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Health changing websites: Toronto Cause Marketers Meetup

Monday, December 6, 2010 | 1 comment

At last week’s Cause Marketers Meetup, Brian Cugelman of AlterSpark and Lee Taylor from the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario sharing their experiences and insights on ‘health changing websites’. Lee walked us through the experience (and ongoing learning) of developing the My Heart & Stroke Healthy Weight Action Plan e-tool. Brian followed by sharing the results of his research into translating theoretical health behaviour change models into practical, hands-on online programs.

Lack of originality: a silent killer

Monday, November 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

This post is long overdue, but I just saw yet another reference to a ‘silent killer’… If you are looking for an original way to describe a health threat, avoid this moniker!

Totally Integrated Awareness Campaigns: Toronto Cause Marketers Meetup

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

Our presenters at last week's Cause Marketers Meetup were Farah Ng and Meghann Comerford from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation. Earlier this year, I had witnessed their ‘Toronto’s Most Life Changing Address’ campaign all over the city, in print and online and was keen to hear more about their integration of traditional and new media channels.

Nonprofit taglines: nothing new under the sun – or is there?

Friday, October 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

What is your nonprofit’s tagline currently doing for your organization? Is it communicating your brand promise or identity? Does it help to differentiate your organization from the competition? Does it round out your nonprofit’s name, helping to clearly broadcast what you do and what you’re about?

Don’t be a blockhead: break up your copy

Monday, September 20, 2010 | Leave a comment

Longer is not necessarily better. Formal doesn’t mean readable. So loosen up a little and give your copy a break!

Using Content to Connect: Toronto Cause Marketers Meetup

Thursday, September 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

At last week’s Cause Marketers Meetup in Toronto, Aerin Guy of SpaceRace shared insights from her role as Community Manager with Totally ADD: a multimedia education resource for people with ADD. Since Aerin joined the Totally ADD team in February, the site has developed an active, international community of online contributors.

Aerin has kindly shared her presentation and related notes on her blog. That leaves me to simply share some of the key points I took home as a participant.

Pro bono work: getting what you pay for?

Thursday, August 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

Within my network, I’ve recently noticed a number of calls for pro bono creative services including copywriting, website design/development and graphic design. As a creative professional with primarily nonprofit clients, a former in-house communications manager and a former volunteer manager, this raises a number of concerns and cautions.

Social media planning for nonprofits: Bianca Freedman Interview, Part 2

Thursday, July 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

In part one of our interview Bianca Freedman of the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation shared her thoughts an experiences with the importance of social media planning – and the dangers of operating without a plan. In part two, Bianca shares her thoughts on creating a plan, setting goals and objectives and measuring success.

Social media planning for nonprofits: Bianca Freedman Interview, Part 1

Thursday, July 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Earlier this spring, Bianca Freedman, of the Credit Valley Hospital Foundation shared her experiences with social media planning at a meeting of cause marketers in Toronto. Bianca agreed to share her experiences and insights with my readers by answering a few interview questions…

Your audience wants to know: what’s in it for them?

Monday, July 5, 2010 | Leave a comment

Many non-profit organizations forget to tell their audience what’s in it for them. Effective copy depends on communicating benefits. Time spent brainstorming a features and benefits list is time well spent.