tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30967123915371958142024-03-21T15:36:05.906-07:00Customer Experience 101Learn real world tips and techniques to enhance customer experience in your organization.Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-39526192691699940062013-02-18T09:07:00.001-08:002013-02-18T09:07:35.492-08:00Email Marketing Rate ComparisonsI often get this question: How do we know if our email program is good or bad?<br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
T<span class="mceItemHidden">he answer varies for everyone, but <span class="hiddenSpellError">Eloqua's</span>
Benchmark study is a great place to start. They recently compared
their benchmark data from Jan.-Nov. in an effort to provide you with
some guides for click rates, open rates, and click to open rates. The
results can be seen here.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLF-pS4YEK-zePO8D0hZUVR7aAyFvmEtFbRziYv6j8FcZJwtAL3xjt3PDtuECojEBqyeK583Xyfgozc6cndpC08kr6i5lSGWebhqa2Fuk7OvRcznUUBQMBKpHW9mEqYorY8QExtSHU29p/s1600/image_png.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLF-pS4YEK-zePO8D0hZUVR7aAyFvmEtFbRziYv6j8FcZJwtAL3xjt3PDtuECojEBqyeK583Xyfgozc6cndpC08kr6i5lSGWebhqa2Fuk7OvRcznUUBQMBKpHW9mEqYorY8QExtSHU29p/s400/image_png.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Take-away:</b> Check out the benchmarks and see where you rank against the Best in Class.<br />
Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-46131755906687433192012-11-27T08:48:00.000-08:002012-11-27T08:48:02.855-08:00KISS, Your Customers Will Like ItMy notion of simplicity was based more on my own experience than any study, and even without the data, I have preached simplicity for years. <br />
<br />
<span class="paragraph">I worked with a firm launching a new product
recently. They came to me to see what I thought and give an honest
opinion. My opinion was that the product was great, so I asked how much
it was...they proceeded to share with me one of the most complicated
pricing structures I have ever seen. I recommended they simplify it
before they went to market. They did not heed my advice. When the
product launched they immediately had some interest, and every time they
got to pricing, they lost the customer and the deal. They have since
restructured the pricing and made it; as you guessed, simple. </span><br />
<br />
The Corporate Executive Board, recently conducted <span class="paragraph">a study focused in on what makes consumers “sticky.” "We looked at the impact on stickiness of more than 40 variables,
including price, customers’ perceptions of a brand, and how often consumers
interacted with the brand. The single biggest driver of stickiness, by far, was
“decision simplicity”—the ease with which consumers can gather trustworthy
information about a product and confidently and efficiently weigh their purchase
options." Big shock, they found that what consumers want is, simply, simplicity. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="paragraph"></span><br />
<span class="paragraph">The article further shows the top ten reasons customers connect online, the number one reason DISCOUNTS.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7fr7I-LPTmXJoVF7a5ibbfAUWvFW8aKT2ADRW_Nna9VkaZq7NcoJYOqb_5aUs_nZUg6Bl444Id3lJb7oq92UZmzD-BM1mIhTIt8HUffxIwa1KWdt6yM_ZhyLQtKY3gAh28QT8h37KWlO/s1600/Perception.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7fr7I-LPTmXJoVF7a5ibbfAUWvFW8aKT2ADRW_Nna9VkaZq7NcoJYOqb_5aUs_nZUg6Bl444Id3lJb7oq92UZmzD-BM1mIhTIt8HUffxIwa1KWdt6yM_ZhyLQtKY3gAh28QT8h37KWlO/s320/Perception.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="paragraph">Take-away: As you look at pricing structures, new product, service offerings, keep one thing in mind. KISS KISS KISS!!</span><br />
<span class="paragraph"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
A portion of this blog is republished from the Harvard Business Review: http://hbr.org/2012/05/to-keep-your-customers-keep-it-simple/ar/1<br />
<br />Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-5400440276847577642012-10-23T06:54:00.000-07:002012-10-23T06:54:43.293-07:00Another Airline Experience Lesson<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have been meaning to write this blog post for some time
now and on my return flight from the Grant Professionals Conference I finally
got the push I needed.</div>
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About 6 months ago, I was on a Southwest Airlines flight
returning home after a long week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
working on my way home, and as we prepared for landing the flight attendant
asked me to stow my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in the
front row, so I had to put it in one of the side bins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I locked the bin, I thought there
is no way I am going to remember this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure enough, I got off the plane and headed home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About 11 PM that night I realized that I had
left my laptop on the plane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went into
panic mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called Southwest with no
real hope of getting it back, but figured it was worth a shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first person I spoke to transferred me to
the office in Austin, and in less than 5 minutes (and I am not exaggerating)
they had found my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lady asked
if I wanted her to stay, so I could pick it up that night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her that was not necessary and that
while I appreciated it, I would collect my once lost laptop the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AMAZING!!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHsF9o4pgt_vzyjSCZQ-ZgIjmsRwlOEMcPBvZJzRJDwil8jmRNpPv_7UVYdaLe-1b_M-AS2QUact3bnRj3sbBel_V8GXOGPp3wXvzCNs9sBb3vbtDoE6IxNCKk-62pT7LX0LM1rA2HgKV/s1600/derner_835735-620x413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHsF9o4pgt_vzyjSCZQ-ZgIjmsRwlOEMcPBvZJzRJDwil8jmRNpPv_7UVYdaLe-1b_M-AS2QUact3bnRj3sbBel_V8GXOGPp3wXvzCNs9sBb3vbtDoE6IxNCKk-62pT7LX0LM1rA2HgKV/s320/derner_835735-620x413.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day, I went to the terminal, showed my ID, and
picked up my missing laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean
seriously, it was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a process
in place to transfer left items from the plane to that city; makes sense to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone knew what to do and where
to send people with lost items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure is
