Fundraising Ideas For A Community Foundation?

Clubs + Associations

I am helping to compile a fundraising plan for a local community foundation.

Target Market include:

  • High net worth donors
  • Investment and Financial Community
  • Business as founding investors

Need fundraising ideas and well as other ideas for specific target markets.

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Jay’s Answer: No matter who you’re targeting, the basics are still: identifying who they are and why they should care about your organization. Your target market is more than high net worth people – it’s people who have donated before. One approach is to look at other organization’s donor lists and begin to get to know your prospects.

High net worth people are regularly approached for donations, so your marketing materials has to clearly articulate where your past funds have gone to benefit the community, and what specifically you need from the community to achieve your next specific goals.

What Should I Name For My Group Of Women?

Names + Taglines

I started this group of women..and now have mixed feelings on the name and would like to change it.. I want a group for networking and socializing. How could i cater to both. Can you help me with a name and ideas

What don’t you like about it? The group ranges in age from 24 to 55. And after 2 meetings I feel it no longer fits in to what i want to do.

Is this group social or for business reasons? The group’s members are all different there is from stay at home moms to lawyers to important public figures i am trying to recruit. The problem is that i started this group to meet new people and let them know about our family business (real estate) and all that we offer. So it would be a networking group. But at the same time you have people that don’t want to network and just have some time off at a social group. So i am trying to cater to different types social /networking. Yes chiks clique i think is fine for socializing in a younger crowd, I am looking for a name that will fit every ones age and interest.

What will the members have in common, besides being a group of women? Some what to let others know about what they do (sales) to get more clients. And others just want time off from their children and busy lives

Why would someone want to join your group? Networking and time with other women

What other types of names are you thinking of? I was thinking something like bizwomen but it does not work for me. Because of the ones that want nothing to do with work.

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Jay’s Answer: I think that the purpose of a social group is much different from a business networking group. A social group exists to talk about life, hobbies, etc. A networking group exists to help people sell their products/services. There can be overlap in the two groups, but the “energy” will be quite different.

Here are some names to play with:

  • Women2Women
  • Goddess Talk
  • Girl Time
  • Ladies Who Launch
  • The Meet Market

How Do I Get To the Consumer Through B2B?

Products

I have invented and developed a unique landscape product that gets people (who know about it) excited. In fact one of the head buyers of a major box store has moved to the USA and is actively trying to get the product into the market there and Europe.

Sounds good? Yes, but I am worried that it may be a product that seems good, but really is only a little bit good. There seems to be mixed feelings about the product on a business level. Are businesses scared of NEW and UNIQUE products? Can a “little bit good” product be marketed correctly to get fantastic sales, or am I being impatient? The product has only been in stores for one full season and we are about to move into the second.

I have successfully got the product into some large Box format stores, however product is selling a little slowly. We have done very little marketing and our market is also very small. 4 million people in my country.

The product also requires awareness as the actual product is a mold and the final result is the PRODUCT of the mold. In other words, what they see on the shelf does not reflect what they will ACTUALLY receive or build. The shelf product can seem dreary and “non exciting” until they see some finished product which looks fantastic.

It has never been seen before and product awareness is low as far as I can see and our retail outlets aren’t as proactive as we would like them to be due to the fact that they have a million other product lines and seem like they really couldn’t care less about how much of my product they sell.

The question is, how do I get to the consumer through the retailer? Is there something I can offer the retailer or do I need to get to the consumer myself? I have been thinking about TV advertising, however the cost is very scary. I do believe it may assist though.

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Jay’s Answer: Pretend you’re selling the product yourself.

How would you get people excited about it? Would you create online videos showing the results, how to use it, etc? Would you have a contest of “most improved” or “best use” of your product? Would you offer free classes for using it? Would you contact local garden clubs to teach them the ins-and-outs of your product? Would you try to get it featured on a gardening show?

Now realize that you’re basically selling it yourself, just that the retailers are doing the order fulfillment for you.

Business With Passion: John Ogden

Videos

Trailer:

John Ogden manages marketing, sales and business operations for Olson Ogden Wines. Ogden was an early employee of America Online in Dulles, VA and worked in a variety of business development, sales, marketing and management positions for the company during its critical growth period. After America Online, Ogden worked with entrepreneurial companies to develop their business development, brand and sales strategies. Ogden’s career includes work in the public sector as a legislative aide in the United States Senate and a staff assistant for the United States Senate Financial Committee.

Website: Olson Ogden Wines
Email: John@OlsonOgdenWines.com
Phone: (707) 823-6127

Business With Passion TV Show Logo

How To Do Promotion on A Budget?

Publicity

What are the best ways to raise awareness about my Christian magazine? I don’t yet have the capital to really get into radio, TV and billboards like I want to, but I do want to promote my mag to a lot of readers in my circulation areas. I need some brilliant ideas on how to do this on an extreme budget. Now I understand that I have to spend some money, so I’m not unrealistic, but the point is I need some very cheap, yet effective ways to create a buzz.

P.S. I have been trying the email awareness thing, but in this world of spam, annoying email blasts and the like, I don’t think that email carries nearly the “productivity” (can’t think of a better word right now) rate it used to.

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Jay’s Answer: If you’re looking for a buzz, then identify Christian trend-setters in your community. Can you get an interview/cover shot? Then, follow up with a press release announcing the special interview for (potentially) local media coverage – specifically targeting the demographic.

