Blog Archive
What is Direct Mail?
By: EmMa Matern
September 16, 2024Direct mail refers to a type of marketing that is done through the postal service with physical mail. It is distinct from other types of marketing – both…
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Why nonprofits should invest in nonprofit certification for their employees
By: EmMa Matern
September 11, 2024Investing in certifications for your fundraising professionals can significantly benefit your nonprofit organization. Forbes posted an article that reports the figure that nonprofits have an average employee turnover rate of…
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Winning Political Elections with Handwritten Direct Mail
By: Shay Mamo
September 9, 2024Since the deep integration of the internet into our lives the average person sees up to 10,000 ads per day which is up tenfold since the 1970s. In an election…
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Nonprofit Education: certification vs degrees in the nonprofit sector
By: EmMa Matern
September 2, 2024Enhancing your nonprofit education through certification or a degree offers numerous benefits. These credentials expand your knowledge of nonprofit management principles and current trends while developing crucial skills in areas…
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A Guide to Nonprofit Certifications
By: EmMa Matern
August 20, 2024Investing in certifications demonstrates commitment to being a nonprofit professional and keeps them up to date with best practices and emerging trends. Certifications lend credibility by signaling to donors, stakeholders,…
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How to Write an Effective Voter Persuasion Letter
By: EmMa Matern
July 31, 2024Winning an election – be it a primary or a general election – in today’s sophisticated campaigning environment requires more planning, resources, and multifaceted execution than ever before. Even elections…
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How Home Service Companies Leverage Handwritten Notes to Boost Referrals and Gather Reviews
By: EmMa Matern
July 24, 2024The Home Services market is one of the fastest growing sectors in North America these days. As marketers try to take advantage of the boom, they are finding it harder…
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How to win municipal and state political elections with direct mail
By: EmMa Matern
July 4, 2024In the spring, we had the opportunity to work with a client on their primary campaign for a state-level office. Collaborating closely with the outreach team, we curated a direct…
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Maximizing your GOTV Strategy Using Direct Mail
By: EmMa Matern
May 24, 2024Direct mail remains a potent tool in any Get Out the Vote (GOTV) strategy, offering a tangible and personal connection with potential supporters. According to a study done by the…
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The Impact of Direct Mail on Voter Behaviour
By: EmMa Matern
May 10, 2024Exploring the impact of direct mail on voter behaviour brings us to an intriguing aspect of political campaigning. Direct mail campaigns possess a unique influence over voters, characterized by their…
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Direct Mail Strategies for Home Services Companies: Targeting Homeowners in Need of Your Services
By: EmMa Matern
April 19, 2024In the competitive home services sector, success hinges on skillfully connecting with the appropriate audience and delivering the most fitting message. In this blog, we will explore effective techniques…
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8 things I learned becoming a USPS certified Mail Design Professional
By: EmMa Matern
December 7, 2023The Mail Design Professional (MDP) Program stands as the sole mailpiece design certification program endorsed by the United States Postal Service.This comprehensive curriculum provides a valuable opportunity for mail…
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Meet the Mailers: Mail with a Personal Touch
By: EmMa Matern
November 1, 2023In the recent episode of “Meet the Mailers” – Episode 29 entitled “Postalgia: Mail with a Personal Touch”, our very own CEO, Ilan Mann, spoke with the esteemed Paul…
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Rekindling Relationships: Strategies for Engaging Inactive Donors
By: EmMa Matern
September 27, 2023Last year nonprofits saw a decline in donations for the first time in a decade according to the article by NonprofitPro.com, “Donations Decline for the First Time Since 2012,…
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Safeguarding Data: 10 Critical Steps for MSPs and Marketing Agencies
By: EmMa Matern
September 6, 2023The need for stringent data security measures has reached unprecedented heights. Organizations are navigating the complexities of modern technology, PacketLabs sheds light on some shocking statistics relating to cybersecurity: in…
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5 Key Reasons Why Companies Should Prioritize Mail Vendor Security
By: EmMa Matern
August 17, 2023Amidst the interconnectedness of modern business operations, one critical aspect demands attention: mail vendor security. Verizon released the “2019 Data Breach Investigations Report”, which yielded statistics that are cause…
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Direct Mail Interactions Across Generations
By: EmMa Matern
August 2, 2023From the nostalgia-driven baby boomers to the tech-savvy millennials and members of Gen Z, each generation has its own unique relationship with direct mail. Between mid-2020 and early 2021,…
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Navigating the Digital Era: Reimagining Direct Mail
By: EmMa Matern
July 20, 2023Direct mail cuts through digital fatigue by offering a tangible experience that stands out amidst the overwhelming influx of messages. According to Compu-Mail.com, the average American household receives two…
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How Fundraisers Are Tripling Their Campaign Performance
By: EmMa Matern
June 22, 2023Are you ready to revolutionize your fundraising efforts? Discover the power of donor segmentation, personalized messaging, and captivating storytelling to unlock unparalleled success in your campaigns. Engage donors, maximize…
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Postalgia Goes to the National Postal Forum!
