![\"Seth](\"https:\/\/causevox.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/seth-godin-e1356553846694.jpeg\" "\\"seth-godin\\"")
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Nonprofits are all about the cause, and not about the profit (thus the name!). But sometimes we forget that the for-profit world has a lot to teach us about things like marketing strategy, customer service, and business growth. We still need to think like a business to have the impact we want to on our cause.<\/p>\n
Seth Godin has a lot to teach us in that respect. He\u2019s an entrepreneur, author, and marketing genius. Here are seven quick marketing lessons from his blog<\/a> that you can apply to your nonprofit\u2019s fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Is your slogan true?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Slogans and taglines come and go. In order to be effective, they need to tell a compelling story that lines up with your mission. \u201cA story is something you live and connect with and come back to again and again and again.\u201d Good slogans reflect that story and relate back to your organization\u2019s core values. That\u2019s why a clear and exciting call to action<\/a> is essential to the success of your fundraising campaign.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Get criticism from the right places.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t feed the trolls. You are bound to encounter some nasty critics \u2013 whether in the Twittersphere or in the comments on your nonprofit\u2019s blog. But these are not the voices you should listen to \u2013 seek out feedback from those who care about your venture: \u201cThere are plenty of ways to get useful and constructive feedback. It starts with looking someone in the eye, with having a direct one on one conversation or email correspondence with a customer who cares.\u201d Tune out the noise. Look for criticism that is actually constructive and will help you improve.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Be an everyday impresario.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Impresarios are big, impressive shows or the people who put them on. A classic example would be the huge gala or benefit with celebrity guests and edgy performances. While these ventures often have a huge payoff, they also may carry a big risk. But you can also find opportunities for a small-scale impresario with the resources you already have: \u201cThe magic of the impresario opportunity is that it can start on the tiniest of scales\u2026 It\u2019s not strategically difficult to imagine fifty ways you can use the resources you have right now to start something.\u201d Organize a lunch outing for your best supporters, get involved with your community\u2019s little league, or host training for college students. The possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>Use clean design and content.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Your fundraising site shouldn\u2019t try to be everything to everyone. Too many badges, apps, and videos will dilute your message. Democracy isn\u2019t the best method for creating excellent design \u2013 leave that to experts who know how to prune. Otherwise, you might end up with \u201ca tacky mess.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>\u201cImprove your condiments.\u201d<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Hot dogs are better with mustard. This might sound like the opposite of the previous lesson, but it\u2019s important to make an enjoyable experience for your supporters. This means \u201cthe packaging, the service, the environment, the hours, the interactions, the way it feels to tell our friends\u201d are all extremely important features of your fundraising campaign.<\/p>\n Great examples of this are providing rewards, like a branded T-shirt for donations<\/a> over $100, and letting donors feel involved in the campaign themselves. Let them start their own fundraising pages or track how their donation is making an impact. Don\u2019t let this turn into clutter, but do remember, \u201cthe single most effective way to improve your impact is to do a better job of providing\u00a0it.\u201d<\/p>\n