Innovative Concepts

$1 Coupon

 My father-in-law will not shop at a local market because they would not honor a coupon that he brought in a couple years ago.  He tells everyone about his experience and recommends they shop elsewhere.  I am certain the market has not idea of my father-in-law’s name and has experienced no real discernible loss of revenue but how much marketing must the market create to overcome one former customer who had a bad experience?  If you shop online and read customer reviews, how many low scores do you need to see before you move on to another product or website?  I find that it is the really dissatified customer reviews that I read to see if it the problem is the product or the experience.

How do you handle those who will not recommend your cause?  Do you know their names?  Have you ever called them up and asked them to tell their stories?  What do you have to lose if you invest some time in people who were once fans?

Preach what you know. Share when you have more than you need. Give when the opportunity presents itself.

Simon Sinek  
An interesting way to think about engaging your talent, treasure, time, and touch.  How do you decide when and how to share your talents?  What conversations are you having with your fans and supporters about how to engage their best?           

Linked Social Media Platforms

Should my Google+ account automatically update on Facebook and Twitter?  Or is each a unique platform that needs to be cultivated with posts and activity that best reflect their individual strengths?  How are you managing all your social media platforms?  Are they linked?  Who are you following?  How do they share information that you find valuable?

There is a lot of debate right now on what is the preferred strategy.  Many nonprofits are looking at Google+ because some see it a more advantageous to fundraising, communication, and coordination.  What is your enterprise’s strategy?

Another Reason For Term Limits

A board chair welcomed new board members to an organization by asking them what they wanted to achieve during their four year term.  He would listen and then add their goal to a matrix that summarized all the other board member’s outcomes.  Next to each board member’s name was a countdown timer that listed years, months, days, and hours.  The timer reflected the amount of time left on each board member’s term.  It was an active document that he would display on a screen at the start of each board meeting.  It brought immediate focus with a certain deadline.

What outcomes would you be willing to put on a countdown timer?

Appreciation

What makes you feel most appreciated?  Does a personal call rate higher than an email?  Will a personalized note at the bottom of a letter rank higher than a piece addressed to ‘friend’?  Are you more touched by a thank you call from a board member than a tax receipt acknowledgement? 

What if you take it to the next level?  Why not think like a concierge?  How can you create an experience that is remarkable?  Are you able to connect two people who share the same purpose?  Can you include one of your fans in a behind-the-scenes event?  Are you able to recognize an individual during a presentation among their peers?  Can you craft a simple memento that sits discretely for the supporter who wishes to remain anonymous but desire something they can gravitate towards?  I once saw a small picture frame with a quote hanging on the backside of a door.  The quote was from the causes most dedicated volunteer and its presence in a non public location was the perfect balance of recognition from those inside the cause without using a spotlight.

Who Would You Invite?

Why not start you own Dîner en Blanc?  Who would you invite?  What are the possible venues?  Who would determine the theme of the event?  How secretive?  What would be the intended outcome? 

You could do this tomorrow with your neighbors, friends, tribe of followers.  As Tony Robbins says, “A real decision is measured by taking a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.”