A Very Happy Birthday to everyone at Charity Connect! I've only been a member for about six months but I enjoy the site and newsletters very much.

 

8000 members, 195000 visits and 1000 posts created is a MAJOR achievement for any business (sorry to those who don't like any commercial associations with our sector – but Charity Connect is a business by any definition) and the difference between Charity Connect and some other group web sites is significant.

 

Facebook is the biggest 'group' web site that will probably ever exist. I still am perplexed that something so simple – social interaction by digital means – needs SO many buttons and SO many odd names for 'things'. If you've never ventured onto the data dashboard that lies behind Facebook's facade, then take your Jumbo Jet pilot's licence first as that's probably easier to use (complete overstatement but if you do take a look 'behind the scenes', you'll have an idea of why I've written this).

 

What is even more amazing is how quickly a hugely successful business model has evolved – for Facebook, since their share flotation – that means their tills never ever stop ringing. Money making by micro stalking is one way of describing how anyone can pay a fee to have an advertisement placed in front of someone on the day that you know they cut their toenails; so selling talcum powder has never been easier. Foot odour should be eradicated soon.

 

This isn't a 'rant' about Facebook. I wish I'd bought shares and invented the web site. Quite a lot of people (Billions actually) think that Facebook's web site is the Internet. There is SO much content on Facebook (other social media is available) that if you want to see and read what other people think, with or without joining in any conversations, then it is a digital nirvana.

 

This is all global domination. Charity Connect has a very different type of group of members and purpose. We are all friends – who actually don't know each other (very well). We volunteer or are paid to do something we love – we have an evangelism about helping. We all are part of stories of how change makes a difference.

 

Mixed with a look back at Year One – and to the future of Charity Connect – this is my second 'digest' of links to features/posts/articles that could help you and your organisation be the best you can.

 

Here, on this web site, you can post requests, advice, thoughts & opinions, other people's content. Its a really friendly place. Charity Connect's membership is very diverse, ranging from volunteers through to CEOs. There is a warmth that I don't find on some other similar group sites.

 

Charity Connect will evolve. It doesn't have the formality of some of our sector's other 'group' sites, no distinct 'nod' to promotion and endorsement of the structures, processes and regulation that we have to work to. We must have infrastructure champions and support, just as commercial businesses have their own group representation, but with so much unstoppable change happening, a place where anyone can talk, can ask for help or give it: Charity Connect is very much needed.

 

I probably receive more e-mails than most – and I've actually signed up for many of them! The simple format of the Charity Connect newsletter (twice a week) is a joy to open, compared with some that are consistently sales orientated (when they say they won't be) and others who have so much content to share that my scan reading hopefully allows me to instantly pick up on articles my clients will like (and use when making decisions) or valuable information/news that will help me personally learn and adapt.

 

The following are some newsletters I'd recommend and the first on this list has given me the theme for the background to this whole post. It's from Roy Lilley who writes (daily) his NHS Managers newsletter. If your charity has any health and well-being associations – or is looking for care contracts etc – then Roy's insight (from the point-of-view of staff within the NHS) is well worth signing up for. Last week he opened one edition up with this -

 

Gary Hamel, Moon Shots For Management.

 

Roy's thoughts on this 'management revolution' followed – and they were very interesting. It really doesn't matter what you do – whether it is a private, public or charity/NFP sector offer – things will have to change.

 

That said, my next recommendation is going right back to basics. This is the sign up to the Mainstream ROI newsletter written by Phil Frost. I've received these newsletters since around 2013. They are marketing advice – of the highest standard – for small businesses. From my professional point-of-view, they are wonderful; simple but thorough, beautifully written and full of actionable advice.

 

They help a lot with SEO and e-mail. There is though one problem (for some) and that is that Mr Frost's business is based in NYC, so whether the copious free advice is valuable or not, actually taking up their services is a 'no-no' because of 3 500 miles (or whatever the distance is between here and the US). There is actually another problem in that nearly all of you will have had good SEO advice when your web site was built, or you've followed the support of 'own build' blog/web site providers so that the product you lease will rank well for search etc.

 

This SEO advice though probably doesn't come with support for the basics – as Phil Frost offers (for free) – in having a strategy for content and building relationships. You can buy or be told to have as much technology as you can afford, but without the 'basics' technology actually reduces productivity, as highlighted in this article on the B2C web site (this is my third recommendation for a newsletter – use the box top right to sign up)

 

Here are two more very recent features from the B2C newsletter to help you decide if you think its worth it – one on newsletters and another on realistic marketing budgets

 

I'd also thoroughly recommend Marketing Profs (not just for marketing advice) and going back to the 'basics', if you want to review and maybe improve your writing skills, then do visit their on-demand 'Writing' conference soon, as I described in this Charity Connect post. It was uploaded for 90 days back in August and will be removed in early November so you've a month or so to watch the presentations and take a look at the huge amounts of resources (e-books and guides) that accompanied them (click the 'Resources' tab when you enter the on-line conference to see what is on offer),

 

A key planning tool that you can read now is this one, on Content and Marketing Calendars.

 

There is one other Marketing blog I'd mention. It's called Bizibl and once or twice a week it will offer you a wide selection of white papers and e-books, almost always of a high quality. Today's issue has one called 'Up Close and Personal: Why Content is Key for Charities'

 

Just nipping back to technology, but this time in far more detail, this is a 2015 report on technology and staffing in Not-for-Profits from Nten. Yes it is a US based report but there is so much in this report, garnered from some very detailed consultation, that you could find useful in having a real in-depth look at how technology can help change – and hinder it. The report worked with groups of all sizes.

