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Special Report : Fundraising 101 Direct Mail

January 2009
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One of the many things I’ve learned in the five-plus years that FundRaising Success has been around is that fundraisers aren’t exactly a shy group. I mean, really, how could they be?

So I’m never too surprised when I find myself at industry functions inundated with questions about fundraising strategies. I am, however, often surprised at the level of advice many of our readers are looking for. “How do I set up a direct-mail program?” “What’s the first step in launching a capital campaign?” “How do I get more people to give me their e-mail addresses?” A lot of pretty basic stuff.

I’m reminded that new organizations are cropping up every day, and that fresh-faced, new fundraisers are joining the sector every day, as well. I’m reminded, too, that even though FS works hard to keep its readers abreast of the best and brightest ideas and strategies for raising more money for their causes, many of those readers are still trying to master the basics.

That’s why we’ve dedicated four issues in 2009 to our Fundraising 101 series, which we hope will offer a solid look at some of the more fundamental issues involved in nonprofit fundraising. We start this month with a look at direct mail. In April, we tackle acquisition; in June, it’s special efforts, including monthly giving, lapsed donors, capital campaigns and planned giving; and, finally, we look at e-philanthropy in October.

Whether you’ll be reading as a fundraising newbie looking for some entry-level guidance or as a seasoned professional looking for a refresher course to smooth the waters in this tough economic climate, we hope you’ll find these special reports immensely helpful. If you have any specific questions you’d like to see answered in upcoming issues of FundRaising Success, please e-mail them to me at mbattistelli@napco.com.

— Margaret Battistelli, Editor-in-Chief

7 Rookie Copywriting Mistakes to Avoid
By George Crankovic

The Eagles were slugging it out with the Cowboys, and even if you’re not a fan of “Monday Night Football,” you couldn’t help but be amazed at what happened next.

Upcoming Topics in the Fundraising 101 Series
  • April — Acquisition
  • June — Special Efforts (including monthly giving, lapsed donors, capital campaigns, planned giving)
  • October — E-philanthropy
 

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<i>Powered by the Email Campaign Archive, www.emailcampaignarchive.com </i> According to “The Power of Direct,” a late 2009 study from the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing returned an unbeatable ROI of $43.62 for every dollar spent on it in 2009. Thanks to this tremendous success, email marketing is on the rise … and increased volume means that marketers are faced with more and more competition resulting in overcrowded inboxes and frustrated, overwhelmed prospects. The challenge: How to break through the clutter and get your message opened and read within 3 seconds, for that’s how long your prospects allow before they hit the delete button. <b>“All About Email Creative” is here to help.</b> Through detailed analysis of hundreds of thousands of emails residing in the Email Campaign Archive (www.emailcampaignarchive.com), best-practice advice from industry experts, case studies and more, this groundbreaking report will give you the tools you need for success. Here are just a few of the take-aways that you will learn: • Month with the Highest Volume of Email • Day of the Week with the Highest Volume of Email • Time of Day with the Highest email Distribution • Top 20 Most Popular Words and Symbols in Subject Lines • Word with Highest Increase of Subject Line in Repeat Email • Top 10 Categories with Most Email Volume • Word Count Trends … What Could It Mean? • The One Single Tactical Move to Improve Email Response • Maximum Number of Characters in the Subject Line • How to Test Subject Lines • How to Avoid Junk Filters – the Trigger Words That Get You Trashed • Why you Should Pay More Attention to the “From” Line • Once Opened, What Should the Reader See Next? • 10 Steps to Getting Your Message Just Right • 5 Ways to Optimize the Email Preview Pane • How to Deal with Blocked Images • Web-Friendly Fonts and Font Sizes – What Are They? • The Top Reason People Unsubscribe from Marketing Messages • To Use Free or Not to Use Free … That Is the Question • 16 Most Effective Strategies for Email Branding • The Difference Between B-to-B and B-to-C Email Marketing • HTML or Text. Which Should You Use? • The list goes on … and on Filled with countless examples, more than 20 charts, several case studies, and privileged knowledge from top email marketers, “All About Email Creative” is must-reading for any marketer involved in email and cross-media campaigns. <b><u>100% Money-Back Guarantee</b></u> Your order is risk-free. If you are not completely delighted with “All About Email Creative,” notify us within 30 days for a complete credit or refund, no questions asked. <u>About DirectMarketingIQ</u> The Research Division of the Target Marketing Group, DirectMarketingIQ (www.directmarketingiq.com) is the go-to resource for direct marketers. Publishing books, special reports, case study stockpiles and how-to guides, it opens up a new world for those who seek more information, more ideas and more success stories in order to boost their own marketing efforts. DirectMarketingIQ has unparalleled access to direct marketing data - including the world's most complete library of direct mail as well as a growing library of promotional emails across hundreds of categories - and proudly produces content from the most experienced editors and practitioners in the industry. All About Email Creative

