You can’t fake authenticity
My esteemed colleague Mark Rovner has a great blog carnival this week on authenticity. In this era of withering scepticism about all things marketing, we’re best off being honest and flawed rather than slick and slimy.
Check it out, it’s worth the read. You can discover some new blogs in the process.
I think when you’re unsure of what to do, especially when it comes to talking to your audience, authenticity can help you out of the dark.
Wondering how often you should contact your supporters and by what means? Tell them you’re unsure, and ask them what they want. They’ll love it - no one else bothers.
Concerned that your story isn’t perfect? All the better, it’s human.
Worried people aren’t opening your mail or electronic newsletters? Label the next one, “did we bore you last time?” and ask your supporters what interests them.
Candor, directness and truth cut through the clutter.
Syndicate
I couldn’t agree with you more. A non-profit cannot exist without the help and support of its donors; however, I have noticed many organizations don’t take the time to truly connect with these people. They are located within a database, and they seem to get treated the same way.
Many non-profits look at their database and think quantity when they should really focus on quality. The more you know about an individual can ultimately open doors to a much more personal and beneficial relationship.
A small few companies, like my own Veridical Research Solutions, offer services to improve the quality of databases.