Let's talk nonprofit marketing planning

This week I'm thinking about long term marketing planning for my nonprofit and yours.

Happy Friday! Like my new newsletter format? I’m trying out Substack this week; I’ll let you know how it goes. But, in the meantime, let’s talk about nonprofit marketing planning.

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Nonprofit Marketing Planning

The hardest part of nonprofit marketing is finding the time to think about marketing. Marketing requires a solid plan, and a solid plan requires intensive thought. If there is one thing there is not a shortage of in nonprofit work, it’s pressing stuff to do. So, I have 2 pieces of marketing advice for you today and one resource to get you started.

Marketing Advice

1. Take a computer break and sit at a whiteboard or notebook for 30-minutes, asking yourself these questions. What needs to grow for my nonprofit to get to the next level? How might marketing help us grow in that area?

   Take notes, map out ideas, or just sit quietly and enjoy a little break time. The key is taking the time away from your screen to think deeply. It will pay off.

2. Write a plan and share it. It’s easy to think that just because we are posting on social that we are doing marketing. Posting is great, but a solid plan is better. Nonprofits need a solid plan to guide marketing efforts.

One Resource

I’ve created a nonprofit Marketing Planning Process Guide to get you started.

Download the guide here.

Don’t forget what Abraham Lincoln said about trees. I think it’s good advice for marketing too.

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first six of them sharpening my axe.
— Abraham Lincoln

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Great Reading for Nonprofit Leaders

• What Would Your Replacement Do? - I thought this was a fantastic question that will help pull us out of the weeds to look at the bigger picture. If you are ready to shake things up, ask this question.

• Influencer Marketing for Nonprofits - If you have thought about influencer marketing to help grow your nonprofit, this is a great place to start.

• 5 Reasons Why Your Content Marketing Fails - This was a great article that helped me to realize many of the mistakes I’ve made in my own content marketing. If you are doing any content marketing (and I hope you are), read this.

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Other Great Reading

Here are a few other articles that I found interesting this week.

• One Simple Technique to Learn Anything - I love learning, and this article breaks down a simple method that works well.

• 6 habits of super learners - Another great article about learning and the habits needed for it.

• The Top 10 Most Assigned Books at Ivy League Business Schools - I would love to get an MBA, but I don’t have that kind of time or money. This article may be just the ticket for some self-education!

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