What's Next In Advertising and Marketing

I just viewed a very informative slide show by Paul Isakson on the future of marketing and advertising.

I think that it's really a "must see" for those wanting to get a sneek peek at where the world of marketing is now and where it's headed in the future. Definitely worth 5 minutes of your time! Most of what is presented here is about marketing in relation to products like Nike shoes or Starbucks coffee, but I definitely think Jewish non-profits can take away some valuable information here about "emerging methods of marketing", providing "content" that people can't live without and the idea that Modern marketing = "making peoples lives better".

To view the slideshow click here.

Yoav Kaufman

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Style Over Substance

I recently received what is possibly the worst email blast ever.

It was from an organization calling itself the Leadership Yeshiva Academy.

What you see is a headline: "A Unique Yeshiva in ISRAEL, Be a Jewish Leader"

Followed by this: "Find Out if You Are the Chosen One"

Then you can see this short video which is a really bad takeoff on The Matrix movies with some Men In Black thrown in.

It's supposed to be fun and interesting and get your attention.

But in the end, you never quite understand what the institution does.

Or even worse, what it wants you to do.

It could be a recruitment ad for future students. It could be a fundraising appeal.

Whoever made this spent about 99% of their time getting the style just right.

What happened to the message?

It got lost.

Don't make this mistake.

Please.

David Rubin

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Putting the donor first: blogging edition

Has your non-profit taken the the next step and started posting to a blog?

If so, do you find yourself looking for readers and subscribers? The same fundraising principle that advocates putting the donor first can also be applied to blogging.

Blog about subjects that your potential readers/donors are interested in.

In the words of David from JournalMarketing,

"Promote yourself by shutting up" ... not literaly of course but this means less self promotion and more talk about topics your donors will find interesting.

This may mean not writing about your organizations latest project or donation drive, but it could mean writing about a current event that your donors are most likely following closely.

Don't know what holds your readers attention? Now is a good time to find out! Start posting and see what posts get the most clicks by using a blog statistic tracking program such as the free service offered by Feeedburner.com

Thanks to Donor Power Blog for the inspiration

Yoav Kaufman

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Spring Forward*

*As of Friday morning we turn our clocks ahead one hour (but only if you live in Israel). Israel is now 7 hours ahead of New York and 10 hours ahead of Seattle. Spring is back, and not one minute too soon!

Yoav Kaufman

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Get Personal

In a recent blog post entitled "Secret shortcut: personal vs. impersonal" Seth Godin says:

"Form letters don't work. Autographs do. Surly cashiers fail. Smiles from real people succeed. Humans like humans. They hate organizations. Do you know what most people want? They want you to care."

Three things to think about:

- When you receive a donation or one of your volunteers puts in hours of his or her valuable time to help you out, do you follow up with a personal phone call or letter showing your appreciation?

- Have you ever offered to meet with your donor base in a one to one setting to get their reactions and suggestions to some of your latest projects?

- Do you strive to make everyone who supports you feel appreciated on an individual level?

Yoav Kaufman

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Blog Comments are Now Enabled!

Have you ever read a blog entry on the Jewish Donor Blog that you had some more information about or a link to add? Now you can!

Comments are now enabled on JewishDonorBlog.com and we are interested in what you have to say!

To comment on one of our blog posts just click on the title of the post within the blog and then just click "post a comment".

Yoav Kaufman

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Jewish Donor Blog: Purim Edition!

It's Purim! Chag Samayach!!

In the spirit of Purim I want to include a posting that is a litle lighter than the usual hard hitting stuff that find on J.D.B.. If you are a big fan of basketball and March Madness like myself you will get a laugh out of this!

Direct from the Jewish Humor web site http://www.bangitout.com/ , here is a Purim TOP TEN list...

TOP TEN Reasons the NCAA Tournament Needs to Be On Purim!

10. Stomping/Air Horns/ when hearing opponents name is normal

9. Queen Esther taught us when entered into a contest, never doubt the underdog

8. 64 different uniforms make for a good costume party

7. The tourney feels as long as the megillah

6. Binge drinking every round now a mitzvah

5. Will definitely invest your Matanos Levyonim cash into a NCAA pool

4. Sitting on your couch for 3 hours with friends, over-drinking/eating, screaming, making jokes...sounds like an awesome NCAA/sudeah to me

3. On Purim, all your prayers are answered, including ones involving St. Joeseph's going all the way

2. Somebody will get unseated, dethrone, upset,

1. Misha Nichnas March, Marbim B'Madness

Yoav Kaufman

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Why We Give

It seems simple, so simple in fact that it may get overlooked.

According to Dr. Lenkowsky, Director of Graduate Programs at The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, the most importnat reason why we give is...

"People are asked."

Lesson learned: No matter what the cause, no matter when or how... If you don't ask you won't receive!

Thanks to Dan at EJewishPhilanthropy for his post Ideas Are Scarcer Than Money

Yoav Kaufman

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Eight confirmed killed in terrorist attack on Jerusalem Yeshiva

Haaretz.com reports that eight are confirmed dead in todays terrorist attack on Jerusalem Yeshiva Mercaz Harav. Full story here.

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Young American Jews Alienated From Israel. NOT!

For the past several years we have read article after article about this problem,

The Jewish youth in North America are becoming more and more alienated from Israel.

A real bummer! What to do?

Anyone for another committee meeting or study group?

Not to mention that it bodes poorly for those of us working in the Jewish fundraising market.

But don't panic yet.

The Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University just released an eye-opening study. And guess what?

The researchers conclude that "Jewish attachment to Israel has largely held stedy for the period 1994-2007." Including the younger generations.

There was no decline. It was a myth. You can read the study here.

Let's find better ways to reach these poeple. They still love us. Do we love them back?

David Rubin

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Thoughts About Size

Ever thought that your company or non-profit is just not big enough to be successful in today's competitive market? Think again.

Jason on Signal Vs. Noise found this great quote...

“If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.” -Betty Reese

Seth Godin also has a book entitled "Small is the New Big" ... I think the title says it all.

Yoav Kaufman

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Fusion of the Internet and Traditional Direct Marketing

"The tested, tried and true rules of direct marketing are alive and well on the Internet. What’s dead are the Web sites designed and run by goofballs that are breaking the rules and haven’t a clue what rules they are breaking. "

- Denny Hatch

Yoav Kaufman

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