Get Your Copy Early Before the Rush

Every NonProfit wants to learn how to fundraise well and this new resource from Scott Michael Ringo is just the ticket. Just being released in August is his new book “Simple Fundraising”. This book will teach you how to develop step-by-step fundraising strategies and formulas to create and maintain a stable donor base. Never before has the processes to develop continual and simple funding for a nonprofit been broken down so simple that anyone can do it. Scott brings his 12+ years in the developing successful nonprofits and 26+ years in the business arena to the forefront to present easy to understand, and simple to implement fundraising strategies.

As the founder of Ocean Grand, his hands-on approach to helping nonprofits all over the world raise the funds they need is is written so anyone can understand and implement it.  Instead of wonder where the funding  you need is, a few hours in “Simple Fundraising” will help you instantly discover and begin receiving it.

After reading “Simple Fundraising,” with basic effort any nonprofit can finally tap into the funding they need.  Every nonprofit needs this book in their library.  A simple read and you gain over a decade of experience in nonprofit fundraising.

Act now because the first 500 copies of the book that are ordered in advance as PDF books are discounted to $19.95. Once ordered and paid for you will immediately be emailed a link to download your copy.

Once the book is released to book stores and internet June 1, the price of “Simple Fundraising” will be $29.95. Get your copy now in PDF format by clicking the button below.

NonProfit Set-up

Are you interested in starting your own nonprofit? Ocean Grand can help you get your very own nonprofit set-up in about 3 weeks very affordable. Then help you to find the funding you need and run it successfully. Click this link to get all the information www.oceangrand.org/start-501c3

Corporate Design Solutions

Running and funding a nonprofit can be an easy task but much like building a house without a hammer and nails, attempting to build a successful nonprofit without the proper tools is just as crazy.  Because we are dedicated to helping nonprofits become successful, Ocean Grand gives every nonprofit the ability to obtain these important tools at up to a 60% discount. Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net

Every NonProfit needs professionally designed and printed marketing materials to make your nonprofit a success.  Why not get those materials designed now at a substantial discount and start your marketing efforts from the beginning looking your best while attracting serious donors.We know from the hundreds of nonprofits we have helped all over the world, there is no better investment or a better price in which to get your nonprofit’s image looking its best.  Ocean Grand Design Studios is a state-of-the-art professional design studio that has designed for top names.  In addition to the 60% savings on the complete design package, Ocean Grand will give you tremendous savings on all your print needs as it is a professional print house as well. Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net

With professionally designed and printed marketing materials it only takes one (1) serious donor to donate back in one month the investment you made in your marketing materials.

It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who They Know

It makes a huge difference in the caliber of donors your nonprofit attracts as to how your nonprofit image looks. When you ask CEOs and successful people to pass on the information about your nonprofit, you want them to have great looking material they are proud to pass on. Handing out professionally designed marketing materials can make the difference, and there is no better time or better price to get those created than with this offer. You are going to need everyone you know talking about your nonprofit, and just like any business, being able to equip others to retell your story right is key. Get a complete corporate branding solution including:

• Logo
• Business Card Design
• Letterhead Design
• Envelope Design
• Website
• Tri-fold Brochure
• Glossy Presentation Folder
• Social Media Package (Twitter and FaceBook)

Some of Ocean Grand’s other services:

Some of our products:

• Custom Photo Books (any amount of pages)
• Wedding Albums
• Graduation Announcements
• Baby Announcements
• Wedding Invitations
• Wedding Announcements
• Personalized Stationary
• Photo Enlargements (canvas, print, framed)
• Photo Packages
• Photo reprints
• Personalized Christmas Cards
• Personalized Holiday Cards
• Family Greeting Cards
• Portrait enlargement and framing
  

Other Services:

• Logo
• Business Cards
• Customized Thank You Cards
• Customized Greeting Cards
• Customized Christmas Cards
• Corporate Letterhead
• Corporate Envelopes
• Flyers any size edge to edge printing
• Brochures any fold
• Postcards with customized mailing services
• Magnets
• Banners
• Websites
• Counter cards, Business Cards, Referral Brochures
• Ongoing Flyer Creation
• Double-sided PDF Brochures for emailing
• Interactive Online Brochures
• Corporate Style Sheets
  

Anything graphic design, branding, and print media related!

Email Ocean Grand Design Studios to get more information at www.oceangrand.net

You need to remember that if you have a nonprofit, then you have avenues into funding that are as easy as asking for them. Summer is a time for being outdoors and it does not matter where you are in the world there are summer activities that are just beginning to bloom. With the right strategy you can piggy back on thousands of hours of work that others have done for you getting masses of people together to learn about your nonprofit. Below I will let you in on where to find all these people that are eager to learn about your nonprofit and then help you put together a strategy to capitalize on them.

See below how Ocean Grand can get your image looking its best to grab donors attention with up to 60% off on all of our design and printing.

Festivals, Art Shows, Boat Shows and Concerts
For months all over the country teams of people have been working diligently preparing for festivals and other summer events to bring hundreds of thousands of people to these events. If you grab the opportunity, they have brought all of these people together in one place to learn all about your nonprofit and have the opportunity to support it. If you love to be outdoors, meet people, and share the vision of your nonprofit, then this summer these events are your ticket to doing all three.

You can be raising donations for your non profit by doing just about anything. As a non profit you should take advantage of events that are already planned and organized in your area and make them into fundraisers for your organization as explained below. Just about any activity could raise money for your favorite charity even if the charity is not a charity that is officially recognized for the event. Why not raise money for your favorite charity through events that are already happening all around you.

How to Use Outdoor Festivals, etc for Fund Raising

1. Start by finding all the events around you in a 50 mile radius
2. Contact the organizer and ask if they are giving away or discounting display space to nonprofits
3. Ask the organizer if your nonprofit could be a featured charitable cause for the event
4. Could a portion of the proceeds go to benefit your nonprofit? Ask.
5. Grab tent space or booth space if it is affordable, 1000’s will come by your display during the event.
6. You could simply grab a stack of your professionally design and printed business cards and brochures to hand out as walking through the event.