nice to have a process in place that helps your forgetful customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I look back on that experience, I realize
that sense the incident, I have flown Southwest every time I have flown expect
once and I applied for the Southwest credit card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess good customer service does pay
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That interaction really did have an
impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t thinking about the
loyalty they created with me until I went to write this blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just organic because the experience
made me feel so good about them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, this is what actually prompted me to write that
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today in great contradiction to
Southwest, I was on an American Airlines flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I got ready to board, the flight attendant
told me that my roll aboard was not going to fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her, that no indeed it did fit and
that I traveled with it all of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Then I thought, maybe this is a smaller plane.) So, I asked, “Is this a
smaller plane?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, a normal response
to that question would be, “Yes Ma’am it is, so your bag is not going to fit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I got “Well, why don’t you roll it
back there and see, and then you can roll it right back out because it ain’t
gonna fit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SERIOUSLY!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just starred at her; surely she didn’t just
say that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ma’am, it won’t fit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is still talking, I am still shocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, this experience really did
shine a light on how important customer experience is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t fly American Airlines again (by
choice).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take-away:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
a few for this blog post:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Don’t
put people with poor customer service skills in a customer role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure that flight attendant gets crazy
annoyed with people telling her their luggage will fit all day when she knows
it won’t, BUT guess what she doesn’t get to get annoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is being paid to provide a service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Customer service shouldn’t stop in a customer
service role EVER!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 40.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Put
procedures in place to create a memorable experience when people least expect
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The positive ramifications of a
positive experience have a trickle-down effect which = positive feelings, and
in the case of Southwest Airlines positive ROI!</div>
Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-56431250044990612082012-08-29T06:21:00.000-07:002012-08-29T06:21:17.160-07:0010 Reasons Why You Should Learn About Cloud-based Software<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Web-based or cloud-based software and/services are all the
rage right now, you hear about them everywhere. You are probably wondering how
they can benefit your business and if any of them are a good fit for your
organization. There are so many types of cloud services today it can be a bit
of a daunting question to ponder. Keeping things very simple, here are ten
reasons why I think you should learn more about cloud-based solutions and how
they can benefit you and your business.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6um-SiULAKt1_tvKRUTJP3zP79Er3E9kmFmWEk1HwDxJkx-Cl2EEOPm5bjjNC3X9ZE-ynIpUuWrBmkr015hAh3WDEBhtgodpxvoTAoOZYwQWMgTRIO-uEyPNdqEt79kysN9JPZaSJ88UT/s1600/2012_6_11_cloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6um-SiULAKt1_tvKRUTJP3zP79Er3E9kmFmWEk1HwDxJkx-Cl2EEOPm5bjjNC3X9ZE-ynIpUuWrBmkr015hAh3WDEBhtgodpxvoTAoOZYwQWMgTRIO-uEyPNdqEt79kysN9JPZaSJ88UT/s320/2012_6_11_cloud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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1.Save Time: Running a business is like having two or three
full-time jobs. Because there are so many things to do – time – is one of the
most valuable assets you have. In my experience, cloud-based software =
substantial time savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From easy to
access email to no longer having to install software updates, cloud-based
solutions can really make an impact on efficiency.</div>
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2.Share and Empower: I have found cloud-based software to be
much easier to access, use and share information across my team. My team is
more empowered to do things that only I used to be able to do. That is a
win/win!</div>
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3.Work from Anywhere: I spend a lot of time traveling, so
being able to work, in addition to accessing my full email and calendar from my
mobile device is critical. This allows me to be productive when I am waiting in
lines, at restaurants, and anywhere really. The thing I love most is that when
I am in the office; I am not playing as much catch up.</div>
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4.Keep in Touch: When I am traveling I like to keep in touch
with my family via mobile video calling, but I also use it to stay in touch
with donors and my team. Video calling adds a face to face interaction (which I
am a huge fan of) in a very convenient way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I recommend Skype, but there are a ton of great services.</div>
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5.Stay Safe: Your data is your lively hood. Backing it up in
a secure environment is essential.</div>
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6.Learn More: Take time this fall to use a web-based survey
tool to learn more about your customers. The information you gather can be used
to build a more successful marketing plan. I recommend Survey Monkey because it
is easy to use and the base product is free!</div>
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7.Build Awareness: I meet businesss all of the time that
have not yet started an email marketing program. There are a multitude of
web-based email solutions that will really make getting started easy.
