Coro, a leadership development program, launched a blog to enable its 11,000 alumni and friends to share observations, anal

A quick reminder – a blog is a website that takes the form of an online journal, updated frequently with running commentary on one or many topics.

Why blogs matter

There are few who will discount blogs' role as a key component of online culture. If anything, blogs are quickly becoming popular with established users of the Internet, according to a late 2004 study on blogs by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Pew conducted two telephone surveys of nearly 2,000 Internet users, and found that 32 million Americans, or 27 percent of Internet users, say they read blogs -- a 58 percent jump from the prior year (with a huge growth in readers 30-49 years old). More than 8 million Internet users have created a blog or web-based diary. Twelve percent of Internet users have posted comments or other material on a blog.

Nonetheless, the blogging concept is still evolving among the majority of Americans. Sixty-two percent of online Americans do not know what a blog is, according to the Pew study.

Other results found by the Pew organization indicate the blogging community is still far from average, even among Internet users. Blog creators are more likely (82 percent) to have been online for six years or more and have broadband (70 percent) at home.

This study, paired with a prior Pew report indicating 59 percent of Americans access the Internet as of 2002, begs the question: What, if any, impact do blogs have on how the public gets their news and information?

The answer, not surprisingly, appears to be mixed. But what's clear is that blogging (writing and reading), like Internet usage, is growing at a phenomenal rate. Even if your nonprofit isn't blogging, organizations that are competing for the same donors, members, volunteers and participants are likely to be doing so. As a result, it's a venue you can't ignore any longer.

When to launch your nonprofit blog

Okay, so blogging is a growing phenomenon and definitely something you have to keep your eye on. But when does it make sense for your nonprofit to take the plunge? Here are just a few motivations and models:

• Your CEO or subject expert has a distinctive point of view and/or news to share on a very regular basis.

  Teagle Foundation CEO Bob Connor, an expert in liberal (arts) education, blogs to share his thinking and responses to news in the field. Take a look at:

  http://www.teaglefoundation.org/president/liblog.aspx

• Your organization wants to disseminate news to, and facilitate conversation among, key audiences (it helps if they have an interest or experience in common).

  Coro, a leadership development program, launched a blog to enable its 11,000 alumni and friends to share observations, anal

  Business Branding - How Character Affects Customers and Your Business Image
  The public buys far more than just your products, services and so-called image promotions. Whenever they interact with anyone or anything associated with your business, they are automatically branded emotionally, good or bad, by the totality of your business character.Whether you are a small business or a large operation, it is immaterial. If that brand is found lacking at any time in the customer-relation scenario, their return to you as a future-paying customer will be highly unlikely, not to mention all of their word-of-
  blogs by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

  Pew conducted two telephone surveys of nearly 2,000 Internet users, and found that 32 million Americans, or 27 percent of Internet users, say they read blogs -- a 58 percent jump from the prior year (with a huge growth in readers 30-49 years old). More than 8 million Internet users have created a blog or web-based diary. Twelve percent of Internet users have posted comments or other material on a blog.

  Nonetheless, the blogging concept is still evolving among the majority of Americans. Sixty-two percent of online Americans do not know what a blog is, according to the Pew study.

  Other results found by the Pew organization indicate the blogging community is still far from average, even among Internet users. Blog creators are more likely (82 percent) to have been online for six years or more and have broadband (70 percent) at home.

  This study, paired with a prior Pew report indicating 59 percent of Americans access the Internet as of 2002, begs the question: What, if any, impact do blogs have on how the public gets their news and information?

  The answer, not surprisingly, appears to be mixed. But what's clear is that blogging (writing and reading), like Internet usage, is growing at a phenomenal rate. Even if your nonprofit isn't blogging, organizations that are competing for the same donors, members, volunteers and participants are likely to be doing so. As a result, it's a venue you can't ignore any longer.

  When to launch your nonprofit blog

  Okay, so blogging is a growing phenomenon and definitely something you have to keep your eye on. But when does it make sense for your nonprofit to take the plunge? Here are just a few motivations and models:

  • Your CEO or subject expert has a distinctive point of view and/or news to share on a very regular basis.

    Teagle Foundation CEO Bob Connor, an expert in liberal (arts) education, blogs to share his thinking and responses to news in the field. Take a look at:

    http://www.teaglefoundation.org/president/liblog.aspx

  • Your organization wants to disseminate news to, and facilitate conversation among, key audiences (it helps if they have an interest or experience in common).

