SEO Optimization
Messaging on a Mission
You've probably heard a thousand times that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a valuable and essential digital marketing tool. But do you know how it works and how your organization can reap its benefits? In this episode of Messaging on a Mission, we dive into the importance of SEO and how to implement best practices to make your brand more discoverable than ever online. Key Takeaways Who your audiences are, where you can find them, and how to get your brand in front of them are the aspects of digital marketing that everyone in charge of an organization should know about. Do your research to...
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Love in Your Message
Messaging on a Mission
Kim Sorrell discusses her book, Love Is, which is about her year-long quest to figure out the true meaning of love. She talks about that journey and what she’s learned about leading with love and incorporating it into your message. Episode Guest(s): Kim Sorrelle is an entrepreneur, director of a humanitarian organization, a popular speaker, and the author of two books. Her first book, Cry Until You Laugh is about her breast cancer experience and her husband's battle with pancreatic cancer after being diagnosed four months apart. Her second book, Love Is, chronicles her year-long...
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Public Speaking & Your Message
Messaging on a Mission
For many, the topic of today’s episode ranks right up there with having a root canal, attending a party filled with multiple exes, or fighting city hall. Yet, speaking in public about the work of your organization is one of the most powerful tools for getting your message out in the world. Our guest today gives us lots of concrete steps we can take to get better at public speaking. Episode Guest(s): Brenden Kumarasamy is the founder of MasterTalk; he coaches ambitious executives & entrepreneurs to become the top 1% of communicators in their industry. He also has a popular...
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Crisis Communications
Messaging on a Mission
Crises occur when they're least expected, which is why crisis communications are necessary for every organization. Although life would be so much easier if emergencies arrived with a fair warning, you and your organization would be better off having an effective plan to help avoid catastrophe and permanent reputation damage. In this episode of Messaging on a Mission, David Oates, a renowned Crisis PR expert, sheds light on how individuals and organizations can avoid potential PR disasters and reveals the best things to do during pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis situations. Episode...
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Annual Reports
Messaging on a Mission
The idea of the annual report fills people with yawns, dread, and thoughts about practically anything else. It doesn’t have to be that way! In this episode of Messaging on a Mission, an expert explains why the annual report can not only be a powerful tool for telling your story and building your brand, but it can also supply your organization with great content to last you throughout the year! Episode Guest(s): Katharine Ramsden has helped leading organizations and their leadership teams tell their stories for over 30 years. Her career began as a research analyst at a consulting firm...
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Intergenerational Communication
Messaging on a Mission
For organizations to thrive, they have to have intergenerational teams and constituents. With that, however, can come to some unexpected communication challenges. Understanding how to speak to everyone based on their specific needs is the hallmark of good communication. In this episode of Messaging on a Mission, we hear about ways to make intergenerational communication clear and effective. Episode Guest(s): Peter Yawitz (peteryawitz.com) is the President of Clear Communication (clearcommunication.net) and founder, host, author, and advice columnist at Advice from Someone Else’s Dad...
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Writing Intentionally
Messaging on a Mission
Writing Intentionally Episode Summary: Writing is an essential aspect of our lives since we learned our ABCs. We write every day; whether we’re drafting a document for our colleagues at work, writing an email to a client, or texting a loved one on Instagram, it is a unique skill. However, it should be done purposefully. How do you pass your message with clarity if you’re writing for a group of people? This episode of Messaging on a Mission reveals insights from Erin Lebacqz – an expert in writing intentionally. She sheds light on how people can communicate clearly and gain...
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Photography and Your Message
Messaging on a Mission
When we think of the messages we send out in the world, we always think about the words. But how often do we think of photography? Not enough. Your message is more than what you say with vowels and consonants. It’s also about the story you tell, the emotions you show, and the authenticity you create with photography. In this episode of Messaging on a Mission we speak with renown photographer Joel Benjamin on how to think about photography when telling your story. Episode Guest(s): Joel Benjamin is a commercial and editorial photographer, known for his bright, authentic and energetic...
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How to Hire a Consultant
Messaging on a Mission
It’s impossible to go it alone; especially when your organization is lean and your to-do lists are fat! Enter “the consultant.” How do mission-driven organizations find the right one though? Today’s guest is the co-founder of Nonprofit.ist an online community that connects consultants with the mission-driven organizations they can help. Episode Guest(s): Heather Yandow is a collaborative co-conspirator and creative thinker with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit world. Inspired by issues that touch her heart and organizations invested in relationships,...
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Food for Life
Messaging on a Mission
Some ideas are easy to communicate. Others are not as easily embraced. Our guest for this episode of Messaging on a Mission is Paul Rodney Turner, founder of Food for Life Global, the world’s largest vegan food relief with 211 projects in 60 countries serving up to 2 million meals daily. We hear about his journey from monk to the leader of a global nonprofit (as well as billiards champion). Plus, we learn his views on the energetic connection between all living things—and how that connection can help us end world hunger. Episode Guest(s): As the founder of Food for Life Global, Paul...
info_outlinePOSTSCRIPT: This episode of Messaging on a Mission was recorded in November of 2021, slightly more than a month before our guest’s untimely death from a heart attack. We are airing the episode to honor his memory and share his insights with those who can benefit from them.
For most organizations, the end of the calendar year is when you do a fundraising push. People can get that last bit of tax benefit before they file their returns. Now is the time organizations are interpreting the results of that end-of-year campaign. In this episode, we look at:
What you can learn from a campaign that exceeded expectations?
Ascertaining what went wrong when they didn’t.
Trends in annual giving campaigns, and
Some best practices around continued engagement throughout the new year.
Episode Guest
Christopher Marrion was a senior not-for-profit executive with more than two decades of experience as a leader in cultural organizations. Before his passing in December of 2021, he was the Vice President of Advancement for the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory, a historic theatre and presenter in Worcester, MA.
Prior to joining THTC, Chris served as the Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at his graduate school alma mater, the Boston University College of Fine Arts. Chris served for eight years under Artistic Director Yo-Yo Ma as Deputy Director of Silkroad, where his responsibilities included strategic planning, program assessment, and fundraising for concert tours, recordings, and commissions by the Silk Road Ensemble, a multi-year education initiative in NYC public schools, and a collaboration with the Harvard Business School to promote innovative cultural enterprise. Additional experience includes Boston Lyric Opera (Director of Development), Boston Children’s Hospital (Major Gifts Officer), and AIDS Action Committee (Director of Individual Giving).
Chris studied at the New England Conservatory of Music (BM) and the Boston University College of Fine Arts (MM). Prior to entering the development field, he was a freelance musician active in the U.S. and Europe.
To remember Chris, please consider a donation to the Hanover Theater & Conservatory (thehanovertheater.org), AIDS Action (AAC.org), or a charity that is important to you.
Key Takeaways:
Fundraising is both art and science.
What you learn relies a lot on what you intended to learn before you started.
Base your decisions on what you know about donor behavior and their history to identify who might be the most likely people to respond to this campaign.
Don’t be afraid to try something different.
No matter what the short-term results are, remember to consider the lifetime value of the donor.
From a data perspective, it’s important to have a baseline.
Major gifts offer an opportunity to write a short story.
If something hasn't worked often, the first thing to do is go back and ask, was it the right? Was it the right message? Was it powerful enough to really explain what we do?
Always keep your audience first.
Have your baseline data in place before you start. Know what segments didn't perform well, what didn't do as well as expected, and why didn't an experiment pay off. Then you can figure out what to do next.
Useful Links:
The Hanover Theatre & Conservatory for the Performing Arts
https://thehanovertheatre.org/
AIDS Action Committee