Powered by the Email Campaign Archive, www.emailcampaignarchive.com According to “The Power of Direct,” a late 2009 study from the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing returned an unbeatable ROI of $43.62 for every dollar spent on it in 2009. Thanks to this tremendous success, email marketing is on the rise …...

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<i>“You’ve heard of the Seven Deadly Sins … now let Denny Hatch introduce you to the Seven Key Copy Drivers That Make People Act! Successful advertising appeals to the wants and needs of our “hungry hearts” – and he reveals (in juicy language) the reasons why a product or service will uniquely meet those needs. Denny’s book provides not just the how-tos, but also the proven-winner examples. It’s a creative marketer’s treasure trove!”</I> - Susan K. Jones, professor of marketing at Ferris State University and direct marketing consultant and copywriter, Susan K. Jones & Associates Twenty-five years ago, Denny Hatch pioneered the study of direct response copy. He started collecting direct mail packages and tracked those that came in over and over again. Today, the Who’s Mailing What! Archive (www.whosmailingwhat.com) contains pure marketing gold—nearly 1,000 Grand Control mailings in more than 200 categories that were received continuously over three or more consecutive years. What do these hugely profitable mailings have in common? They rely on the seven key copy drivers: <center><b>Fear – Greed – Guilt – Anger Exclusivity – Salvation – Flattery</b></center> These are the emotional hot buttons that make people respond—order goods and services, donate money to charities and send for more information. <i>“Only Denny Hatch could put together a book like this. “The Secrets of Emotional Hot-Button COPYWRITING” delivers a double-whammy. It’s loaded with creative rules that not only make sense but, as Denny presents them, are easy to implement. And it’s chock-full of examples, some of which most of us have heard about but have never been able to see. Thanks, Denny. We owe you.”</i> <right>—Herschell Gordon Lewis, copywriter of several long-standing control mailings (such as Omaha Steaks and Red Cooper) and author of “On the Art of Writing Copy” and“Internet Marketing Tips, Tricks, and Tactics”</right> Filled with over 50 examples and 120 illustrations, “The Secrets of Emotional, Hot-Button COPYWRITING” is must-reading for any marketer involved in: • Direct mail • Email • Catalogs • Subscription Marketing • Fund raising • B-to-B • Financial Services • Continuity Series • Book Publishing • Insurance • And more! <b><u>100% Money-Back Guarantee</b></u> Your order is risk-free. If you are not completely delighted with “The Secrets of Emotional, Hot-Button COPYWRITING,” simply return it within 30 days for a complete credit or refund, no questions asked. <b><u>About Denny Hatch</b></u> Since 1976, Denny Hatch has been a consultant, copywriter and designer in the field of direct marketing. In 1984, with his wife Peggy, he launched the newsletter, Who’s Mailing What!, which was based on a library of over 200,000 direct mail samples. In 1992, his company was acquired by North American Publishing Co., in Philadelphia, where he is a regular columnist for <i>Target Marketing</i> magazine and editor of the e-newsletter, Denny Hatch’s Business Common Sense, published by the Target Marketing Group. He is the author of: <u>Business Books</u> Million Dollar Mailings • Method Marketing • 2,239 Tested Secrets for Direct Marketing Success • priceline.com – A Layman’s Guide to Manipulating the Media <u>Novels</u> Cedarhurst Alley • The Fingered City • The Stork <u>Memoir</u> Jack Corbett, Mariner The Secrets of Emotional, Hot-Button COPYWRITING

“You’ve heard of the Seven Deadly Sins … now let Denny Hatch introduce you to the Seven Key Copy Drivers That Make People Act! Successful advertising appeals to the wants and needs of our “hungry hearts” – and he reveals (in juicy language) the reasons why a product or...

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Who's Charging What Who's Charging What!

NEW 2010 Edition Now Available Who's Charging What! -- Your Guide to Direct Marketing Creative Services gives you complete facts on top copywriters, agencies, designers, and consultants, providing you with the critical information you need to make decisions when looking for a copywriter. These top-flight professionals...

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