    Coro, a leadership development program, launched a blog to enable its 11,000 alumni and friends to share observations, anal

    Turn Customers into Clients and Prosper
    Do you have customers or do you have clients? Someone asked me yesterday to explain the difference. He claimed that it was just semantics and that basically customers were clients and vice versa. I was surprised that he felt that way, because there is a distinctively important difference between the two.So exactly what is the difference between a customer and a client? Let's look at a couple of examples of each, and you will understand why having clients is better than having customers.If you walk into a convenie
    g to the Pew study.

    Other results found by the Pew organization indicate the blogging community is still far from average, even among Internet users. Blog creators are more likely (82 percent) to have been online for six years or more and have broadband (70 percent) at home.

    This study, paired with a prior Pew report indicating 59 percent of Americans access the Internet as of 2002, begs the question: What, if any, impact do blogs have on how the public gets their news and information?

    The answer, not surprisingly, appears to be mixed. But what's clear is that blogging (writing and reading), like Internet usage, is growing at a phenomenal rate. Even if your nonprofit isn't blogging, organizations that are competing for the same donors, members, volunteers and participants are likely to be doing so. As a result, it's a venue you can't ignore any longer.

    When to launch your nonprofit blog

    Okay, so blogging is a growing phenomenon and definitely something you have to keep your eye on. But when does it make sense for your nonprofit to take the plunge? Here are just a few motivations and models:

    • Your CEO or subject expert has a distinctive point of view and/or news to share on a very regular basis.

      Teagle Foundation CEO Bob Connor, an expert in liberal (arts) education, blogs to share his thinking and responses to news in the field. Take a look at:

      http://www.teaglefoundation.org/president/liblog.aspx

    • Your organization wants to disseminate news to, and facilitate conversation among, key audiences (it helps if they have an interest or experience in common).

      Coro, a leadership development program, launched a blog to enable its 11,000 alumni and friends to share observations, anal

      Why You Need To Have Your Prices Upfront
      How much do you charge? I don’t know. I’ll have to check with my brain.Huh?In nine out of ten sites, customers will not be told upfront, how much the customer is expected to pay for a product or a service.The website/brochure will hem and haw, and not tell you what you really need to know: How much does the damned thing cost?In the earlier, more foolish days, we tried to keep our prices a mystery. As a result, we’d have dozens of inquiries. All the inquiries turned to custard. Once people found out how
      t usage, is growing at a phenomenal rate. Even if your nonprofit isn't blogging, organizations that are competing for the same donors, members, volunteers and participants are likely to be doing so. As a result, it's a venue you can't ignore any longer.

      When to launch your nonprofit blog

      Okay, so blogging is a growing phenomenon and definitely something you have to keep your eye on. But when does it make sense for your nonprofit to take the plunge? Here are just a few motivations and models:

      • Your CEO or subject expert has a distinctive point of view and/or news to share on a very regular basis.

        Teagle Foundation CEO Bob Connor, an expert in liberal (arts) education, blogs to share his thinking and responses to news in the field. Take a look at:

        http://www.teaglefoundation.org/president/liblog.aspx

      • Your organization wants to disseminate news to, and facilitate conversation among, key audiences (it helps if they have an interest or experience in common).

        Coro, a leadership development program, launched a blog to enable its 11,000 alumni and friends to share observations, anal

        Direct Mail Marketing for Chiropractors
        Direct mail marketing can be a great way for a chiropractic office to develop new customers. The chiropractors can advertise an introductory special and in this way people who have back problems or aches and pains can come in and find out what is going on. It makes sense for new patients to come in for the introductory offer because preventative maintenance ahead of time can usually had off disaster is back problems later.It behooves chiropractic offices to participate in direct-mail marketing programs by putting their dis
        n a very regular basis.

        Teagle Foundation CEO Bob Connor, an expert in liberal (arts) education, blogs to share his thinking and responses to news in the field. Take a look at:

        http://www.teaglefoundation.org/president/liblog.aspx

      • Your organization wants to disseminate news to, and facilitate conversation among, key audiences (it helps if they have an interest or experience in common).

        Coro, a leadership development program, launched a blog to enable its 11,000 alumni and friends to share observations, analysis, and opinions regarding public affairs.

        http://coro.blogs.com/coro/nonprofit/

      • Pulling together news and perspectives on a particular subject area is your nonprofit's specialty, and you want to get the info out quickly and broadly.

        Green Media Toolshed, which builds and strengthens the communications infrastructure for the environmental movement, publishes a blog on the latest and greatest resources.

        http://greenmediatoolshed.blogs.com/gmt/network_advocacy/

      These are just a few of the ways in which blogging can make a difference for your nonprofit. There are many more out there which I'll highlight in future issues of Getting Attention.

      But don't wait for me. Get online and start reviewing the blogs mentioned above and others even closer to your organization's needs. This process will help jump start your blog strategy and give you some concrete examples to show colleagues who may be less familiar with blogs.