By: EmMa Matern
June 12, 2023The National Postal Forum (NPF) is a premier event that brings together professionals from the postal and shipping industry, and this year, we were thrilled to be first-time attendees and…
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How DTC Brands use Handwritten Letters to Increase CLV
By: EmMa Matern
June 5, 2023Straightforward ways to increase Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is to decrease the cost of acquiring customers or increase the cart value with add ons. While costs have been increasing across…
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Write a Personal Donor Birthday Card in 7 Seconds
By: Ilan Mann
May 15, 2023Have you ever wanted to send a truly personal and handwritten birthday card to all of your donors, but found it to be too time-consuming and impractical? Well, imagine being…
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How to Recession Proof Your Nonprofit
By: EmMa Matern
April 10, 2023With the looming thought of a recession, nonprofits are at high risk of financial struggles. Now is the time to prepare and organize a robust strategy to make it through…
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Nonprofit Stewardship: Why It’s Important
By: EmMa Matern
March 29, 2023Donor retention is an ongoing campaign, and stewardship is the most important tool to be successful. Major donors have a higher retention rate than small donors. According to FundraisingReportCard.com, donors…
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The 10 Direct Mail Pieces That Should be in Your Nonprofit Marketing Plan
By: EmMa Matern
March 16, 2023When putting together the fundraising and stewardship parts of your nonprofit marketing plan consider these 10 pieces of mail. Direct mail is the guaranteed best way to get your donor’s…
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Prevent Lapsed Donors
By: EmMa Matern
March 3, 2023Those who work in the nonprofit sector know that donor retention is an ongoing obstacle. As retention rates continue to plummet, lapsed donor prevention efforts are a top…
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How to Get Lapsed Donors to Give Again
By: EmMa Matern
February 15, 2023Lapsed donors should be a substantial focus for non profits in 2023. There have been troubling statistics that show that all retention rates are down. Organizations are losing donors and…
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How to Gain New Donors
By: EmMa Matern
February 1, 2023Consistent and reliable incoming funding is at risk. Although charitable giving increased in 2022, the number of donors decreased. It’s important in 2023 to make an effort to keep…
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4 Tips to Increase Giving from Donors
By: EmMa Matern
January 16, 2023Those working in the nonprofit sector understand the never ending need to keep donations coming in. Not only do you want a consistent flow of contributions, but preferably an increase….
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Donor Segmentation
By: EmMa Matern
November 15, 2022Want to increase donor retention? Donor segmentation is the key! In the first part of this article we will discuss donor segmentation and how it affects donor retention. Donor retention…
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Establishing your Nonprofit Brand: 3 Brand Design Fundamentals
By: EmMa Matern
September 12, 2022Establishing your nonprofit brand can be intimidating, but let’s start with some basics! This article discusses 3 vital design aspects to consider when designing your nonprofit brand. You will learn…
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5 Reasons Why Handwritten Notes Are Powerful
By: EmMa Matern
July 31, 2022Technology has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, with people sending hundreds of instant messages and corporate emails per day. PostGrid wrote an article titled “Direct Mail Statistics You…
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How to Follow up with Volunteers
By: EmMa Matern
June 30, 2022Acknowledging your volunteers is just as important as acknowledging your donors, and you can do that by sending out a follow up! In this article we are going to be…
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Elevating Nonprofit Success: Navigating Donor Retention in 2024
By: Ilan Mann
June 15, 2022In the ever-evolving landscape of nonprofits, the perennial debate persists: is it more financially effective to spend on secure new donors or on retaining existing ones? While the consensus often…
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Authentic Communication with your Donors
By: EmMa Matern
June 8, 2022The nonprofit sector has the fundamental goal of people-helping-people. Consider the powerful motivator that authentic connections bring to this noble cause. The three key takeaways are simple yet profound:…
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Tips for Effective Storytelling for Nonprofits
By: EmMa Matern
May 25, 2022Nonprofit storytelling is an essential skill to have to maintain a successful nonprofit organization. Storytelling informs your donors about how their donations are being spent and who their donations affect….
