Nathaniel Ward » internet

Four Must-Read Sites for Online Fundraisers

Nathaniel Ward — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:21:11 +0000

I recently presented at the Leadership Institute’s Online Fundraising Workshop. As I wrapped up, I offered a list of four sites I often visit to brush up on online marketing and fundraising best practices.

The Agitator. With its analysis of innovative fundraising techniques, marketing studies and psychology, The Agitator provides online fundraisers with excellent food for thought. Authors Tom Belford and Roger Craver frequently remind us, for example in their recent post on personalized e-mail communication, that online marketing follows the same principles as other marketing.
Copyblogger. Copyblogger provides excellent insight into how to write engaging and effective copy for the web, whether for e-mail, blog posts, landing pages or social media. The series on headline writing, for instance, helped redefine how I create copy for the web and for e-mail.
Media Post’s E-mail Insider. Geared more towards advanced users, E-mail Insider is nonetheless a must-read for those trying to raise funds online. Many posts are gems, like this best-practices checklist that both new and established e-mail program managers can return to again and again.
Connection Café. Written by consultants at non-profit software company Convio, Connection Café is geared to online fundraising novices and includes good posts on the basics, like a list of simple rules for e-mail composition.

What I’m Reading — May 26th

Nathaniel Ward — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Who Is Sonia Sotomayor?
Chuck DeVore’s Quixotic Attempt to Twitter and Parody-Video His Way Into the U.S. Senate “‘They say the Internet is forever and things I write could be used against me in the future. If Alexander Hamilton and Lincoln lived today, would they be using their technology to get their message across? Yes,’ DeVore declares. ‘What are the Federalist Papers but the technological equivalent in the 1700s of the blogs?’”
In Defense of Distraction. Sam Anderson asks if it’s possible to retain our focus in a distraction-filled modern world–and does it matter? For what it’s worth, this took three sittings to get through.
Not Helping. This Facebook group makes out Republicans or conservatives as sore losers.
The Healthcare-Competitiveness Fallacy

What I’m Reading

Nathaniel Ward — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:04:03 +0000

Why trains run slower now than they did in the 1920s.
Lower demand, more freight and more government regulation conspire to reduce train speeds.
An interview with the old RNC webmaster
“What I discovered is technological development cycles will always overlap with campaign cycles, and that’s not conducive to having efficient technology, because when you’re in campaign mode you’re not going to want to deal with alpha or beta products or sit through the development of something that hasn’t been tested.”
Redskins win new legal fight with Indian group
Is “the appropriateness of Native American imagery for team names” really a legal question? Perhaps the name and logo are insensitive, but there’s certainly no “right not to be offended.”
Obama administration plans a new regulator for consumer finance.
This is certainly ripe for all kinds of overreach, and could easily backfire.