Mistake Number One in Social Media

Social media is a relational tool– it is designed to help connect us to others. No doubt you have found an old friend or two and stayed connected with others using your social accounts. Here is the challenge: Older marketing styles are designed around a “push” kind of marketing– they are always pushing out a message. But if we translate that into social media, its like sitting at a dinner with some new friends, and the entire time your new friend is telling you about their company and its products, without letting you get a word into the conversation. And they never stop to ask about you.

Mistake Number One with Social Media: Being so busy talking about our product, opportunity or self, that we never take time to listen to anothers story.

Here’s a suggestion to help you balance this out: For every post, tweet or update you send, stop and read and respond to at least two posts from someone else.

First Snow of the Year

First snow of the year, so dry its squeeky.

Fresh Website Content–Have you Hugged Your Website Lately?

Your website needs your attention…and some fresh website content.

Websites require ongoing attention if they are going to produce results.  The Searchbots like Google, are looking for valuable and original content each time they “crawl” or index your website.  If your website is simply a static or stale site that does not have frequent additions or improvements, then you will find yourself decreasing in the search rankings over time, and becoming harder and harder to find. It’s not just the searchbots that are looking for fresh website content, it’s people too.

Fresh Information Includes:

• New Content- new articles or new information.
• Revised Content- substantial updates to pages, blogs or web elements.
• Valuable Content- information that answers people’s questions or provide information they need. … Continue Reading

Win a Free Live Training Online

Enter to win a free ticket to the online live streamed “Website Worshop 2012″ that will be offered this Thursday.  Designed for those who who are managing their own websites using WordPress, this workshop will present expert insights that give practical help and fill up your “toolbox” for greater impact on the web.  Whether you are a nonprofit, a church or a small business this practical training will help you reach more people and create an effective presence on the web.

Website Workshop offers expert insights for people that want high impact websites.

Live training will include:

• Effective Websites
• Internet Marketing
• Link Building
• Photography Strategies
• Social Media Strategies

View the Whole Agenda

Complete the Short Survey to Register for Free Online Attendance HERE

This drawing is sponsored by New Canvas Creative and Website Workbox.

In the Web- One Size Doesn’t Fit All

T-Shirts aren’t “One Size Fits All,” Websites should be like T-Shirts– Sized to fit!

Like our clothes, your website isn’t just an expression of personal taste, it has an impact on those who see it. It should be designed to engage your visitors to learn more or participate.

And just as nice as that brand-new suit looks the first time you wear it, your website should be just as nice. You wouldn’t wear a pare of torn jeans to work, would you?

Your businesses or organization has its own special target audience and personality.  After looking at lots of websites that don’t do a good job of expressing an organization’s image and purpose, I have come to this conclusion:

In the Web, One Size Does Not Fit All.

Some of your choices may not be a good fit.

Consider these approaches and whether they might be a match or mismatch for you:

1. Do it Your Self (DIY)- For many nonprofits and churches, DIY has been the way things get done. As your group grows, a homemade looking website won’t take you where you need to go. Your website provides the first impression for your organization.  For busy business owners, DIY is often a very poor choice, and DIY can cost the lots of business.

2. Do it Yourself with Some Help- Now this is a step up, getting someone to set up your site and get you started with some graphics and expert layout.  This will produce a better product and still provide an inexpensive option.

3. Help Someone Do it For You- For many, this is a good choice.  You provide key written text and direction for the kind of look and feel that best fits you and your target audience, but a web expert develops the site.  Your involvement will ensure that the costs stay reasonable and that your style is present.  It’s probably not realistic to think that your website is going to be born without your direct involvement anyway.  Once complete, you can contribute or share the work to make updates.

4. Outsource The Whole Thing- If you are building a serious brand, with large scale implications, you should give serious thought to an outsourced approach.  Brand experts and graphic designers can provide a custom look and feel that you can’t get with a less expensive option, and this provides gives you obvious brand differentiation.  The long term upkeep of the site can still allow for your contribution, using a good content management system.

Deciding which approach to take with your website is all about measuring your ability to participate, and ensuring that the end product will take present your brand to your target audience in a way that will draw them in.  A misfit with your website can be an embarrassment and can work against the growth you are trying to build–take care in making these choices.

If you are in the DIY category, don’t miss the Website Workshop on October 12 either in person in Southern VA, or by attending online. If you need to outsource your website, then contact me and I can make a great referral to a resource that can do a cost effective job and make your website sing, dance or otherwise stand out.

ReCalibrating- Your Communications

“recalibrating….”

This has become an  epic phrase in my family because of the number of wrong turns that I take, even when the GPS is available.  I am quick to remind them that the GPS isn’t always right either, but they are still not convinced that my directional sense is more accurate than the GPS–  I am not sure why.  In the era of rapidly changing culture and technology–we have another challenge– the communication map continues to change without warning, and we can find ourselves lost even when we thought we were following an updated map.

Does Your Website Tell You When You Need to Recalibrate? 

Probably not, but there are other ways to know.

It is important for us to consider regular recalibration of our communication approach given the rapid changes that are occurring in the culture– post modernism, rise of the network community, and the general rapid shifts that are occurring in communication and technology.  Since people simply “vote with their feet,” or  “vote with their mouse”– by reducing their visits to our website.   While we may not be aware that our website and communications are way off course or out of date, but it certainly has an effect on our communication impact. … Continue Reading

Facing Down the “Great Hesitation of 2012″

Do you ever feel like people are just holding their breath?