Consistent communication is key to building awareness for your business. So,
what are you waiting for?</div>
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8.Network Online: Social is another blog post all together,
but becoming social and networking online is critical to your businesses
future. Make it your goal to join the top 3 by the end of summer. (Start with
Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.)</div>
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9.Collect Mobile Payments: My new favorite web-based service
is mobile payment processing. Check out my other blog at <a href="http://www.donorexpereince101.com/">www.donorexpereince101.com</a>
to see why I love it so much, and check out Sage Payment Solutions mobile
offering.</div>
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10.Get Current: Now is a great time to consider moving your
old solutions to the cloud. Think about how your organization might benefit
from moving your accounting, CRM or other application to a cloud-based
solution.</div>
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Take-away: Cloud-based solutions can really make your life easier and
increase productivity.</div>
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Republished from Sage Nonprofit Solutions. </div>
Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-61223022014416316762012-08-22T09:32:00.004-07:002012-08-22T13:14:04.944-07:00The Most Powerful Word in Loyalty Building<br />
<b>SORRY!</b><br />
<br />
You can’t win them all, but you sure can apologize and own your
losses. Pleasing everyone is a daunting task, and if that is all you
try to do you probably won’t ever get anything done. Worse, you are
pretty unlikely to be unsuccessful.<br />
<br />
With all of that said, one of the best tools you have to create a
positive experience in an unfortunate situation is the power of the
phrase, I am sorry. I think we all know it, but it can be hard to
execute. It means that you may have to have a difficult conversation or
swallow your pride, but I can tell you an apology can go a long way to
build loyalty.<br />
<br />
<b>Take-away:</b> Next time you are in an unpleasant situation here are some steps to follow.<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> <b>Listen</b> to the person share why he/she was upset.<br />
<b>2.</b> <b>Repeat</b> what you did that upset the person in question.<br />
<b>3.</b> <b>Apologize</b> for that action.<br />
<b>4.</b> <b>Share</b> what you will do to prevent that action from happening in the future.<br />
<b>5.</b> <b>Take action</b> to prevent the action as you indicated you would.<br />
<b>6.</b> <b>Move on!</b> Life is short, don’t dwell on mistakes. After all, we are all human. Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-76619295619345795332012-04-03T07:26:00.006-07:002012-04-03T08:17:22.507-07:00Free Tools on the Web<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk0xYQDePLqIHPDWdkkCxCd9XC0q4gzpUwE6hd_LV0XF8Ue6srgm_deGze8IuC-MByFP2AiQRjD_PNP5fXRdOc9b4hfDGN_heipKUHMa8QBdHPXo8gAPLHxkhZmiSMCzB29eIV_PKrYg_/s1600/imagesCAU9AUP5.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 225px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727188427233290418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk0xYQDePLqIHPDWdkkCxCd9XC0q4gzpUwE6hd_LV0XF8Ue6srgm_deGze8IuC-MByFP2AiQRjD_PNP5fXRdOc9b4hfDGN_heipKUHMa8QBdHPXo8gAPLHxkhZmiSMCzB29eIV_PKrYg_/s320/imagesCAU9AUP5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Everything is online today, but finding anything useful is a huge challenge. Here are a couple of useful and easy to use free tools on the web. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>1. <strong>About.me</strong>-This is a great online business card site. You can link all of your social sites to one place and add a short description. Mine is <a href="http://about.me/bridgetlbrandt">http://about.me/bridgetlbrandt</a>. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>2. <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hootsuite</span></strong>-The leading social media dashboard to manage and measure your social networks. I love this site. It is an amazing time saver, and social watch dog tool. <a href="http://www.hootsuite.com/">http://www.hootsuite.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>3. <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Twellohood</span></strong>- This tool allows you to search for people by geographic area. Very cool way to connect with local businesses and people online in your area. <a href="http://www.twellow.com/twellowhood">http://www.twellow.com/twellowhood</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>4. <strong>Common Craft</strong>- A great resource of free videos that help teachers and trainers delight millions by making complex ideas easy to understand. <a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/">http://www.commoncraft.