Be the 2,000th Voter for the Nonprofit Tagline Awards...

Place your vote for the Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Award winners and you'll ensure me a great weekend.

More seriously, the response to the poll is fantastic with 1,999 votes to date. Polling closes in just a week so c'mon, VOTE RIGHT NOW.

Make my weekend, please. You have a great one too.

Strengthen your tagline with the Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Report. You'll get a free copy (due in July), when you subscribe to the Getting Attention e-newsletter (featuring in-depth articles and case studies on nonprofit marketing).

Vote for the Best Nonprofit Taglines -- 2008 Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards

Place your vote today for the first Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Awards. These tagline finalists have been carefully culled from the more than 1,050 taglines submitted to our recent Tagline Survey. They're all fantastic, but they all can't be the best.

The organizations behind these taglines have done a fantastic job in putting eight words or less to work to build their brands. Now it's your turn to select which are the best in class.

Vote today -- I want to know what you think. It'll take you 7minutes or less; polls close Friday, June 20th.

Strengthen your tagline with the Getting Attention Nonprofit Tagline Report. You'll get a free copy (due in July), when you subscribe to the Getting Attention e-newsletter (featuring in-depth articles and case studies on nonprofit marketing).

8 Hard-Hitting, Exciting, Moving Nonprofit Videos -- Vote for the Best

Camera. Lights. Action.

Eight incredible videos have been selected as finalists for the 2008 DoGooderTV Nonprofit Video Awards.

There are two compelling reasons for you to watch these productions:

1. Learn what your org can do. These are models of what your organization can do; representing various production values (and so cost points), issue focus and style. Contact the orgs who've produced the videos you like for more guidances on the what works and what doesn't.
2. Hone your understanding of what works best in online video. Voting requires evaluation of these videos; and your evaluation will strengthen your own understanding of the impact and challenges of the video medium. Don't run away. Online video is a must-have arrow in your nonprofit's marketing quiver.

Vote today.

Missing out on the Getting Attention e-newsletter? Subscribe now for in-depth articles and case studies on nonprofit marketing.You'll get first access to research like this, plus other coverage to ensure marketing impact.

Your Chance to Hone Your Video Skills, and Win a Trip to Frisco -- 2nd Annual DoGooderTV Awards

Calling all nonprofit marketers! See3 Communications and the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) invite you to submit your videos to the contest, hosted on DoGooderTV.

The theme of this year's contest is From the Ground Up: Using Technology to Engage Constituents and Make the World a Better Place.  Last year's winner, Avaaz' "Stop the Clash of Civilizations" has been viewed over 1.5 million times on YouTube. (Take a look--this is fabulous, compelling and catchy. You'll want to view it at least twice.)

I love contests and awards. They get me off my b___ to create, to push myself, to experiment for client organizations (and to win a great prize on occasion). Use this opportunity to do this same with a few videos for your nonprofit, even if its a first-time production for you.

The dets:

• Videos can focus on almost any issue area.
• Submission deadline is February 15th, 2008, with finalist videos posted on DoGooderTV March 1st so viewers can vote on winners
• Winner will be announced at NTEN's annual conference (NTC) on March 21. 
• The winner will be awarded an all-expense paid trip to the 2009 NTC to be held in San Francisco.

Jump into this no lose, little cost, a bit of risk and effort opportunity with great potential for fun, marketing impact and perhaps even a trip to Frisco.

More information here.

Missing out on the Getting Attention e-newsletter? Subscribe now for in-depth articles and case studies on nonprofit marketing.

Doing Something Innovative with Social Networking or Other Online Communications Tools?

April 6th Update--

Take a look at these project proposals already submitted for some inspirational ideas.
____________________________________________________

If your organization is working on a project that:

•       Uses the power of community and social networks to create change
•       Uses existing, or newly developed technology tools for social impact
•       Has a sound financial model
•       Has a clear way to measure success
•       Shows strong leadership, passion and resourcefulness
•       Exhibits a passion for social change...

Then apply for the NetSquared Innovation Fund Award. Applications are due April 6th with voting -- by the "general public" (remember, there is no general public audience, anyone who knows NetSquared is interested in nonprofits and technology/online communications) the following week.

Application guidelines here. And you can browse the projects already nominated. Jump in!

Get the Getting Attention e-news? Subscribe now for key articles and case studies on nonprofit communications.