* See the check list below of the things you need to show up with to be prepared.
** Also see below How to Turn Any Event into One That Sponsors Your Nonprofit

Other Easy Fund Raising Events for the Summer

1. Organize a Car Wash
2. Walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, running and swimming events
3. Craft Festivals
4. Rummage Sales
5. Golf Tournaments
6. Tennis Events
7. Bingo and Casino Nights
8. Wine Tasting Parties
9. Auctions
10. Summer Concerts
11. Art Shows
12. Boat Shows
13. Vegetable Festivals (strawberry festival, etc)
14. Air Shows
15. Ice Cream Socials
16. Church Summer Events

There is a lot more than this but these will get you started.

List of Things You Will Need for Summer Fund Raising

1. Business Cards and Brochures- At the very least you will need a few thousand professionally designed and printed business cards and tri-fold brochures. Resist the temptation to design them and print them yourself. Everyone knows the when you printed them yourself and nothing says more about your nonprofit than the materials you are willing to hand out. Have some pride and hand out good looking and well designed stuff.
2. Display Booth- If your going to do a booth or tent then you need a well designed banner and trade show display. Again if you are not willing to spend a little money on your nonprofits image then don’t expect others to donate to it. People like to invest and donate to successful programs. It does not have to be elaborate but professionally designed and printed banners and a table top display will make you look like your serious about your program.
3. Web Site or Blog- People that you hand out business cards and brochures to are going to want to visit a web site or blog to see if your legitimate. I suggest a blog (see oceangrand.org/top-10-reasons-nonprofits-should-blog/) and you should have one up even if you are not doing summer fundraising. Now days if an organization does not have at least business cards, a brochure and a web site no one is going to take your nonprofit serious.
4. Spiff- spiff is something to give away that has your organizations name and contact info. For summer fundraising Frisbees, drawstring packs, visors, bottle openers, etc are great inexpensive items that people will want to take home with them and keep. You could even do a drawing or some type of game to get people to sign up for your newsletter and give away more valued items.

Spend some money on your image, a booth if you are going to have one, and great stuff to give away. If you hit several events this summer and talk with thousands of people, you are sure to make back your investment in donations and people involved in your nonprofit.

How to Turn Any Event into One That Sponsors Your Nonprofit

Here in Virginia Beach we have an annual event called the Polar Plunge where everyone raises pledges and then dives in the ocean (some only up to their ankles) to benefit Special Olympics. I have nothing against Special Olympics and really think they are a class act and great cause. Instead, what I am trying to explain here is the only activity you have to be willing to do is get your toes wet and you can raise money to help a great cause.

Now let’s say you want to raise funds and awareness for your own nonprofit. Although there is no special event scheduled (or even if there is) you could create your own very easily. Take a marathon for example. Pick a Saturday, commit to running 10, 15 or more miles and contact everyone you know to pledge money toward the cause you want to support. Use the pledges to benefit your own nonprofit. You can make a great opportunity out of an event of any kind, even the Plunge mentioned above and raise pledges for the Special Olympics and another cause simultaneously.

You can take any event working out, playing softball, snowboarding, bike riding, taking your child for a walk, ironing shirts, or even parachuting, even a walk-a-thon all these and anything else can be turned into even something bigger by having people pledge money toward your nonprofit when you complete them.

Shirt Iron Off

Lets take the example of ironing shirts. Organize a shirt iron-off right at your own house or even better someplace more public. The pledges could be donated per shirt you iron. You could ask all your friends to bring their shirts that need to be ironed or even open it up to anyone that needs their shirts ironed. I believe you get the point, anything, including things you do in your daily routine can be reengineered into an accomplishment you can be proud of because you turned an ordinary event into something extraordinary.

A good article to read more about creative ideas like this is oceangrand.org/what-have-you-done/

How Ocean Grand Can Help You Make This Summer a Success
We at Ocean Grand not only support nonprofits with set up, funding help, and tons of free information to help you be a pro at running a nonprofit. We also give nonprofits up to 60% off professional design and printing of anything your nonprofit might need to look its best. We spend lots of time and energy helping nonprofits look like a million dollars so donors and volunteers have no question that your nonprofit is going someplace.

Nonprofits work¦if you work them.

The First Type
We receive emails and phone calls from nonprofits struggling to find the success they had hoped for. We enjoy working with each of these nonprofits because many times their solution is easy. They just need a good image and need to work the business.  Many times creating a custom story and professional image is all it takes to jump start their nonprofit success.

Nonprofits work if you work them; if you don’t, then they die. Nonprofits rely on others and donors and if you don’t get your message out there, then no one knows about it.

How is your nonprofit coming along? Are you transforming people’s lives and the dreams you had for your nonprofit into reality?
There are two types of groups that we see start nonprofits, and we would like to make sure you are the one that gets results.

Some who start nonprofits through Ocean Grand have great intentions. Once they get their status they tell a few people about the nonprofit, they print out a few sheets about their nonprofit, but no funds come in and they get frustrated. Many try with little success to put it all together themselves.

The Second Type Hit the Road Running
The second type of individuals start their nonprofit and and with the help of professionals get their image polished up and looking like the nonprofit is a success from the beginning. Many allow us to €obrand for them a professional image and story. We provide them with a great looking custom logo, business cards, printed brochures, website, and even letterhead and business cards. They let us help them with some initial fund raising ideas and in a short amount of time they have decent initial funding flowing through their nonprofit. It only takes a little effort along with some great looking materials to make initial your initial fund raising work. They then begin paying themselves a salary and concert more of their time and efforts into their nonprofit.

We at Ocean Grand have a desire that each nonprofit we set up has the success of the second example above. We are even willing to donate up to 50% of our work at creating and printing your image to show you how serious we are about you being a success.

If you are not seeing the success in your nonprofit that you dreamed of, let us help. Get in contact with us and let’s see what we can do to get you on the road to finding the funds and success that you need ,so your nonprofit can help the people you have a passion for.

It does not have to be difficult¦and Ocean Grand is here to make sure it’s not.

