"A fantastic article on Dental Implants - Check it out: http://bit.ly/1A6gwBD"

“A fantastic article on Dental Implants - Check it out: http://bit.ly/1A6gwBD”

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1LeadzB

"Now is the time to check out Solar! Give SolarEvolutions a call: http://bit.ly/1AgMMOp"

“Now is the time to check out Solar! Give SolarEvolutions a call: http://bit.ly/1AgMMOp”

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/19p9spE

"Just created Google My Business page for SolarEvolution at..."

“Just created Google My Business page for SolarEvolution at http://ift.tt/1EF43nV. Check it out.”

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1CBf8GL

Segmentation Ideas for Nonprofits and Member-Based Organizations

What is one of the most valuable aspects of a member-based, nonprofit organization? Do you have a guess?

It’s the member database.

I’ve been part of the nonprofit world for many years, and even now in my position at a digital agency, I help nonprofits build website and marketing campaigns. So, I know that the member and donor database is immensely important to an organization.

What I also know is that when it comes to mailing lists and email segmentation, there is plenty of room for improvement. How can we take that member data and really use it to its full potential? I’m here to offer a few suggestions.

Creating Member Personas

The idea of member personas comes from buyer personas in the business world. Buyer personas are fictional characters based on your actual customers and target markets. You create buyers personas by dividing your customers into groups based on different attributes (like age, occupation, demographics, personalities). This is useful information for creating targeted marketing campaigns.

Nonprofits can use this same process to create member and donor personas. You might be reading this and already thinking about the different kinds of members your organization has.

Most donors will be members, but not all members will be donors, so it is important to make that distinction here. The ideas listed below for member list segmentation can also be used for donors.

Elements of Good Email List Segmentation

Many nonprofits use one or two properties for basic list segmentation, such as: Member, Donor, Non-donor.

This is a good start and you’re probably already there. When a fundraising letter goes out, you might send it to the entire Member and Donor lists.

But how can we strategically target our communications for better results?

You should understand the following when you set up a list:

• Goal - your list should have a specific goal or campaign


• Persona - know the attributes of the people you are targeting


• Activity - narrow the list based on activity or inactivity

4 Example Email Lists for Members

Active Members

Goal: Provide members with tailored content to keep them engaged.

Activity Level:

• Active members (attending events frequently, active online)


• Semi-active members (occasional attendance or online contact)

Inactive Members

Goal: Provide contact and tailored content to reactivate uninvolved members.

Activity Level:

• Inactive members (have not attended event in X weeks/months)


• Past members (membership lapsed or about to lapse)

Members by Interest

Goal: Provide members with tailored content for special interests or age groups.

Persona based:

• Interests - Events, exhibits, classes


• Age groups - parents with young children, teens, millennials, retirees

Activity based:

• Past attendance - have they attended these types of events in the past?

Member to Donor Track

Goal: Convert members to donors and retain current donors.

Activity Level:

• Active to very active members


• Volunteers

Creating Your Targeted List

Let’s use one of the above examples to discuss setting the criteria and creating an email list. I will use “Active Members.”

Every database will be different, so I can’t tell you exactly how to create your list. I will assume your member database has basic fields for filtering, such as name and contact information, member type, last donation or membership paid date, etc.

In order to create a list like “Active Members,” you will also need fields for establishing your activity criteria: event attendance date, donation date, volunteer date, membership renewal date, etc. The next step is to set up your criteria for what counts as an active member (activity within the past 12 months, for example).

Your list criteria should include:

• First Name


• Last Name


• Email


• Mailing Address


• [Criteria for Activity Level]

Once your list is ready, you can begin developing the content for your targeted campaign, such as email marketing pieces and mailers.

Donors

You can do all of the above kind of segmenting with your donors, as well.

Additionally, think about ways to segment your donors by specific fundraising campaigns. Rather than sending a generic donor letter to a giant list, parse your giving campaigns into different lists.

For example, your organization wants to raise marketing funds for a new website or marketing software. Segment your list into those who might have particular interest in more technical ways of helping your organization or those who prefer anonymous donations. This might be more difficult to set up in a automated way, such as filtering by city or activity level, but would be worth the extra effort to think it through.

Conclusion

Keeping good track of your member data and setting up a usable database is so important. Equally important is how you harness that data and use it to get the best results for your organization.

Segmenting your members and donors into strategic email lists is a great way to personalize your communications. By keeping your emails specific to your target audience, you build trust and loyalty, and eliminate some aspects of donor fatigue. Your members will be more likely to read the email they receive from you because they know it will be relevant to their interests.

How is your nonprofit segmenting email lists now? Share your ideas in the comments below!

from HubSpot Marketing Blog http://ift.tt/1D402Mw

Mobile Marketing = www.mms101.com

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1F62N0z

What Social Selling Isn't

This post originally appeared on the Sales section of Inbound Hub. To read more content like this, subscribe to Sales.

Just like anything shiny and new, social selling suffers from a fair amount of hype. And with hype comes misunderstanding.

Sales reps and leaders eager to embrace the next generation of selling tactics often jump in with both feet. While this enthusiasm is great, sometimes they dive in before they understand what social selling really is, or what they’re trying to achieve. This is a recipe for disaster.

So instead of another piece listing the benefits of social selling and the results that can be reaped through social selling tactics, I thought I’d combat some of the hype by writing on what social selling isn’t. Then business leaders can go in with a clear understanding of what they’re getting into — and what they’re not.

Social selling isn’t outsourcing to Marketing.

Social selling is about curating and sharing content. Since content is generally Marketing’s job, some companies think social selling falls under their jurisdiction. Wrong. How can salespeople connect with their buyers through social and become known as thought leaders when they’re not actually doing the work themselves?

Social selling isn’t about automation.

