coronavirus) Data Viz

This month’s issue a tribute to the data visualizations of coronavirus. This crisis has shown us a lot of not-so-great stuff. But it has also revealed the power of data viz. The now-famous “flatten the curve” chart made it possible to easily communicate how individuals’ actions can change outcomes.

Great data visualizations help us understand the abstract and process the world beyond our immediate experience. I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites below. Share widely!

Very Interesting Visualizations

“Flatten The Curve” Explained.

If you’ve been on the Internet at all this past week, you’ve heard the phrase “flatten the curve.” Behind every great data viz is a great story (they say that, right?). Well, this Fast Company article, which includes the gif that launched a million social distancers, explains the history behind everyone’s favorite coronavirus graphic. The idea here is if we pretend the coronavirus is no big deal and continue on with business as usual, we’ll see a large spike in the number of cases, peaking well above a dotted line conveying healthcare capacity. If we don’t panic and stay safe, we’ll see the number of cases smoothed to a long, low hill that doesn’t overwhelm our hospital system.

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What Companies Are Doing With Your Data, A World Without Cookies & Banner Ads Are Back

Content Marketing for Dummies

This article from Search Engine Journal touches on something important: Content that doesn’t convert is just that… content. If you want content that drives interest and donations, you need to look at your metrics. If you’re creating content, it should have a clear purpose and lead people to take another action — whether that’s to learn more, sign up for an event, download research, or donate to your organization. And don’t forget that content drives SEO… just make sure you’re writing like a human and not keyword stuffing in the hopes your post ranks higher on Google.

No More Cookies… Now What?

With the new restrictions browsers are putting on cookies, I wonder if we need to prepare for a cookie-less world. It’s better we accept it now and learn how to survive rather than be annoyed and taken by surprise when they are *actually* blocked. This article offers great advice with specific tactics to successfully advertise without cookies. Which one are you trying? I’ll definitely be using my own first-party data since it’s proven to drive higher conversion rates.

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