Have a great summer and hopefully your pockets will be full at the end of it with a little help from us and some fun in the sun on your part.

Your Junk is Your Responsibility

Communication to your business or nonprofit is like wind is to a kite.  A kite can look great lying in the grass however, when the wind sends it soaring in the sky, it dances effortlessly with such delight.  Communications is what connects your business to the outside world and can send it soaring into the sky or falling to the ground.  You are the one holding the kite string so lets, briefly in this first of the “Communications Series,” cover some basics and in the next few articles we will cover all aspects of what you should have in place to communicate effectively with everyone.  Make sure you grab the RSS or email feed above to receive all the articles.

Many Flavors

It is important that people can communicate with your nonprofit in the flavor that is comfortable with them.  You may prefer old fashioned methods like email or postal mail, but the world is changing and you need to change with it. Yes, email and postal mail are old fashioned.  I remember the days when people would give you a blank stare when you asked them for their email address or web site address, and have no idea what I was talking about. Well it’s time to update to the year 2009.  Read on and I will explain how you can move your nonprofit into the current year and help people connect to you better and more efficiently.

Your Junk is Your Responsibility

First lets talk about your current means of communication paths.  I will assume you have a postal address and an email address.  If you are attempting to run a successful nonprofit, then a blog or at least a website is also necessary.  My choice of words in the last sentence is important, you should have a blog and at the very least a website.  This day and age, the blog is the most important means to communicate rather than a website or newsletter.  The blog affords you everything the other two do plus the ability for everyone to read the latest news about your nonprofit, not just those that subscribe to your newsletter.  To keep this post shorter, if you want to know more about blogs and why your nonprofit should have one, read the post Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog oceangrand.org/top-10-reasons-nonprofits-should-blog/.

Your Junk

Now about your email.  The most common thing I hear from others regarding the message I sent them on email is “I did not receive your email, could you resend it?”  To which I reply “could you check your junk mail?”  Many times the person has no idea how to locate or check their junk mailbox.  99.9% of the time if they did not receive my email it is sitting in their junk mailbox along with other important mail.  I mention this because if I resent the email it would also end up in their junk mail.  My email ending up in their junk mail is not my problem and there is little I can do to prevent it. I realize that a junk mailbox is there to catch spam and mail you do not want so you do not have to look at it.  Instead, once and for all locate where your email program sends junk mail.  Every couple of days check your junk box like it is your second inbox and skim the senders names and subject lines to make sure there are no messages there that you should have received. I check mine several times a day because as much as I wish that it only collected junk, many times important messages were moved there automatically by my email program.  Take responsibility for the mail you receive and get on top of your junk mailbox.

Welcome to 2009

It is the year 2009 and communication is not as simple as it was last year. Or is it easier?  Social Media has transformed the world and as a nonprofit your responsibility is to give people the ability to communicate with you like they want in all the flavors of the rainbow.  Especially with the ease of communication on mobile devices, many find it easier to Tweet than to email you.  At the very least your nonprofit should have communications set up on FaceBook and Twitter.  Last month we did a whole series of articles on Social Media for the NonProfit and you can find all the articles below.  The first and most important one to read is Tweet or Not to Tweet oceangrand.org/tweet-or-not-to-tweet/ which gives you a brief overview and then the steps to set up a FaceBook and Twitter Account.
Other articles you will want to read are:

• Tweet or Not to Tweet
• Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
• Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
• Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
• 14 Advanced Twitter Tips

Take some time this week and make sure your online communications are up-to-date.  This allows people to stay in contact with you how they feel comfortable.  To some it is easier to drop you a note on Twitter and others will prefer email.  Whatever their preference, it is easy enough to accommodate them.  Finally, check your email, Twitter, and FaceBook accounts on a regular basis it shows you care and want to be connected.  Nothing is worse than unanswered communications with someone who wants to be connected to you and your business.

In the next articles in this “Communications Series” we will discuss all the aspects of keeping those that want to be connected to your business informed, connected and happy.  Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS or email feed above so you don’t miss our step-by-step guide to making the most of your communications.

You are walking on the beach, and there in front of you is a genie lamp.  The inscription reads, “Rub me”.  So you rub the lamp and out pops a genie and says, “I will grant you one wish, any wish. But there are two conditions.  Your wish has to be focused towards helping others and not yourself, and you have to be committed to seeing your wish come true.”  Of course, you are wondering what happened to the other three wishes, since isn’t the offer supposed to be for three wishes?  However, the genie explains that even his economy is tight right now but he should get the benefit of the doubt since, “When did anyone ever offer to grant you wish in the first place?”  Today your wish is granted, read on to learn how to get your wish.

I spend a lot of time talking with people about cool ideas they have come up with to make the world a better place.  Many of them are amazing and I am privileged to be one of the first to hear about them and spur them onto success.  This day and age anyone can have a great idea to make the world a better place, but the process to take that dream and make it a reality is often confusing.  Ocean Grand has made a commitment to help those who have a dream, a wish, and turn it into reality and we are counting on the rest of the technology, nonprofit and philanthropy world to join us in seeing dreams come true.  Continue on and find out how you can be part of a new revolution.

From extreme makeovers, building homes for those that need them, losing excessive amounts of weight, to even finding the perfect job, television is transforming peoples’ lives by giving them the once-in-a-lifetime chance to change their world.  Many times these complete solutions are the collaboration of hundreds or even thousands of people all bringing a piece of the puzzle to the table to make the dream come true.  Granted, most of the time these transformations are created in the form of a competition and while some win, many lose.  But for that one lucky person, their life could be turned upside down for the good.

Perhaps more than ever, with the aid of the internet, more and more people are finding that it only takes a little collaboration from a few others to make another person’s dream come true.  It no longer takes meeting in person, complicated meeting schedules or years to create a strategy for success.  For years I have run companies virtually and outsourced highly technical solutions to enable companies to run smoothly and much more efficiently.