 

That's five marketing and business blogs recommended – to you, people with absolutely no time whatsoever. I'd better add another one (the last, I promise!) before actually trying to show you how all this can be useful.

 

Social Media – we can't live with it, we can't live without it – and the best newsletter I can recommend is for Social Media Examiner. These are two examples of the step-by-step guides they produce – to measure how your videos do on YouTube and how to create a public figure Facebook page – posts which come with lots of images and complete instructions so that the most novice of novices will get things done.

 

Social Media Examiner also produces more 'long form' content. It's rarely the written word. Actually its a combination of the two – a podcast with a form of transcript below. This one, an interview with Guy Kawasaki, is superb.

 

Mr Kawasaki was the brand evangelist for Apple. What he is extremely good at is secular evangelism and what this actually is is defined really in the presentation. The story he tells ends up with how he now promotes Canva, a really good way of producing (free) graphics for social media. Yes, this is notionally all about products – but you, we, all of us in our sector actually do is provide a product; a product which helps people, animals, art, buildings, services etc etc – with other people's best interest at heart.

 

So what do you do with these six newsletters, particularly as you've no time to read them?

 

Firstly, only sign up for a weekly version. Secondly, everyone in your organisation needs to read them – from the Boss to the most important of all, the volunteers. Thirdly, you have to make a little time to bring people together – in some way – to discuss them.

 

A weekly version will be the best content. I receive 30+ daily newsletters so I've become slightly cynical even when scan reading them all. The owners of the best newsletters want you to become advocates – nay evangelists – for their offer, so that weekly editions will be a relevant to you as possible and once you start clicking on a link or two, watch out for how they will personalise what they send to you, based on your actions.

 

Roy Lilley's quote – about management change – is why I suggest that everyone in your organisation gets a copy. Some will hardly bother reading them (at first) but what you are trying to achieve – what will happen – is that if you are going to do new things, rather than them being top down driven, if everyone can see inspiration (that is authoritative and from outside of your group) they will join in.

 

That's where the opportunity to discuss them comes in. Here on Charity Connect, we do discuss (publicly) everything about our sector. That there aren't hundred's of replies to every post doesn't mean though that a contribution isn't read, and don't think that everyone is going to read every post. The headline (title) will be a key factor in how 'popular' your contribution or ask is.

 

We are a group who won't develop into the trolls who can be found on the BBC, Daily Mail, Guardian etc web sites (other news outlets with comments sections are available), sometimes organised into less than subtle propaganda pushers.

 

You could set up an on-line discussion forum, one entirely your own. You could have short team meetings (I'm not one for two hours of round-the-table – 15 minutes at most) which are part of what's called Agile Management. Just give people an opportunity to read about and try new techniques and to ask questions. And management need to be able to give good answers, not the authority of past processes.

 

This, I believe, is the new model that Roy Lilley used the above quote to open up a discussion about. The commercial world is rapidly learning that improvement, actually survival, is all about going back to the customer. Its called 'customer experience' (the abbreviation of CX is always used) and these two posts. You're going to need a commercial to charity wording translation dictionary to make the most of them but this one is the basics of CX and this one how you enhance CX with research.

You have lots of 'customers'. The first are the people you help, everyone from people in need to people who you let have the opportunity to enjoy art, culture ,,, just have fun. The second group of customers you have come in two parts. One part is grant and contract providers, the other is those who give directly. The third group are the people who help run things – regulatory and local authorities, other charities, elected members of all the levels of government we have. If you do a wonderful 'job' for Group One, then tell - actually show – these stories to Group Two, you'll be a 'new' organisation. There are times though when Group Three commands more attention …

 

The problems with all this 'new' stuff? Be afraid, be very afraid, of getting caught up with trends, fads, whatever you want to call the present three buzz word led techniques which are over promoted. They are Employee Advocacy ((basically everyone who supports you should have as many social media accounts as possible and then shout loudly about what you do), Account Based Marketing and Management (complete/sole focus on the people you know can help get a decision made and the companies you want to do business with – for our sector, the partners we feel we want and need), and finally Influencer Marketing (where you find someone with lots of friends and supporters and pay or cajole them into broadcasting about you and your message).

 

I've been more than a bit cynical about each of these three methodologies – but they are being SO over-promoted it is untrue. If you want, I can take a look at each one in some further posts – just let me know.

 

I''d better finish now. You have families and friends to go home to, dinner to cook, TV to watch.

Having been a bit rude about Facebook, I'd like to finish with a few quick links that will help you tame the behemoth -

 

This is 10 ways to put your Facebook page to work

If you want to try something instead of e-mail, then Facebook's Messenger could be an option – take a look at this or this (or both!)

For those who are good at the site – these are 12 tips apparently everyone should know.
 

How about one for LinkedIn? it's a place where you can find corporate support but you may have to pay to find it – a very thorough guide.

 

Just a couple more? 10 Facts about GDPR and Data Protection you may not know – and a very useful list of cybersecurity questions you should ask any Vendor

 

What date is it now? October 2018? Charity Connect's second birthday? My sincere apologies for the length of this post but this isn't a subject that I could precis into 750 words. And I've left the present for everyone tight till the end – if you are into Peer-to Peer Fundraising, have you seen this online conference – it was superb and all the presentations are available on-demand.