Hoots and Thomas | April 29, 2009
The Oneicity blog is 100 days old! Oneicity existed before that, but our blog was our coming out party! Our first blog post was on Inauguration Day–January 20, 2009. In his 100-day press conference, a member of the press corps asked President Obama what had surprised him, enchanted him, surprised him and troubled him since [...]
Steve Thomas | April 29, 2009
In the category of addictive information for those of us who are chart junkies, check out this cool tool.
The map presentation looks like what Google Analytics gives us plus a few basic lists and demographic pie charts.
You can check up-to-date stats on users with age and gender breakouts. I spent way too much time [...]
Steve Thomas | April 28, 2009
Online video is the killer application these days. We’ve talked about great uses and opportunities–most recently talking about Susan Boyle of Britain’s Got Talent. We’re recommending everyone dip a toe in the water and try it (Oneicity is even dabbling a bit).
Here are a couple of links to inspire you:
Charity Water.
Seth Godin.
One [...]
Steve Thomas | April 27, 2009
The Twitter community has a tradition called “Follow Friday” where they promote fellow twitterers who do good work. If you’re not familiar with it, drop Hoots a line here and she’ll bring you up to speed (or you can read about the origins of Follow Friday here).
You need to do something similar in your [...]
Steve Thomas | April 24, 2009
“How will the new 990 reporting requirements change the way your billing looks to my donors?” This is the 4th post in our series of questions you need to ask your agency or consultant. This one is tricky and you’ll have to wade through some disclaimers. But stay with us, if you don’t, you may [...]
Kris Hoots | April 23, 2009
White mail. Is it the proverbial elephant in your fundraising room? Is it something that is so big everyone in your ministry can see it but no one knows what to do about it? You cannot afford to ignore this elephant. So don’t.
Our definition: White mail is passive income from unknown sources.
Why is [...]
Steve Thomas | April 22, 2009
Want to know the most deadly social media mistake your organization can make? Hang on, it’s coming, but first some statistics:
Harris Interactive recently reported that 51% of Americans don’t use the key social media platforms like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Twitter has the lowest penetration rate at around 5%.
Some of the interesting conclusions from [...]
Steve Thomas | April 21, 2009
Visual Measures, among others, reports on their blog that the Susan Boyle video has reached over 100 million views on YouTube in just a few days. Amazing huh?
A few thoughts:
1. First, it’s a great story. It’s that simple. I’m cynical enough that I have to at least allow for it not to be exactly the [...]
Steve Thomas | April 20, 2009
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. Here’s the detailed definition from Wikipedia. The Hoots-Thomas overly simple definition is: building a relationship with the customer or constituent or donor using what we know about them. CRM is HOT, HOT, HOT in terms of improving return on investment and increasing net income. It is good stuff!
We’ve been [...]
Steve Thomas | April 17, 2009
This is the third post in our “Ask your agency” series. Today we’re sharing question number 10. Below this post you’ll see links to the previous posts in this series.
The Top 10 Questions You Must Ask Your Agency (or Consultant)!
If you use a consultant or an agency to help with your fundraising or marketing you [...]
Steve Thomas | April 16, 2009
Yesterday we introduced my Aunt Ruby as our online donation tester. Today I want to make sure you know of a way that might help all the Aunt Rubys give online more comfortably–while making them feel special.
The strategy uses a PURL–Personalized URL–not the knitting stitch. You’ve probably seen these in various hotel industry offers or [...]
Steve Thomas | April 15, 2009
Want to generate more donations through your website? Your Aunt Ruby holds the key.
Everyone talks about social media, search engine optimization (SEO), online video and all sorts of other cool technology. BUT if your Aunt Ruby can’t give easily an online gift, you’re wasting your time with all that stuff.
You don’t have an Aunt [...]
Kris Hoots | April 14, 2009
We know it’s true: “Every picture tells a story.” and “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Well this fun Twitter application called Twitter Sheep tells a fabulous story worth a thousand words!
Simply submit your Twitter username and voilà! a tag cloud of the bios from the people in your “flock.”
Here’s the Oneicity flock:
Now we [...]
Hoots and Thomas | April 13, 2009
We’re starting the week by lifting your eyes to the horizon and reminding you that it isn’t the critics who count–it’s the men and women like you who are leading ministries in tough times, who are caring for donors, who are figuring out how to use new tools to raise money and who are turning [...]
Steve Thomas | April 9, 2009
Finally. Easter is nearly here. Boy do I need Easter. Every year I wait for Easter like 10-year-olds wait for Christmas. Easter is my reminder, my marker. Easter is the real-live anniversary of the day when heart-sick disciples found angels instead of the body of their teacher and friend. It is THE day, that [...]
Kris Hoots | April 9, 2009
We hear this question from our clients a lot. What is Twitter? Why should I use it? How will it help my ministry? There are many Twitter experts like Laura Fitton (@Pistachio) for one. A few of my favorite non-profits using Twitter are Phoenix Rescue Mission (@phxmission), Miriam’s Kitchen (@miriamskitchen) and Helen Ross, Executive Director [...]
Steve Thomas | April 7, 2009
I had a great meeting tonight with one of the most well-read and engaging Christian leaders I’ve ever known. His favorite books were a constant topic that had me adding to my list of must-reads. And after telling Hoots about the meeting, she asked me to list my top 10 non-Bible must-reads for those who [...]
Steve Thomas | April 6, 2009
The charity:water/Twestival guys are back with more social media fundraising goodness and a bit of confustival (that’s the combination of confusion and twestival) for me. You remember, don’t you? Twestival–the international social media event to benefit charity:water. Here’s the sequence of our blogs on the topic.
February 2: Twestival: Sorry not fans
February 12: Twestival:Seattle Report
February [...]
Steve Thomas | April 3, 2009
Next post in our “Ask your agency” series… Today we’re sharing question number 5. Below this post you’ll see links to the previous posts in this series.
The Top 10 Questions You Must Ask Your Agency (or Consultant)!
If you use a consultant or an agency to help with your fundraising or marketing you have to ask [...]
Kris Hoots | April 2, 2009
Katya over at Network for Good was inspired by the same video we were — you may have seen it — the one where Microsoft shows how consumers are evolving and advertisers are not necessarily keeping up? If you haven’t it’s worth a watch. You can see it here. (By the way, if you haven’t [...]