One Lucky Person

What if I said, “Come up with an idea for a project to make the world a better place and no matter what your idea, I would help you put it in place?”  In addition, I would not only help you put the project in place, it is yours to keep, and I will help you learn to easily fund it and make it a stunning success.  You might think you stepped onto the stage of a TV reality show and all your dreams are coming true.  In reality, (not reality TV), that is what I have the joy of doing each and every day.  If you need someone to help you put your nonprofit project in place, learn for free how to fund it and have support in making it a huge success, then this invitation is open to you.  It all begins with a short application to start a nonprofit and I will step you through the rest of the process.

Your Wish Granted in One Step

1. Decide whether or not you’re committed once and for all to seeing your wish granted.
2. If you are still committed, and want to make your wish come true.
3. Take a minute and make sure you know what your wish is.
4. Say your wish out loud 3 times and click the button below.

Most Popular Posts of February

February has been a big month for great posts that help nonprofits learn to fundraise, brand their image, and use social media to get their messages out. We thought a nice post to round out February would be a link to many of these articles on the same page for easy reference.  Maybe you dream to start a Nonprofit but don’t know how.  There are even links to great articles on how to start a nonprofit.  Whatever your depth of knowledge in the nonprofit arena, there are quick and timely articles for everyone below that are sure to help you increase the success of your nonprofit.  Read on and enjoy the free information, all we ask is that you pass the web site address on to at least one other nonprofit that could benefit from the information also.

Fund Raising

Every Nonprofit wants to know more about how to fund raise successfully.  The 4 articles below will guide you with step-by-step instructions on how to build stable and dependable financial support even in a challenging economic economy.  Great articles for the beginner to the expert.

• Simple and Effective NonProfit Fundraising
• A Simple Fundraising Formula
• Fundraising Ideas
• $2K in 2 Hours

NonProfit Branding and Design

Nothing increases your success in running a successful nonprofit more than its image.  A great looking image and professionally designed marketing materials helps retell a nonprofits story with class.  A professional image is one of the keys to running a successful nonprofit and the articles below can help you step through that process with ease.  Whether you are a church or other type of nonprofit, these articles can help you.

* Is Your Image the Problem?
* The Secret to NonProfit Success

Philanthropy

These are great articles to get to your donors and those interested in your nonprofit, as well as great encouragement to you if you’re involved in a nonprofit. These articles will help your donors and supporters understand the importance and best way to get involved with your nonprofit.  Hopefully we have made your job a little easier just by having your supporters read these articles.  Feel free to direct those involved in your nonprofit back to these articles.

• What Have You Done Lately That You’re Proud Of?
• 6 Steps to Making a Bigger Splash
• The Wonder of a Star
• 401K Alternative

Social Media

Never before has it been so easy to connect with ongoing relationships and build new ones with a couple clicks of the mouse.  The 5 articles below give you step-by-step instructions on how to use the internet and social media to connect better to your supporters and donors while

easily finding 1000’s more who would enjoy being involved in your nonprofit.  Read the 5 articles below and apply them, and you will be on your way to connecting your nonprofit to others in a highly visible way.

• Tweet or Not to Tweet
• Building NonProfit Relationships Equals Success
• Tweet Tweet Nonprofit
• Top 10 Reasons Nonprofits Should Blog
• 14 Advanced Twitter Tips

Start a NonProfit

Have you dreamed of starting a nonprofit but don’t know how to get started?  You might already have a nonprofit but are not seeing the success you had hoped for.  Either way, the articles below will guide you step-by-step through the process of easily starting, funding and running a successful nonprofit. Starting a nonprofit does not have to be expensive, and funding and running it does not have to be hard.  The articles below take the guess work and difficulty out of starting and running a successful nonprofit.

• Rebranding the NonProfit
• The Secret to NonProfit Success
• 3 Most Common NonProfit Hurdles
• 6 Steps to NonProfit Freedom
• NonProfit One Stop Shop
• NonProfit Job Listing
• Start a NonProfit | Medical

Types of NonProfits

There are hundreds of charitable causes that nonprofits address.  In the articles below, we explore 5 charitable causes that you may not have thought of as being a cause to start a nonprofit around.  While reading the articles you may think of friends, family or acquaintances that could enjoy the benefits of having a nonprofit directed toward one of these causes.  We would be glad to help them start, learn to fund and run a successful nonprofit directed toward one of these charitable causes.

• Actors Are People Too!
• Medical Foundation Success
• Start a NonProfit | Medical
• Family Foundations
• NonProfit Adoption
• NonProfit Memorials and Tributes

We Are Committed to NonProfits

As always, Ocean Grand is committed to helping those around the world who dream of starting a nonprofit do so with ease and efficiency.  Likewise, we are committed to those that run nonprofits to better fund and run successful nonprofits. For the last 12 years, we have helped thousands of nonprofits make their dreams a reality and in the next years we will help thousands more.  Join the Ocean Grand Network and let us help your nonprofit connect better, be better funded and see the success you have always hoped for.

If your dream is to start, fund and run a successful nonprofit and want to do it in the least expensive, most efficient and quickest way, while having the most support, get started today by visiting us on the web http://oceangrand.org/start-501c3/

Don’t Forget

Make sure you take a moment and subscribe to our RSS Feed or by email subscription so that you do not miss another article.  Our subscribers get timely articles delivered to them for free plus other information and tips that help them to implement strategies to make their nonprofit as successful as it can be. Subscribe to our blog and get a free bonus copy of my book – “Simple and Easy Fundraising” once it is published.

Part of the Series “Be a Social Media Expert Series” here.

When you start and run a nonprofit, you’ve just signed up to become the best storyteller in history. If there is anything you need to do well, it is to develop your story and then tell it over and over and over again. See http://oceangrand.org/a-simple-fundraising-formula/ for a step-by-step on how to develop and tell your story. Telling your story needs to happen in all kinds of ways, shapes and forms and in this article I am going to explain why your nonprofit should have a blog and be telling your story on it. Read on and I will break this complicated subject down into 10 bite-sized pieces.