In talking with ministry and organizational leaders, I hear this sentiment often. But this is something new. Its as if a great hesitation has taken hold of our nation–people are afraid to commit, support or champion things that are important to them. Here is some more evidence:

• In just the technology sector among the top 10 companies, 316 Billion dollars in cash is being held in cash.  this doesn’t address similar activity in other sectors.
• Both political parties are making  predictions about the election outcomes and horrible consequences
• We continue to hear dire predictions about the economy, global warming, global pandemics and more.
• The fear mongering in the mass media highlights peoples fears and even leads with headlines that are contradicted by the story.  I wonder what  percentage of stories that contain the word “terror, disaster or disease”

Does this broader emphasis on fear cause people to hesitate or stand on the sidelines?  I think much of our mission and nonprofit work is being challenged not by recession, but by hesitation.  People failing to commit fully.

Is this the Great Hesitation of 2012?

I am convinced that people need to be “en-couraged”(full of courage) to face down this great hesitation with great commitments.   If you are a person of faith, you might consider following Paul’s example as recounted in Acts 16.  Paul and his preaching team were focused on completing their mission, and they continued to try to move into Asia to share the Jesus story.  The passage tells us that they were “kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province.”  This is the complete opposite of hesitation– they were so committed to taking their message to everyone that the Lord had to stop them from going places He hadn’t opened yet.  Imagine being so focused on sharing your message that instead of needing to be prodded or urged to move forward, you needed Divine Prevention.  In other words, Paul was so focused on preaching that God had to tie him up to stop him.

Will you join me in facing down the Great Hesitation of 2012?

This is the kind of attitude it is going to take to face down the Great Hesitation of 2012.  Here are some people who are already doing it– I challenge you to step up and support them in their work, and to get others joining you.

Ron Klabunde and Generosity Feeds.  Ron is fearlessly working to feed children 10,000 meals at a time.  His organization, Generosity Feeds holds packing events where entire communities are mobilized to put together healthy meals for kids.  He is looking for communities that want to join him.  The need in our country is overwhelming.  Call to learn more at 888-652-0119 or check out http://generosityfeeds.org

Steve Haynes and Faith@Work.  Steve is providing Bible discussions to hundreds of people in the National Capital Region in the workplace through his Faith@Work program.  The program is helping people in more than 100 locations to grow and share Bible truths that encourage people during the lunch hour.  The growth of this ministry is straining its technology resources and you can help extend this work to hundreds more.  Learn more at http://about.myfaw.org or join the call at http:myfaw.org/ncr

Papa Joe Bradford and Unconditional Movie.  After working with inner city kids for many years, movie producers uncovered this amazing story of courage.  The movie, "Unconditional" hits theaters on the 21st.  Taking people to this moving allows them to share some of the heart of compassion and courage the lives in Elijah's Heart (the ministry he leads).  There is curriculum, a book and a chance for you to inspire others.

These champions haven't hesitated for a second.   Join me in supporting their efforts.

Making a Difference with Children’s Hunger?

Its a big need– the number of hungry kids in our country continues to grow.  The current number tops 17 million children who are food insecure.  Here’s the good news- your church or organization can help do something about this challenge by participating in Generosity Feeds.  This national program is hosted by churches and local civic groups in communities where the local schools need a boost in their backpack or other children’s food programs.

The children in this picture are sitting atop 10,000 meals that were packed by Revolution Church and 300 community Annapolis, MD volunteers in August.  In their 2 hour packing event, people got to assembly healthy meals for kids that will expand the local backpack program.

“This event provides a great way for the community to gather around the tremendous need for children’s meals. It was a powerful experience for everyone who participated,” according to Josh Burnett, lead minister of Revolution.

 Download the Generosity Feeds Video

An upcoming project for Generosity Feeds is also to support the Walk of Love project that will be portrayed in the upcoming movie “Unconditional” that begins September 21. GenFeeds is looking for churches in TN and surrounding states that want to support a walk of love in Nashville following the release of the movie.
… Continue Reading

Community Needs Assessment

The first step in engaging your community is to Listen.  A Community Needs Assessment gives you the tools and opportunity to Engage.. 

If you are starting a new church, initiating community ministry, working to revitalize a church or adding a second campus, then a community needs assessment is a great way to expand start this process.  Engaging people at the level of their needs and interests allows you to expand the network of relationships and serve responsively in your community. 

Needs assessment gets volunteers and team members involved in listening the heart of the community that launches any new church or community service effort.

As one proven approach to engaging communities, needs assessment allows you to help your team to listen more effectively, and lets community members know that you are truly interested in serving them.  For those who are starting community service … Continue Reading

What Does Generosity Do? It Feeds.

You can hear the sigh of relief from mom’s around the country now that school has started.

Its for more reasons that you might think– lots of mom’s are relieved that the breakfast and lunch program have started at school, and the challenge to feed children each day is a little bit lighter.  But now the burden shifts to local schools who not only try to make sure kids get food at school, but often on the weekends too.

Many schools today are working very hard to make sure that kids don’t come to school hungry–on Monday!  School backpack programs across the country are a great place for churches to step in through Generosity Feeds– a community food packing program that fills those backpacks with some healthy food– Your Church can Help.

Generosity Feeds events gather diverse community members for the purpose of providing cost effective food for the school backpack programs.  The food itself is tasty and healthy, adding an important element of substance to traditional backpack program contents.

The Generosity Feeds approach helps Churches to discover an important new way to help children while they spend time with community members, and business sponsors.  The GenFeeds team is expert at helping you plan and conduct a high impact packing event– but this food doesnt’ go overseas, it goes to local children who often spend their weekends hungry.

Learn more about how you can bring new generosity to your community.  Click Here or call a team member at 888-652-0119