Best Email Campaigns of Recent Months -- Online for Your Review

Lots to learn (and swipe) from MarketingSherpa's Email Award Winner Gallery 2007. Most of these  highly successful email campaigns and example are great models for your nonprofit marketing. Winners include B-to-B campaigns, best email newsletters, best retail promotions and even best podcasts from Nickelodeon, Dell, AAA, Doubleday and The Motley Fool.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

• Olympus Cameras for Best E-News for Marketing Purposes (designed to build brand, create loyalty, increase customers/members/donors)
• Value-filled e-news on digital photography
• Well-chunked, with each chunk fully visible in the preview panel (many readers use the panel to read, rather than fully opening emails)
• Over 50% of content is from readers.
• Intevation Report for Best Welcome Letter for New Subscribers
• This inspirational welcome letter goes way beyond the basics, linking to best-of articles and white papers
• I've posted more guidelines on welcome letters here.

Dive in and steal as many ideas as you can today! Or swipe, as they say in the marketing world.

Get the Getting Attention e-news? Subscribe now for key articles and case studies on nonprofit communications.

Open Casting Call Added for Oprah's Big Give

UPDATE FROM OPRAH -- Feb. 20 --

Ok. It wasn't Oprah personally. But it was her show's promotion team. That counts, right?

They want you to know that open (aka, in-person) casting calls are scheduled for LA (this Thursday, Feb. 22nd), followed by calls in Nashville, Chicago, and NYC. That's in addition to the "apply by mail" process detailed below.

Here's more on the open call schedule. This could be your opportunity to give!
____________________________________________________________________________________

You know that Oprah's Big Give philanthropy reality show is a go. Eight episodes at least.

Every week, 10 people will be challenged to take the money  ($10,000) and resources they are given and multiply them to come up with the most powerful, sensational, emotional and dramatic ways to give to others. More info here in my earlier post.

Now Oprah's searching for contestants -- "competitive, passionate and creative big thinkers"-- and the deadline for applying is February 23rd.

Apply now if you're interested. All it takes is a 3-minute tape where you express your passion and interests.

Photo credit: Oprah.com

Get the Getting Attention e-news? Subscribe now for key articles and case studies on nonprofit communications.

Do You Do Great Email Marketing? -- Apply for these Awards -- No Risk, Just Great PR and Recognition

MarketingSherpa is seeking nominations for its second annual Email Marketing Awards.

Ten entry categories include:

• best email newsletter
• best email solo blast promotion
• best triggered campaign
• best opt-in (list growth) campaign
• best automated campaign (via autoresponders).

Judges will be evaluating the following, with most important listed first:

   1. Results data and what measurements your team deemed to be most important to track.
   2. Copy/content — is it tailored and relevant to your audience?
   3. Landing page (if applicable) — is it clearly allied with the email campaign?
   4. Layout and graphics (if applicable).
   5. Use of best email practices regarding permission, relevancy, whitelisting/avoiding filters.
   6. Creativity.

If your nonprofit works hard on email marketing, take a few minutes to look at your strengths and successes, and to enter.

Deadline for entries is Friday, Feb. 16. Here's more info and entry forms.

Entry is $150. Definitely but it's worth the investment if you're good at this. And to tell you the truth, even if your not email kings and queens right now, striving to improve your email marketing for entry in next year's award competition is a great motivation for you and your colleagues.

Are you Getting Attention?  Subscribe to my free e-newsletter today.

Put Your Nonprofit Web Site in the Ring for a Webby Award -- Great Way to Drive Audiences to Your Site

Now in their 11th year of recognizing Internet excellence, the Webbys pay tribute to success in more than 100 Web site, Mobile (e.g. text messaging advocacy campaigns) and Online Film & Video categories. Last year's Webbys received a record 5,500 entries in 70+ categories from more than 40 countries. Isn't it time you win one of what The New York Times called the "Oscars of the Internet"?

Last year's nonprofit award-winning sites (with producing organization, and award category) include:

• YouThink! (World Bank, Activism)
• Monticello Explorer (Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Cultural Institutions)
• Above the Influence (UNDCP, Youth--social marketing campaign on avoiding peer pressure)

Each entry is reviewed by the brightest minds on the Web; see iadas.net for a complete list of judges. Winning an "online Oscar" honors your nonprofit's team, generates incredible press and media exposure, enhances your brand, validates your hard work and grows your audience. Enter your Web site today.