Blogs and Web Sites

Blogs are not much different than web sites anymore except for a couple of critical differences. Web sites contain mostly “static” information which is information that you or a webmaster puts on the site, but once there, rarely changes. It resembles a brochure on the web more than anything. On the other hand, a blog has pages also, but the “blog page” (like what you are reading here) has ongoing posts or stories that are easily changed and updated. The blog gives you the ability to quickly post new information without needing the help of a webmaster. The other pages on a blog can also easily be changed. So in essence a blog is a web site with multiple pages that are easily changed with the addition of an area that has ongoing new information posted to it. It much better resembles an effort to tell an ongoing story. There are a lot of added benefits to having a blog rather than a static web site, that I will outline 10 reasons below, and then take you through the 10 reasons to set up a blog for your own nonprofit.

Blogging Benefits

I get asked a lot if every nonprofit should have a blog and I personally believe they should. Every nonprofit understands the benefits of having a newsletter whether it is one you design, print and mail or one that you put together on the web and send out in an HTML email. A blog, if done well, can serve as the newsletter for your nonprofit with constant updates, success stories, pictures, and needs that are accessible by more people in more ways. When I say accessible in more ways, I am referring to RSS and email subscriptions which we will cover below.

Benefits of a Blog For Your NonProfit

1. Easy to Update

   Blogs are much easier and quicker to update for the average person. A new article or change can be updated and be live on the web as fast as you can type and push the publish button. This gets your most relevant information to the web and in front of the world quicker than any other method. No more static web pages; instead, every page on your site will be relevant and up-to-date with the latest information about your organization.

2. Blogs Increase the Traffic

   Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an important part of getting your web site or blog ranking better in search engines like Google. Many blogs are automatically better optimized for search engines, which can take a lot of guesswork out of trying to get your web site closer to the top of web search engines. More traffic equals more people who know and are involved in your nonprofit work.

3. 

   RSS and Email Subscriptions

   Getting your message out in multiple formats helps people subscribe to your constant updates easier and in the format they prefer to read them. Blogs can instantly give you multiple ways to deliver your message without you doing any other work. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a way that many prefer to read information from the web because it allows them to subscribe and see the information as soon as it is updated.

4. Email Subscriptions

   A blog makes it easy for people to subscribe by email to your updates and is very easy to set up. By updating a blog you are in essence writing a constantly updating newsletter that is live and accessible to anyone at anytime. Unlike a printed newsletter that only gets published and mailed every couple weeks or once a month, your blog is always up-to-date and gives people the ability to read the stories and info in bite-sized chunks. Images are also easy to share with people. RSS and email subscriptions have definite advantages for getting your supporters information and are easy to set up if you use a blog.

5. Help You Build the Relationships

   There is no substitute for building personal relationships with volunteers, board members, donors, grant makers and anyone that is interested in your nonprofit. Like in a previous article http://oceangrand.org/building-nonprofit-relationships-equals-success/,the ability to build relationships is something that we are born with; however, many times while growing up we forget the fundamentals. Relationships are the life-blood for your nonprofit and to dismiss them as unnecessary is a fatal mistake. A blog is more of a relationship builder and can be an ongoing conversation with those that are involved in your nonprofit. Building relationships is much easier on a blog than a web site and people will feel more connected to you.

6. Gives You Feed Back

   Blogs are more like conversations because they have an area where people can comment on each article or post. This gives followers the ability to be a part of a conversation about your information, projects and fundraising. Blogs give you an automatic feedback mechanism through these comments and anyone can subscribe to the comments to keep up-to-date on the conversations. These comments and conversations can be powerful as it keeps all those involved in your nonprofit interacting with each other in real time.

7. Connects All the Social Media

   In our Social Media articles and How-to’s, we have covered how important it is to have other Social Media avenues open such as Twitter and Facebook. A blog can easily connect all those other avenues of Social Media. Each time you post a blog article, a blog can update your Twitter stream with the article and simultaneously post the article and URL to your FaceBook profile. This way no matter how people follow your organization (Twitter, Digg, FaceBook, RSS, email, etc.), they get your new content and information the way they prefer it, but it all connects back to your blog. Your blog becomes the “hub” of all your nonprofit information and updates and sends it out to multiple publishing avenues.

8. Easily Embed Video

   Video has arrived as an important part of keeping people up-to-date with nonprofit organizations. By taking even the most primitive video of a project, those supporting your organization are instantly “teleported” there. Embedding video on a blog is fairly simple now. By using video services like vimeo, viddler or utube, you can take a video and upload it to the web and have it embedded in your blog in a matter of minutes. Even those with the most basic computer skills can embed a video in a blog post, whereas doing the same in a web site would be challenging.

9. Makes it Easy for Others to Share Your Info

   When you use a traditional web site, you can share the URL, but then people have to actually go there. When you print and mail a newsletter, the people you mail it to get the newsletter but what about all the others they would like to share your information with? However, with a blog, it is not only easy for you to share information with others, it also makes it easy for them to re-share your information. When people want to share your information that is on a blog they have a library of ways in which to do so. At the end of each post, your article can have a “share” button that will transport your article to any number of hundreds of social media sharing sites. In addition, they can forward the emails or RSS feeds, print the articles, or even publish references to it on their own blogs (called trackbacks). This allows you to post information and allow others to share it in the way that best fits their preferences. Every time you make it easier for others to share your information, you win.

10. Easy for the Beginner and Pro Alike

    When I was the VP of Business Development for an internet company, several years ago we used to develop our web based software for a fictional user we lovingly dubbed “The Gray Haired Lady”. The Gray Haired Lady was a typical grandmother who was not terribly internet savvy. She did however want to learn and would stick it out as long as things made sense. We thought if we could get our software simple enough for her to use, practically anyone could use it. Many blog software companies must develop around the same type model because updating a blog is just about as simple as writing an article in word processing software. Yes, you have to learn a little but there are a ton of people willing to help. So whether you are a Gray Haired Lady or a teenager, blogging is very simple.