Setting up salespeople’s social accounts so the same piece of content is shared at the exact same time looks inauthentic and fake. Don’t do it.

Social selling isn’t a one-time event.

You can’t just share one article or favorite one buyer’s tweet and then be done with it. Social selling is a continuous journey. Salespeople must commit to infusing social media into their daily routines for social activity to have an impact on revenue.

Social selling isn’t immediate.

Don’t expect to see major results after one week. Social selling is a marathon, not a sprint.

Social selling isn’t about selling.

If you’re using the same hard sales tactics on social that you’ve always used, you’re doing it wrong. LinkedIn messages aren’t just another avenue to send your cold pitch to buyers. Social selling is about nurturing relationships over time. Connect with and socially surround your buyers.

Social selling isn’t modern trickery.

If done right, it’s about creating genuine relationships with people. Nothing tricky or underhanded about that.

Social selling isn’t the new channel for spam.

If you’re mass sending your cold email pitch through LinkedIn messages or Twitter DMs, you’re doing it wrong. Spam — regardless if it’s sent through email or social channels — is still spam. That’s just #SocialStupid.

Social selling isn’t cold calling.

It’s way more fun than that.

Social selling isn’t about sharing as much content as you can.

Nobody likes someone who won’t shut up, and it’s the same on social media. Social selling is just as much (if not more) about listening to buyers to discover their interests as it is about becoming an effective content curator and thought leader.

Social selling isn’t replacing face-to-face interaction.

In person meetings will never die in sales. But modern salespeople should strive to be in all the places their buyers are. And that includes social media as well as trade shows.

Social selling isn’t magic.

If your company has a lackluster product or service, social selling isn’t going to change that. Don’t expect it to.

Social selling isn’t stalking.

Don’t favorite, retweet, share, or comment on every single post someone puts out. That’s just creepy. Show a sustained interest without crossing the line into stalker territory.

Social selling doesn’t replace phone and email outreach.

It’s strictly additive.

Social selling isn’t about media.

Getting involved on a social platform for the sake of being seen on the platform doesn’t make sense. Don’t forget the “social” in social selling — networking and connecting with people should be the crux of your strategy.

Social selling isn’t right for everyone.

If your buyers aren’t on social, I’m not sure why you would need to be there. Be where your buyers are — whether that’s on social media platforms or groups, or somewhere else entirely.

Want to learn the how and the why of social selling from Jill Rowley for free? Subscribe to HubSpot’s Sales blog in the month of February to be entered to win an hour-long social selling consultation:

from HubSpot Marketing Blog http://ift.tt/1E114Ge

Mobile Marketing = www.mms101.com

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1Acdhu9

How Grabble Is Changing the Face of Ecommerce

We think it’s pretty cool when a company can offer something new to the ecommerce realm. Selling is nothing new, but we’re still exploring the vast possibilities available selling online. That’s why Grabble has us pretty excited. At the moment, this app is only available in the UK, but it’s coming to the U.S. later this year. And it’s seriously cool.

Why? Let’s take a look.

The Trend of Tinder

Dating app Tinder revolutionized the snap decision, didn’t it? Users are presented with a profile and can either swipe left to dismiss or right to explore further. Grabble thought this was a great idea—specifically because users save time they’d otherwise spend on items they know immediately aren’t for them.

With the Grabble app on your phone, you can shop the same way you date now. Fill out a short profile, then wade through the profiles of clothes that fit your preferences. Sometimes they’re exactly what you want; other times they can go straight into the bin, never to be seen again.

The Ease of Pinterest

What happens once you decide to “grab” something? This is where the app borrowed from another crazy trend: Pinterest. When you save something, it’s placed in a collection very much like a Pinterest board. On payday, users can go right back to their favorites and easily find the items they want to purchase right away. No more searching through dozens of ecommerce sites to find the one thing from each.

As with Pinterest, users can create their own collections to keep everything separate. Organized online shoppers have finally met their match! These collections are available on the app or on the website, so users can browse wherever they like and then shop wherever they’re comfortable.

The Communication of Individual Sites

Ecommerce companies that have their acts together often send out notifications when items are discounted, which prompts larger numbers of sales. Shoppers who find items through Grabble may never visit the website, which could cut the ecommerce company out of the communication. Fortunately, Grabble thought of everything.

When an item in a user’s collection goes on sale, that user will receive a notice. Savvy shoppers waiting for a great deal to make a move can then purchase, which benefits the brand, the app, and the buyer.

The Power of Data

One other benefit Grabble offers retailers and etailers that partner with the app is data. Glorious, useful data! See, shoppers on an ecommerce site let the company know which items are liked and which are discarded by favoriting or purchasing an item. What happens if the buyer finds those items from a third party?

Well, if that third party is Grabble, the brand can track metrics anyway. With the data from Grabble regarding the styles discarded and those saved to a collection let brands know where to focus their efforts.

Who’s excited to see Grabble change the way American ecommerce happens? The trend hits the States in March, and we’ll be ready.

from HubSpot Marketing Blog http://ift.tt/1ArNptO

Mobile Marketing = www.mms101.com

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1HZZnin

Are you Looking for brand new homes for sale in the Cedar Rapids area?

Then - you have come to the right place - Precision Builders offers over 15 years experience and offers friendly, precise and reliable service. Whether you’re in the process of sketching your dream home or are dreaming up a remodeling project, Precision Builders skilled craftsmen offer quality work through every stage of the process.

Best Cedar Rapids Builder - The team at Precision Builders are great at turning your vision into reality with custom carpentry for fireplaces, mud room lockers, staircases and more.

Attention to Detail - The team at Precision Builders will work with you to design every aspect of your dream house. The attention to detail is what sets Precision Builders apart from other new construction builders.
Give them a call at: 319-774-2760