Podcasts

Media Relations — An interview with Bonnie McEwan

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:53:00 +0000

In this interview with Bonnie McEwan, President of Make Waves, we talk about what makes for a good story these days, and how a nonprofit can identify and get out in front of their own best media opportunities. (13:16)

Open Source — An interview with Ryan Ozimek

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:27:01 +0000

In the past couple of years, open source has had a big impact on nonprofits. In this interview with Ryan Ozimek (founder and CEO of PICnet), we talk about what open source is and how it’s relevant to nonprofit communicators. (11:16)

We Are Media — An interview with Holly Ross

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:32:00 +0000

Interested in learning about how social media strategies and tools can help nonprofit organizations increase their visibility? In this interview with Holly Ross (Executive Director of NTEN), we talk about the creation of the We Are Media Project. (12:39)

Video and other Visual Media Online — an Interview with Michael Hoffman

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:28:00 +0000

Interested in learning how to use video to engage your donors and key stakeholders? In this interview with Michael Hoffman (CEO of See3 Communications), we talk about fresh ways of using video to reach your audience. (10:34)

Design Online — What works for the Web and email

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:54:00 +0000

This podcast explores best practices for design online. Learn about what makes a good layout, using ‘web-safe’ colors, typography and more. (10:16)

Who are you — Personify your organization

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:40:00 +0000

Defining your org’s personality can be relatively painless, cheap, and fun, and will help ensure your communications sing from the same songbook and express the feeling you want to communicate. (8:10)

Go Mobile — An Interview with Katrin Verclas

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:59:00 +0000

With over 3.3 billion active mobile phone accounts worldwide, there’s no more direct way to reach people. Activist and consultant Katrin Verclas shares insights into how organizations are using SMS technology to create social change, and what your organization may want to consider as you dive in. (10:41)

File Formats — The ABCs of EPS (and JPEG, and more)

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:17:00 +0000

Can’t tell a TIFF from a JPEG? Raster art gotcha down? Sonny Mui, Senior Art Director, explains the basics of how file formats work, so you can manage artwork more effectively in-house. (6:55)

Guiding Growth — An Interview on Vision with Mark Lipton

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:31:01 +0000

What is Vision? And how does it differ from Mission? In this interview with Mark Lipton (Professor and Chair of Management Programs at Milano, the New School for Management and Urban Policy), we talk about how Visions are critical to guiding organizational growth. (8:57)

show notes + useful links

Media Rules — An Interview with Brian Reich on new media

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Wondering how all this new media and technology might impact your nonprofit’s communications? Author Brian Reich shares his approach to integrating new media with sound communications strategies, and offers some useful tips and resources to help you get started. (15:03)

show notes + useful links

Research — An Interview with Ann Duffett on the basics

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:17:01 +0000

Conducting research can help inform your organization's communications, and can be done in creative and cost-effective ways. In this interview with FDR Group's Ann Duffett, we explore the basics of what you need to know and how to dive in. (9:27)

show notes + useful links

Web 2.0 — Meet your audiences where they are

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:54:00 +0000

Looking to connect to your donors on a more personal level? Consider using one of the many social networking platforms out there to give them a more interactive experience. (9:54)

Taglines — Your org in seven words or less

Wed, 28 May 2008 20:10:00 +0000

Want a low-cost, high-value way to clarify your name and define your work? Consider developing a tagline to differentiate your organization from your peers and competitors. In this episode you'll learn some of the do's and don'ts of tagline development and usage. (10:21)

Writing for the web — Less is more

Thu, 01 May 2008 21:50:00 +0000

What's the difference between writing for print and writing for the web? In this episode, you'll learn to say more with less. Use these best practices and tools to make sure you're getting your message across online. (8:37)

show notes + useful links

exercise

Get out your web stats and look up your five most popular pages.
Pick one — not your homepage — and copy the content into a Microsoft Word document.
Use the handy “Word Count” gizmo under the TOOLS menu. When you get the # of words on the page, see if you can cut it in half.
Now, imagine you are a member of your target audience. Does this content make sense? Is it engaging + interesting? Does it clearly say what you need to know?
Assuming it does — start by making your sentences simpler and changing any big (multi-syllabic) words into easy (one- or two-syllable) words.
What about your paragraphs? Are you throwing lots of different ideas at your readers? Can you change to just have one idea per paragraph?
Finally, consider that 80% of people will just scan — and not read — the content. Can you use bullets, sub-headlines, and other things to make it easier for someone to get what you are trying to say?

Names and Acronyms — Look before you leap

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:36:00 +0000

Before you settle on a shortcut for your name, consider the risks and implications. Listen to this episode for more. (9:34)

show notes + useful links

Acronym Finder
New York Times Article on U.N.C.F. rebranding

Holistic communications — More than the immediate project

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:54:01 +0000

When creating that website, annual report, brochure, or other communications piece, taking a step back to survey the ‘bigger picture’ and think strategically can dramatically improve results. Listen to this episode for more. (9:10)

show notes + useful links

Diversifying your fundraising

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:37:00 +0000

Adding email and online banners to your year-end annual appeal can reap great rewards. In this episode of the Nonprofit Jungle, we’ll outline how Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy reached a broader base of donors with a few simple tools. (7:22)