Whatever you’re doing in the nonprofit world, my stance is you should have a blog. If you have a web site, then you should also have a blog. A blog gives you so many benefits and other than maybe not looking as flashy as a flash site, they look good and work great. You would never want to compromise looks over how well a tool gets your information out there and known. If you need some help figuring out how to get your blog up and running, subscribe to our RSS or email feed by clicking here. In further articles in the next weeks, I am going to take you step by step through the set up and use of a blog for your nonprofit. Stay Tuned and tell others about our Social Media for the nonprofit series.

Catch the rest of our “Be a Social Media Expert Series” here.

Grab our RSS feed so you don’t miss out on any of of the articles

Ocean Grand has made a commitment and pledge to help 400 new nonprofits get started and support them to being a success in 2009.

Are you tired of reading about nonprofits who do great things when really you would like to start a nonprofit yourself and develop your own program?

The nonprofit rally at Ocean Grand www.oceangrand.org is exactly that, we want to help 400 new nonprofits get started in 2009. Regardless of whatever circumstances has kept you from making your nonprofit dream into a reality, Ocean Grand wants to help. Let us help you once and for all to get your dreams off the shelf and start living them.

Ocean Grand has pulled out the stops and we are committed to you to help you make your nonprofit a success in 2009. We will help you with everything you need and set up your nonprofit organization in about 3 weeks.

We will then give you all the education to run your nonprofit, grant write, develop donors, including nonprofit training videos. We want you to look back at the year 2009 as one that you decided to start a nonproft and it was one of the best decisions you made.

Here is how we can help:
* Quick and simple program to start a nonprofit
* Administration help running your nonprofit
* Fund raising How-to
* Grant writing help
* Ongoing support to help you be successful

Come and join the Ocean Grand Rally to start a nonprofit in your city and be one of the next 400 nonprofits to make a difference in the world.

We are committed to seeing you get a nonprofit set up and see success and will walk you through the process step by step.  At the end of this year you will be able to look back and be glad you know run your own successful nonprofit.

Visit the rally at www.oceangrand.org

I am writing this after spending the morning on Twitter and FaceBook.  You may not have any idea what I am talking about or know just enough to believe it is a waste of your time.  That is the whole reason we at Ocean Grand have decided to put together a series of ongoing articles around “social media” for non profits.  Read on to learn how social media is here to stay and how you can get on board to help your nonprofit become more successful.

The key to getting, keeping and engaging donors, funders, and corporations is by building a relationship with them.  There is no alternative to building relationships, the relationship comes first and always first.  There is also no alternative, not even through social media, to engage your non profit supporters in the “flesh”.  However, social media is a great platform to tell and retell your story (read more about “your story” here).  The more ways you are able to get the information and successes out to people who are interested in them the farther your reach.  Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) is another way to get your story and successes out to those that want to know about them, plus find some others that maybe interested in the mix.

Social media is also a way to keep donors and others up-to-date with your cause and what you’re doing to impact the world in a simple and easy way.  A couple “tweets” (tweets are short messages on twitter) a day will help all those following the progress of your non profit to know what you’re doing today to help the cause.  Likewise, it is a great way to invite people to your fundraisers, events and projects.  By using Twitter, others who get your tweets can pass the message along very easily, possibly generating lots of buzz about your upcoming function.  If those tweets are also posted automatically on your FaceBook “wall”, then you have reached two audiences that otherwise would have had no idea what you were doing.  For example, maybe you are holding a fundraiser or event in Virginia.  Several tweets throughout the day from your mobile phone and everyone around the world knows how it is going.

This morning I wrote an article on “What Have You Done Lately That You Are Proud Of?”  When I posted the article from the Ocean Grand blog http://www.oceangrand.org the post was tweeted and then also sent to our FaceBook wall.  Almost instantaneously several people joined our twitter following who were not following before.  The link to the article in the tweet was also clicked on and read by many from our twitter following.  It was a quick, easy and effective way to let those that were interested know there was a new article.

The Virtual Water Cooler

Social Media is the present day water cooler and unlike the water cooler in your office, it is an ongoing global conversation.  If you want to be more successful in the non profit world, you want your non profit activities to be a part of that conversation.  From Twitter and FaceBook conversations I have connected to other non profit organizations who were ecstatic to find out about all the free information and help we provide to non profits at Ocean Grand.  Through those same social media channels I have also made new friends and reacquainted myself with old friendships halfway around the world.

The Afternoon Coffee Break

As I’m going throughout the day I hit points where I need a pick-me-up and many times caffeine does the trick.  However, while I am getting my afternoon infusion I also check in on my FaceBook and Twitter accounts to see what is happening around the world.  Inevitably I run across a quick conversation or am able to offer some input that renews my inspiration to motivate me on to the end of the day.  It has been well documented that the human brain needs breaks throughout the day and can be much more productive once given one.  You would be surprised at all the little notes of encouragement you can get on Twitter and FaceBook that can get you through the day.

Each platform of Social Media has its own nuances and particular use, but the lines quickly become blurred once you start integrating them together.  We will show you how to get the best use out of each in further articles.  We are going to focus on FaceBook and Twitter below and give you some quick instructions on getting started.

FaceBook

The simple explanation: FaceBook is a platform where you can add “friends” old and new to your profile.  Then you can message each other back and forth, add video and share pictures.  You are able to keep tabs on your “contacts” and and they can do the same with you.  It’s a quick glance at what everyone you know around the world is doing, interested and involved in.  As a nonprofit, you can also create a “cause” page where people can join to be involved and even donate online to your nonprofit.

FaceBook Steps:

1. Sign up and create an interesting profile. Add a photo and definitely put up a “cause” page so others can join into your non profit work.
2. Use the site’s feature to search your email address book for people you know.
3. Each time a friend adds, look at their friends for others that you may know and add them as a friend.
4. Use your existing friends as a way to find more friends. Try to stay within the boundaries of people you actually know and have some type of relationship with.
5. Create a “home like” feel to the information you put on your site.  You want people to get to know you better or all over again if it has been a while.
6. There are a ton of “applications” you can use that will allow you to share books your reading, videos you like, blogs you read etc.
7. The number of “friends” you have depends upon you but the more friends you can connect to the farther your message will go out to the masses.
8. Keep in mind, as a non profit you want people to both get to know you and your non profit so try to think of ways that you can introduce what your non profit is doing.
9. Make sure you are actively getting your donors and those interested signed up and promote, promote, promote your FaceBook link so people can connect to you.
10. Focus your efforts on building relationships and letting people know what you are doing.  A few “What am I doing” updates a day goes a long way.  Likewise, reply and respond to other people’s updates.