Are you Getting Attention?  Subscribe to my free e-newsletter today.

Trumpet Your Nonprofit Marketing Successes -- PRNewsWire Announces Nonprofit Marketing Award Submissions Due August 18

PR News is calling for entries for its second annual Nonprofit PR Awards, with all entries due August 18. The awards are open to all associations, nonprofits, government agencies, NGOs and their agency partners, and are made in a broad range of categories, including advocacy campaigns, crisis management and membership communications.

Thank you, PR News. It's been way too long that our sector has been without these award programs, that are so popular in the for-profit marketing sector, and bring satisfaction to winners and great models to their peers. And here, finally, is an addition to the handful of reward programs that cover nonprofit marketing. Go nonprofit marketers, go.

I urge you to enter. First of all, you deserve the recognition. Secondly, entering is a great motivator for reviewing your work over the last year, analyzing the greatest successes and framing them for the marketing universe at large. Do it.

Need inspiration? Take a look at last year's award winners.

P.S. There is a fee of $225 per entry. I don't quite no why but didn't receive a response when I queried the appointed contact at PR News. I'd say that's a bad PR move for PR News.After all, they get great attention from the program. Wouldn't you think that would be fair trade for the time it takes to run it?

Nonprofit Marketing Resources Worth Your Attention -- July 2006

NOTE TO READERS: Worth Your Attention will be a monthly Getting Attention feature, to which I'll add during the course of each month.

Great Posts on Nonprofit Marketing Up at Carnival of Nonprofit Consultants

Social Marketing University

Social Marketing expert Nedra Weinreich still has a few spots open in her first-time, two-day training on using marketing to expediate social change. 

Marketing Sherpa Readers Vote in Top Ten Marketing Blogs

These top pick marketing blogs are a must review for nonprofit communicators, some for content, others as blog models.

Take a look at Across the Sound, voted "best podcast,"(in reality, a blog construct -- short, frequent, timely posts -- delivered via audio files). Podcasts (think audio communciations, not just ipod downloads) are going to be increasingly important communications channel for your nonprofit over the next few years.

Andy Goodman Offers Online Storytelling Course

Storytelling is one of the few strategies that penetratees nonprofit audiences' deaf ear, derived from the information/advertising overload we all face. Now storytelling trainer and practitioner extraordinaire Goodman makes his renowned workshop available online. Here's a detailed description and registration info.

Are you Getting Attention? Subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Loyola University Marketing Center Serves Regional Nonprofits

Was I surprised to stumble on the website of the Shawn Donnelley Center for Nonprofit Communications at Loyola University in New Orleans. The Center, funded by a Loyola alumna, offers communications students an opportunity to assist nonprofit organizations with advertising and promotional campaigns, providing services as straightforward as flyer design, or as complex as an
integrated communications campaign.

Students work on real projects under faculty supervision and organizations receive help on their advertising and public relations problems. These marketers-in-the-making offer a broad range of services to nonprofit clients, from message development to public education campaigns and branding. And what a win-win.  Not only is the work produced put into use by client organizations, but work by students consistently wins awards at the Ad Club of New Orleans Addy Competition.

Why not research whether a local university or college makes such a service available to regional nonprofits? You'll benefit the students, and their work will benefit your nonprofit. At the very least, a fresh perspective is always of value.

Read about a Florida university offering student marketing services to local nonprofits.

Are you Getting Attention? Subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Could Your Nonprofit Be A 2006 ePhilanthropy Award Winner?

If your nonprofit has "demonstrated extraordinary talent, creativity, and insight in drawing the public's attention to the important use of the Internet for philanthropic purposes and/or have created services or strategies that support this effort," then the answer is yes.

So go ahead and enter the competition, assuming that your campaign was implemented sometime between May 2005 and May 2006, and falls into one of the categories below:

• Best Integrated Online and Offline ePhilanthropy Campaign
• Best Online Donations/Fundraising Campaign
• Best Special Event Registration and/or Membership Campaign
• Best Community Building/ Volunteerism and/or Activism Campaign

This new award program (2005 winners available online, and a great resource as you shape your application) is sponsored by various e-vendors serving the nonprofit sector, and is a great contribution to nonprofit communications.

Nothing better than competition to spur excitement, and excellence. The deadline is July 15, 2006. Let's see what you have to offer.

Are you Getting Attention? Subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.