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9 Steps to Increase Your Average Donation Amount
By: Ilan Mann
May 15, 2022Fundraising is a year-round concern for nonprofit organizations that rely on donations and contributions to operate successfully. Those tasked with this challenge must focus on multiple levels, expanding their list…
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Increase Donor Loyalty With Our Best Practices
By: Ilan Mann
April 18, 2022One of the advantages that nonprofit organizations have is that often donors are looking for authentic personal connections with the nonprofit. Donors want to feel connected, like they are a…
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Finding Your Next Major Donor is as Easy as 1,2,3…4,5,6
By: Ilan Mann
April 13, 2022Whether you’re running a venture-backed Startup company, a Fortune 500 telecom giant, or a mission-driven non-profit organization, you need more resources – usually cash – to build your team, grow…
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Top 6 Non Profit Marketing Ideas
By: Ilan Mann
March 9, 2022It is crucial for marketing and communications professionals to have a marketing plan, even if the budget is low. Marketing plans set goals, develop tools for communication, define the mission,…
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The Benefit of Thanking Your Customers
By: Ilan Mann
August 10, 2021Gratitude. It’s such a simple word to say. In reality, it has so much meaning. And it means different things to different people. It can even anchor your business strategy….
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How to keep customers engaged with your business
By: Ilan Mann
August 9, 2021We live in an increasingly “instant” society. From drive-thru restaurants to Amazon Prime, people rely on prompt service – often at the expense of the deep relationships businesses once had…
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How to Make a Thank-You Note More Memorable
By: Ilan Mann
August 2, 2021Thank-you cards are a straightforward concept: they convey gratitude for a kind deed, statement, or gift. For the writer, the formality of a handwritten thank you might be overwhelming. Many…
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6 Ways to Shake Up How You Say ‘Thank You!’
By: Ilan Mann
July 30, 2021It isn’t always what you say that matters nearly as much as how you say it. That is something businesses, charities, non-profits, and individuals need to understand when it comes…
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How to Win Donation Dollars
By: Ilan Mann
July 22, 2021Donations are the lifeblood for non-profits, charities and political parties. The relationships you build with your donors today make a world of difference for future donations. That’s why it is…
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5 Easy Ways to use Handwritten Notes
By: Ilan Mann
July 13, 2021Handwritten notes are a tried-and-true method of communicating with new or prospective clients. Writing a customized handwritten message demonstrates there is a person behind the scenes at the heart of…
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Four Handwritten Letters From History That Had A Big Impact
By: Ilan Mann
July 12, 2021Around these parts, we are big believers in the power of the written word. In fact, our whole business model centres on the belief that handwritten letters can change your…
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How To Reach Out To Inactive Donors
By: Ilan Mann
July 7, 2021Donors who are inactive or have lapsed may appear to be a lost cause. These contributors haven’t given to your nonprofit in a long time; why would you spend money…
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7 Most Common Business Thank You Note Mistakes
By: Ilan Mann
July 2, 2021It’s common knowledge that a thank-you note is an essential part of business etiquette, but believe it or not, there are many ways to do it wrong. We have written…
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Delight Your Donors With A Handwritten Note
By: Ilan Mann
June 26, 2021When was the last time you received a personalized handwritten letter in the mail? According to recent statistics, it’s pretty rare. Based on data from the Postal Regulatory Commission,…
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9 Ways To Use Thank-You Cards as a Marketing Tool
By: Ilan Mann
June 12, 2021We all understand the importance of making a good first impression. But too often, we forget to create a clear and memorable conclusion at the end of an interaction with…
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How One Company Built A Business With Thank You Notes
By: Ilan Mann
June 4, 2021You know that feeling when you receive a handwritten thank you note in the mail? It’s like an instant boost of happiness and appreciation for someone who took their time…
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6 Tips For Realtors On How To Craft The Perfect Prospecting Letter
By: Ilan Mann
May 12, 2021One of the most challenging parts of being a realtor – what separates the greats from those who are scraping by – is the ability to attract listings. If it…
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Are Handwritten Notes Dead?