Twitter

Twitter uses quick posts of 140 characters or less to let people know what you are doing throughout the day.  The same goes for your responses to others’ posts.  Unlike FaceBook there are not pages or places to put video and “causes” but instead you do short updates, “tweets”, throughout the day and reply to others’ tweets.  In some aspects “less is more” and keeping track of your and other people’s tweets can be managed easily by using TweetDeck http://www.tweetdeck.com.  Throughout the day  “tweet” several times and let people know what you’re up to; you will be amazed at how interested they are in the little things you do each day.  Respond to a few tweets.  You can find others to “follow” (when you follow someone you are able to see their tweets) that you may have interest in and again you will be amazed at what you learn.

Twitter Steps:

1. Sign up and create an interesting profile. Add a photo.
2. Use the site’s feature to search your email address book for people you know.
3. Find people you maybe interested in following at Twitscoop http://www.twitscoop.com/ by searching topics you’re interested in.
4. You can always find more people to follow by reading the posts of those you are already following that seem like interesting conversations.
5. The number of people you follow or allow to follow you depends upon you but the more people following you the farther your message will go out to the masses.
6. Keep in mind, as a non profit you want people to both get to know you and your non profit so try to think of ways that you can introduce what your non profit is doing without giving a sales pitch.
7. Make sure you are actively getting your donors and those interested signed up and promote, promote, promote your Twitter link so people can connect to you.
8. Focus your efforts on building relationships and letting people know what you are doing.  A few “What am I doing” updates a day goes a long way.  Likewise, reply and respond to other peoples updates.

Remember that all the information, pictures, video and updates are able to be seen by all your friends or followers so keep that in mind when you put information on the internet.

If you contact me I can help you integrate your tweets to automatically be posted to your FaceBook which keeps you from needing to update two different places.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet, That is the Question

Social Media is a great way to get your message out and also connect people across the globe to your non profit cause.  It is time well spent if you keep focused while using these media.  It is easy to get caught up in it; however, now is the time to get involved because Social Media looks like it is here to stay. This is just a brief introduction to the Social Media arena and we will cover each separately and give more detail on how to use these great platforms to your advantage other posts.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, sign up for an account and begin getting a feel for them.

Don’t forget to add us as a friend on FaceBook and follow us on Twitter.  The links are to the right of this post and also below.

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32978279968
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ScottRingo

What Have You Done Lately That You Are Proud Of?

I was wondering to myself the other day… what have I done lately that I am proud of?  Sure there are the usual ongoing things like being a good husband, a good father, my daily work, and of course taking out the trash.  However, I am talking about an accomplishment that is not in my usual routine, something that sets me apart from a major part of society.  To be proud of an accomplishment I will assume I would have put a fair amount of time into it.  I would also assume that if I shared the accomplishment with other people they too would agree that it was something I could be proud of.  So with those three assumptions “What have you done lately that you are proud of?”  If something comes to mind while you are reading this article, post it in the comments below.  However, if you are still mulling that question around read on and maybe I can help you come up with something.

Daily Routine

Many times I can get so caught into my daily routine that months or even a year can go past without reevaluating what I am doing apart from my family and employment that makes a significant impact in a way I can be proud of.  I am not talking about a boastful and arrogant proud, but instead a feeling of satisfaction in accomplishing something I set out to do to make a positive impact in the world.  Then as I pondered the question, I began to realize that an accomplishment of significance does not necessarily have to be something I’ve never done before but instead why I do something.  I could refocus the way in which I do something or reengineer the outcome of what I do and gain the same goal in accomplishing something I can be proud of.  You may already be doing many things in your daily and weekly routine that could be proud accomplishments with just a little tweaking.  Read on and I will explain how in just a short time you can have an endless list of things you’re doing daily that you can be proud of.

Hobbies and Activities

Most of us have hobbies and activities that are part of our normal routine that could easily be turned into something we could be proud of.  For example, take training for a marathon.  Every day you run there is satisfaction in that, right?  When you complete the marathon there is satisfaction in that, right?  Well, what if every day you ran you were actually running for an even bigger cause than the daily and finish line satisfactions?  The steps to making that happen are below.

Maybe your activity is working out, playing softball, snowboarding, bike riding, taking your child for a walk, or even parachuting, all these and anything else can be turned into even something bigger and impact the world in a positive way.  Let me show you how.

Take the Plunge

Here in Virginia Beach we have an annual event called the Polar Plunge where everyone raises pledges and then dives in the ocean (some only up to their ankles) to benefit Special Olympics.  I have nothing against Special Olympics and really think they are a class act and great cause.  Instead, what I am trying to explain here is the only activity you have to be willing to do is get your toes wet and you can raise money to help a great cause.

Now let’s say you figure out a great cause for which you would like to raise funds and awareness.  Although there is no special event scheduled (or even if there is) you could create your own very easily.  Take the running for example.  Pick a Saturday, commit to running 10, 15 or more miles and contact everyone you know to pledge money toward the cause you want to support.  If you have your own non profit (which is becoming very popular), you could raise donations for it.  You can make a great opportunity out of an event of any kind, even the “Plunge” mentioned above and raise pledges for the Special Olympics and another cause simultaneously.

Proud As a Papa

Now back to the activities that are a part of your normal routine.  Take any one of them, let’s take ironing shirts, and organize a shirt iron-off right at your own house or even better someplace more public.  The pledges could be donated per shirt you iron.  You could ask all your friends to bring their shirts that need to be ironed or even open it up to anyone that needs their shirts ironed.  I believe you get the point, anything, including things you do in your daily routine can be reengineered into an accomplishment you can be proud of because you turned an ordinary event into something extraordinary.