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>5. <strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rapportive</span>-</strong> This tool helps you get to to know your contacts by showing you everything about them right inside your inbox. <a href="http://rapportive.com/">http://rapportive.com</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>6. <strong>Wise Stamp</strong>-Email apps enable users to bring functionality in every email they send. Check out the Apps gallery where you’ll find 14 social, fun and serious apps...and the list is growing. <a href="http://www.wisestamp.com/">http://www.wisestamp.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>7. <strong>Survey Monkey</strong>- Free online survey tool that allows users to conduct, collect, & analyze survey data. <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/">http://www.surveymonkey.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Take-away:</strong> Try some of these great resources and let me know if you have other tools you love.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks to <a href="http://about.me/mrjadkins">Joel Adkins</a> for sharing some of these great sites.</div>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-3032257074503851302012-03-29T13:03:00.003-07:002012-03-29T13:18:41.921-07:00Listen and Respond, Lesson's From a Three Year OldThis adorable question from 3 1/2 year old Lily prompted Sainsbury's to respond in an equally adorable and tremendously viral fashion.<br /><br />After receiving Lily's letter about their product Sainsbury's replied just as one should to a three year old. Then her family posted the reply, and at screen capture this letter had almost 150,000 likes on Facebook. Now that is something to be happy about if you are Sainsbury.<br /><br />After reading this adorable post, I wanted to try some Tiger Bread. Needless to say, this type of customer service truly creates an experience above the norm that can't be denied.<br /><br />Take-away: Next time you have the opportunity to respond in a fashion that makes a difference to one person, you should because in today's online world one can sometimes equate to 150,000.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNHHcwvuwWXLzryWgkd_kPO9AIclESlpgcgNg77-IvUZwtuhQ1M4gIplsyEIC-5-U06eoCgUJMrmqXsegoBvLK-fUWf0R52JEStnNQqIBzIFPCt3rRnJ6nE40AoCGAtQzT8_fgnkInyA9/s1600/screen.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725412680795223010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNHHcwvuwWXLzryWgkd_kPO9AIclESlpgcgNg77-IvUZwtuhQ1M4gIplsyEIC-5-U06eoCgUJMrmqXsegoBvLK-fUWf0R52JEStnNQqIBzIFPCt3rRnJ6nE40AoCGAtQzT8_fgnkInyA9/s320/screen.jpg" /></a>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-14137260607580743972012-02-28T12:24:00.002-08:002012-02-28T12:54:33.469-08:00Satisfaction Does Not Equal LoyaltySatisfaction does not equal loyalty, satisfied customers defect everyday. In a study done by the Marketing Leadership Council, it was discovered that three simple steps can create true loyalty that drives repeat purchase.<br /><br />Step 1: LEARN <br />Capture and share information across your organization. Share information you glean from your customers, your sales teams, R&D, and any other resources. If you are a small company, rely on in store feedback and surveys. <br /><br />Step 2: TEACH<br />Teach customers, don't just sell to them. Focus on teaching your customers about the industry you serve them in. For example, Sage Nonprofit Solutions sells Nonprofit Accounting and Fundraising Software. As such, we work to teach our customers about our solutions, and how to be successful in the industry. What is happening in the industry and how they can be more successful. This is a true win/win. When customers know more about how you can help them and why it matters, they are more likely to purchase.<br /><br />Step 3: AMPLIFY<br />When you have a raving fan, you should be sharing the voice of that fan with everyone you can. And, you should be educating that fan with knowledge about your organization, how it works, how it helps, and how it can move other organizations forward. Essentially creating a powerhouse of word of mouth advertising. <br /><br />Take-away: As with all things, it is easier said than done, but the results show that investing in true loyalty measures pays off in the long run.<br /><br />Source: Marketing Leadership Council, Redefining Customer Loyalty: Growing Share of Wallet by Systematizing Customer Delight, Washington D.C.Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-38418156002319995202012-01-18T07:45:00.000-08:002012-01-18T07:54:22.096-08:00Things I have learned from our nonprofit customers that you can use!We just hosted our first Customer Success Tour. The idea, which seems like a no brainer now, had never been done before. We wanted to bring our customers together. Share where we are going and see where they are and want us to be. Simple!