The point is instead of trying to “push” your magazine to people who don’t know they want it, try to “pull” your demographic to you based on having what/who they’re looking for.

How to Advertise/PR Educational Institute?

Services

What advertising/ PR strategies could be used while promoting an educational institute?

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Jay’s Answer: It depends on what your ultimate PR goal really is:

  • To include the local community?
  • To attract talented staff?
  • To encourage more companies to participate in work/study
  • To attract more students?
  • To encourage endowments?

Each of these goals would have different strategies associated with achieving them.

Sales Tips For Commercial Insurance?

Publicity

I have 7 years of commercial insurance ‘service’ experience and have recently gone into a ‘sales’ role with a fairly new agency. I am doing a lot of cold calling and relationship building, in order to write business. It is a slow process, but one that I do not mind.

Do you know of techniques or certain ways that this can be more successful for me? I am willing to be creative in order to be remembered by potential clients.

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Jay’s Answer: Throw parties at your place of business. Invite 1/2 existing clients and 1/2 prospective clients. Make it clear that the party itself is a networking opportunity for your attendees and won’t be sales presentation. This gives you multiple opportunities to connect:

* You’ll see past clients, and thank them for their past business. Their invitations would be a chance to ask about changes in their life that would require reviewing their policies.

* You’ll have prospective clients visit your office, and talk with people. Have nametags, and have past clients put the # of years they’ve been with you on their name tags. Prospects will see who / how many of their peers use you for a long time.

* By creating a networking event, you help your clients’ business.

A Tagline For A PR Professional?

Names + Taglines

I’m a retired PR professional who has started a small virtual agency…boringly named Claudia Lauber Marketing and PR. (I was on the spot at the CPA’s)

Now I need THE tag line to emphasize my professionalism and skills…something like Solid Ideas, Solid Results. But that just sounds so staid. I’m a more creative person than that. My logo is a stylized cowgirl throwing a lasso (had to include my passion…horses)

Who am I trying to attract? I’m trying to attract companies who are interested in project PR work. Large companies usually have an agency, but often use outside consultants for projects, events, etc. Or the company may be too small for a typical agency. Because we’re a virtual agency, our rates are much cheaper and easier for a small company to manage.

Where are they located? Louisville, Kentucky region.

Why would they care about you? 30+ years experience myself…combined 100+ years experience with consultants in the group, skilled at all elements of PR…advertising, community relations, media relations, events, sponsorships, etc. Niche skills such as events, sponsorships, internal communications and community relations are not always available…and I have those.

What specifically makes you different from other PR agencies? Combined experience of group. Able to be flexible with project teams, using only those whose skills match the project. No overhead. We’re really a fun group. Enthusiasm. Passion for the work. Honest counsel. Reliable. We care enough to listen. Each of our clients is a priority…you won’t get lost in the big agency maze.

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Jay’s Answer: A tagline needs to work together with your business name, your target audience, and your key benefit you provide (all in about 7 words).

(Note: Your company name “Claudia Lauber Marketing and PR” would make me assume that you’re foremost a marketing firm, not a PR firm.)

Here are some ideas to play with:

  • Helping Louisville Businesses Since 1978 (note: focus on your experience)
  • Small Agency. Big Heart. Great Service. (note: focus on your size/benefit)
  • Specializing in Events and Sponsorships (note: focus on specialties)
  • Gateway To Successful Event PR (note: focus on region/specialty)

A Tagline For An Event Planning Company?

Names + Taglines

Objective: Develop a fresh, playful and fun tagline that highlights our expertise, differentiates us from our competitors while still being catchy enough to remember. Competitor example: Outplay. Outplan. Outparty.

Our Approach: Inspire Events is a full service event planning company specializing in weddings, social gatherings and corporate events. We believe that every event should not only be inspiring but it should also be unforgettable. Known for our exceptional ability to visualize and transform an ordinary space into an inviting, distinctive atmosphere. Our goal is quite simply to create an experience for both the host and guest from invitation to parting gift that is uniquely original and down right fabulous.

Target Market: Marketing departments of Midsized Businesses, Corporate Executives, Non-Profits, Families and Brides/Grooms.

Event Examples: We produce corporate holiday parties, product launches, fundraisers, festivals, weddings, reunions and many more specialized parties.

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Jay’s Answer:

  • Parties That Swing (Rock)
  • Not Just A Party…An Event
  • Drop Dead Fabulous
  • Oh…My…Gosh
  • Parties Worth Talking About
  • Turning Fantasies Into Realities

How To Generate Revenue From a Radio Station Website

eMarketing

I have recently been given a project to generate as much extra revenue as we can from our radio station’s interactive website.

I am looking for ideas on how to get users to spend money via our website. Please note that i am well aware of the generic ways such as referrals and banner ads. I am looking for new ways to generate revenue.

A little back ground, the radio station is newly launched, only about a month old and is based in a country with a population of 140million plus with internet penetration at around 10%.

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Jay’s Answer: Leave a broadcast slot to feature local bands, and have the bands pay/bid for the slot (to play their latest CD, etc.)

Offers to have the DJs make personal appearances at private parties (playing their favorite music).

Sell podcasts of favorite shows.

If you have guests that play live music, compilation CDs of their live performances.