Moms and Pops of Non Profits

You should take careful notes while reading this article.  You can be raising donations for the non profit you watch over by doing just about anything.  As a non profit you should take advantage of events that are already planned and organized in your area and make them into fundraisers for your organization as explained above.  Just about any activity could raise money for your favorite charity even if the charity is not a charity that is officially recognized for the event.  Why not raise money for your favorite charity through events that are already happening all around you.

So You Want to Be Proud?

Organizing even your routine activities (and yes it could be walking your daughter around the neighborhood, comment below if you need and explanation) around something you could be proud of does not have to be a daunting task.  Doing so will give you a constant source of things that you can look back on and know you can be proud of.  Then the next time you might have an instance to wonder if you have done anything lately that you are proud of you will have an endless list.

If you are an actor, actress or know an actor or actress, you need to read this article on how you can better launch your career by focusing on what many actors do once they are successful.  Read on and I will show you how you can begin to network like crazy in circles of successful actors like you never thought possible.

We have all seen the commercials and ads when a famous actor or celebrity jumps onboard with a charity or “save the world” cause.  Suddenly that actor seems more “touchable” and real.  It helps us consider what we could do to make a difference in the world and focus our attention on those that need our help.  The fact is, lots of well known actors do all types of non profit charity work and not only does it bring awareness to the cause, but helps them network with others in their field.  Many successful actors actually own non profits which promote their cause and accept donations.  Why then, if successful celebrities and actors can own their own non profit, promote great causes, take advantage of the high-end networking, and accept loads of donations, don’t up-and-coming actors take advantage of these same opportunities?  Most simply do not know how easily it is to jump-start their career and influence by doing so.  In this short post I will explain the benefits that every actor or person in the entertainment industry can leverage by owning their own non profit and shift their entertainment career into high gear.

The Power of Networking

Everyone knows that networking is powerful in any career or endeavor.  Sometimes the toughest decision is where and how to network the most effectively.  In the world of entertainment, competition is fierce and “who you know” is many times critical to getting the gig, the audition, or being cast.  Sure, once you get the part or gig then you must turn on your best social skills and network like crazy with those for the short time you are working with them.  However, what if there was an easier and more effective way to network 24 hours a day with actors, directors, producers, and support staff even when you are not on the set or even employed?  What if that networking tool could even financially support you while you were between gigs?  How exciting would it be if you also learned that the same avenue of networking could be highly satisfying in itself, and help make the world a better place?  The type of networking I am talking about can do all that plus include you in circles of influence and contacts that you never thought was possible until you were walking the red carpet.  What is this amazing tool?  Read on.

When the Director says “Cut”

Even if you were on a set or playing a gig there is work to be done and little time to network and when the director says “cut” everyone is in a hurry to get to their family, gala, fundraising dinner, etc.  Wait, what if you could be involved in those people’s lives and interests after the final scene of the day?  You can and its not hard.  What if you were off to the same galas, fundraising dinners, and nonprofit volunteering that the other stars were off to?  That is where the “real” mingling takes place.  Even if you were between acting or music gigs you could still be off to the same events.  There are two easy ways to do that and one that assures you more success than the other.  Follow along.

Scenario One

Say there was a particular actor, director, producer or casting director you knew being associated with would give you much better exposure?  With very little research you could find with which non profit causes and charities they were involved.  If they are involved with a cause then most likely others are also involved that are in your industry.  If those charities and causes are something that you are interested in then simply get involved with the cause.  Here is where you need to check your heart and integrity because if you are not sincerely interested in those same causes there is no integrity in you being involved.  Once involved, focus on helping and being involved with that non profit, they will appreciate your help.  Stay involved to help the nonprofit and you never know, you might find yourself networking with those in your industry that will give you a leg up.  See http://oceangrand.org/6-steps-to-making-a-bigger-splash/ on how to get seriously involved in helping a non profit in the right ways.

Scenario Two

Most people in non profit work associate with others in the non profit arena.  Instead of waiting until you are famous to find a cause you could help to make the world a better place, start now.  You could easily start, build stable funding, and run your own successful non profit.  I am sure you are saying “Yeah, if I had that kind of time.”  You eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, right?  Then you have time to create and manage a well funded and world-changing non profit.  Really.  Once you are finished reading this article jump over to http://oceangrand.org/6-steps-to-non-profit-freedom/ for all the information you need to, step-by-step, get a non profit successful over breakfast, lunches and dinners.

By starting your own non profit or charity you get to decide what world-changing task you are going to focus on.  You create the non profit around your passions and interests.  Then you start networking with all the other non profits in your city attending their fundraisers, benefits, and likewise them attending yours.  If you have a world-changing non profit cause and you begin to network, it does not have to be long before you are in the same room and at the same events that those you would like to network with about your career.  However, this time you are the one with whom they are wanting to be involved.  Now you have two levels in which to network with them.  You would be amazed at who you might have involved in your non profit.

No More “Starving Artist”

One of the great advantages of the second scenario is that your non profit can employ you.  Yes, say goodbye to the days of the starving artist.  Once your non profit has steady donations coming in it can employ you with a salary for the work you do on its behalf.  Not only are you building a successful non profit that can change the world, but it can provide you an income while you are between or in addition to gigs.  Now you get paid on and off the “clock.”  Meanwhile your non profit cause is networking for you 24 hours a day as those involved are telling others about the great charitable cause of yours that they are involved in.

Why Not “Arrive” Through the Back Door?

While many are trying to network, get auditions and gigs through the front door, by starting a non profit you may just find that you “arrived” through the back door.  You can change the world even before you become famous, supplement your income, and be working on your career all at the same time.  If nothing else, you can leave a legacy for your family and friends to carry on when you depart.  You may have noticed that a lot of charities are focused around the arts and could be an easy passion for you to discover.  We at Ocean Grand would enjoy helping you start, learn to fund, and run a successful nonprofit.  You never know, you might be starring in your own movie one day that documents the success of the non profit you started.