By: Ilan Mann
May 6, 2021In an age where we have lost the art of human interaction and replaced it with a keyboard, few things are as important as sending a handwritten note or letter….
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How You Can Make Small Donors Feel Important
By: Ilan Mann
April 20, 2021We understand that large donors are often the primary focus of non-profits, charities and other organizations that rely on donations. Given the potential amount large donors could contribute to meeting…
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Handwritten Notes for Realtors: How To Maximize Client Touchpoints
By: Ilan Mann
April 16, 2021The real estate industry is a tough one, and the competition for clients can be fierce. But there are many ways to set yourself apart from competitors that don’t involve…
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Six Things to Avoid in a Handwritten Thank You Note
By: Ilan Mann
April 4, 2021When you receive a handwritten thank-you note from someone, it’s one of the most thoughtful gestures that person could make. It shows that they took time out of their day…
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4 ways to get referrals from handwritten letters
By: Ilan Mann
March 20, 2021The folks who say “the best things in life are free” have never been to Disneyland. But, they’re on to something when it comes to business. Entrepreneurs love nothing more…
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Three ways to frame choices and get better answers with direct mail
By: Ilan Mann
March 12, 2021Every day, people make decisions. We make those decisions of our own free will. Or do we? Consider: you walk into a grocery store to buy a carton of eggs….
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Bring back pen pals!
By: Ilan Mann
March 12, 2021Imagine meeting your best friend for the first time, after sixty years. That’s the story of Canadian Dolores Baily and Australian Lyn Carpenter. They started corresponding at age ten through…
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The Revenge of Analog
By: Ilan Mann
October 20, 2020Life is moving online—so why are so many of us going offline? The Revenge of Analog explains why. If you’re a literary junkie, you know there’s been a quiet civil…
Read moreHow writing letters can fight pandemic depression
By: Ilan Mann
October 14, 2020Life-giving responses to COVID-19 can include: Physical distancing; Mask-wearing in public spaces; Handwritten letters; or, All of the above. The answer is four. Yes, actually. Handwriting letters to loved ones…
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These six attributes explain the power of direct mail
By: Ilan Mann
October 12, 2020Is direct mail dead? It’s the question on marketers’ minds. At the very least, it’s the question they’re Googling: with 167 million results for the search “is direct mail dead?”…
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Turn e-commerce into an IRL relationship with handwritten letters
By: Ilan Mann
October 2, 2020E-commerce is everything for entrepreneurs in 2020. The NASDAQ estimates that by 2040, 95% of purchases will be facilitated by e-commerce. But we are already seeing that shift happening now….
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12 Tactics for Using Handwritten Letters in Your Sales Funnel
By: Ilan Mann
September 24, 2020Sales funnels. If you’re an entrepreneur or salesperson, you’ve heard the term enough to make your ears bleed. Yes, those YouTube ads by teenage sales “gurus” are torturous. (“Here’s how…
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Gratitude is a Business Strategy
By: Ilan Mann
September 18, 2020Gratitude: you might know it as a hashtag, or an Indigo mug, or a word your mom has crocheted on her wall. What you may not know is that gratitude…
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Long Live the Concierge – Personalizing the E-Commerce Customer Experience
By: Ilan Mann
August 11, 2020The transition for the brick and mortar storefront has been hugely exciting for a whole host of reasons: The need to pay top dollar to rent space in a…
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Should You Ask For Donations When Saying Thank You?
By: Ilan Mann
June 10, 2020“Dogs look up to you, cats look down on you. Give me a pig! He looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal.” – Sir Winston Churchill …
Read moreCall Me Maybe (But I’d Rather You Didn’t)
By: Ilan Mann
May 12, 2020If you were to ask Millennials or Gen Z (defined as those born between 1980 and the early 2010’s) how they feel about receiving phone calls, they would likely rank…
Read moreLies, Damned Lies, Statistics, and Metrics
By: Ilan Mann
May 11, 2020Mark Twain popularized (and attributed erroneously, ironically, to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli) the adage that there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. This week, my…
Read moreOpportunity Knocks… And then Mails
By: Ilan Mann
April 30, 2020Politics has changed drastically these last few decades in so many drastic ways, it’s tempting to pinpoint one or the other as the secret to a candidate’s success or failure:…
Read moreThe Illusion of Transparency
By: Ilan Mann
April 29, 2020The illusion of transparency is one of the most common causes of misunderstandings and missed opportunities between people, between companies and their customers, between nonprofits and their donors, etc… The…
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Getting Out The Vote with Handwritten Mail
By: Ilan Mann
April 28, 2020A quick way to find out if someone is an experienced political operative, as opposed to just an observer of politics who watches too much C-SPAN, is to ask them…
Read more“The Things We Think and Do Not Say”
By: Ilan Mann
April 21, 2020At the beginning of the great sports movie Jerry Maguire, the eponymous sports agent, in the throes of a night of inspiration, writes a mission statement, called The Things We…
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The Nonprofit Stewardship Cycle
By: Ilan Mann
April 20, 2020Just as customer engagement is becoming an increasingly important metric for profit-driven businesses, donor stewardship is playing a larger role than ever in nonprofit management. The “why” of retention, loyalty,…
Read morePart Five – Jumping Off A Bridge
By: Ilan Mann
April 18, 2020This is part five of an ongoing series about consumer behaviour. You are strongly encouraged to read at least part one here and part two here before reading this post….
Read morePart Four – The Extra Large Medium
By: Ilan Mann
April 16, 2020This is part four of an ongoing series about consumer behaviour. You are strongly encouraged to read part one here, part two here, and part three here before reading this…
Read morePart Three – The Availability Bias and Priming in your Mailbox
By: Ilan Mann
April 15, 2020This is part two of an ongoing series about consumer behaviour. You are strongly encouraged to read part one here and part two here before reading this post. Let’s recap…
Read morePart Two – The Irrational Consumer
By: Ilan Mann
April 14, 2020This is part two of an ongoing series about consumer behaviour. You are strongly encouraged to read part one here before reading this post. If all of your customers were…
Read morePart One – This is Your Brain on Loyalty
By: Ilan Mann
April 13, 2020This is part one of an ongoing series about consumer behaviour. What follows may seem like an esoteric or purely academic post in a blog that is normally about marketing,…
Read moreKeeping Your Friends Close: Retention, Retention, Retention
By: Ilan Mann
April 10, 2020Like most suburban kids, I never really understood the proverb, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Why is a bird in the bush worth anything?…
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5 Tips for Writing a Personal Letter
By: Ilan Mann
April 9, 2020A few years ago, a client of ours – a large charity – goofed up and sent a handwritten thank-you card to a donor, and another to her husband, for…
Read moreThe Bus that Nearly Flattens You
By: Ilan Mann
April 8, 2020You’re jogging across an intersection when a city bus turns the corner a little too fast. You jump out of the way and narrowly avoid being run over. Okay –…
Read moreHow to Catch the Attention of a Goldfish
By: Ilan Mann
April 7, 2020If commonly cited statistics are to be believed, it’s a miracle that you clicked on this article. If it took you more than 4 or 5 seconds to read…
Read moreTurning Donors and Customers into your Fundraisers and Salespeople
By: Ilan Mann
March 1, 2020Every fundraiser or salesperson knows that the easiest people to turn into donors and customers are already part of their network. A lot of the reasons why prospects are hesitant…
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Why Donors Stop Donating
By: Ilan Mann
February 16, 2020How do donors loose confidence in your nonprofit? How to re-engage inactive donors Conclusion Donors are the lifeblood of any nonprofit organization, and their value cannot be overstated –…
Read moreWhy Thanking Your Donors is So Important
By: Ilan Mann
February 13, 2020I am always shocked to hear non-profit professionals tell me that they don’t thank their donors. The logic goes that people open their hearts and wallets to charities and non-profits…
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How to be Great at Gratitude – 5 Tips for Brilliant Donor & Volunteer Thank-you Cards
By: Ilan Mann
February 10, 2020So you’ve decided to send thank you notes to your donors and volunteers. Good call! There are few combinations of words more powerful than “Thank You.” Letting someone know that…
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