<br /><br />The event was an amazing success. Here are a few of the top lessons I learned from our customers that you can use for your donors:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4_MTtlgP35fZrLahctX2pcSh5kmbuu2j5jfNKlrv-zJXa3XQVRmBuC2eX6rimOE2tfYVnGVlel5P2Jgn5HafcUy5mPU_Xpzewg9aQWx3oGiFgprtxyrB02XlgoBmrm8hfXBiSC8W6rwn/s1600/success+tour.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698999928795157538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4_MTtlgP35fZrLahctX2pcSh5kmbuu2j5jfNKlrv-zJXa3XQVRmBuC2eX6rimOE2tfYVnGVlel5P2Jgn5HafcUy5mPU_Xpzewg9aQWx3oGiFgprtxyrB02XlgoBmrm8hfXBiSC8W6rwn/s320/success+tour.jpg" /></a> 1. <strong>Communicate</strong>- Your donors want to know more. Email is not enough. We need to share what we are doing multiple times, and we need to share it in multiple channels.<br /><br />2. <strong>Share</strong>- Your donors want to know how the organization is impacting others and what others are doing in the organization. One of the primary benefits of the success tour was being able to share the success The Jazz Foundation is having with Sage Fundraising Online. It was a win/win for everyone in the room. We were able to share the success of great product, and our customers were able to learn a great deal about online fundraising. You can do that in your organizations too. (Thanks Petr!)<br /><br />3. <strong>Give them what they want</strong>- I have said this a million times and heard it a billion, but it bears repeating. If you are sharing information about dog rescue with a cat person the message will not be heard. Target your audience based on what they want to hear and what they care about.<br /><br />4. <strong>Timing</strong>- New York in December is beautiful, but it is also hard to navigate and a very busy. Sadly we inconvenienced our customers by bringing them into the city during the Holidays. A great lesson for us and you. Is the timing of your events suited for your schedule or the schedule of your donors? Make sure they both jive.<br /><br />5. <strong>Answer the questions</strong>- A great learning for me was that we need to have a more succinct resource for supporting our customers, so we put together a customer resources page to help answer their questions. Time and again, I stumble upon nonprofit pages that don’t answer the basic questions of donors.<br /> - Who are you?<br /> - Why should I give you my money?<br /> - Are you accountable for the money you have gotten before?<br />These are must have’s for all nonprofit websites, and it was a great reminder for me.<br /><br><br /><strong>Take-away:</strong> All in all, I learned more from those four short hours than I have in my five years with Sage. When was the last time you got your donors together and asked them how you were doing? Maybe it’s time!!!Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-74433686395488427772011-10-20T06:33:00.000-07:002011-10-20T06:52:16.039-07:00Don't Listen to Your Customers!Now, you have never heard me say "Don't Listen to Your Customers," but as I was reading an article today I couldn't help think how accurate it was. According to Rich Kash, the chairman and founder of the Cambridge Group and co-author of <em>How Companies Win, </em>"If you wait to ask your customer what they need, you are already too late because they are telling your competitor the same thing they told you. You're at parity."<br /><br />Further, he says "Companies should instead employ more precise tools, such as "demand profit pools," which organize customers into groups based on the "demand they want to satisfy, on the ‘why' behind the decisions they make and on the profitability they represent."<br /><br />Now---this is a cool idea that nonprofits can 100% take advantage of. So, let's take this great article and think about how we could leverage this for nonprofit success.<br /><br />This year as you go to strategic planning, divide your teams into two groups that will focus on those we serve and those that support us. Set up demand pools based on those groups rather than the organization as a whole. Then think about the demand you need to satisfy for each group, and the why behind the decisions they make.<br /><br />For example-<br />In the those we serve group, think about:<br />- Why do the people we serve come to us?<br />- Why do they choose us over XYZ org?<br /><br />In the those who support us group, think about:<br />- Why do people give to us?<br />- Why do they repeat give to us?<br />- What's in it for them?<br /><br />Then we can think about the profitability each group represents.<br /><br />Take-away: This year as you start your planning, don't wait for your customer/donor to tell you what they need, start thinking about what they need and delivering it before they even ask!Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-65970685243045923212011-10-17T07:42:00.000-07:002011-10-17T07:48:29.320-07:0014 Tips for Donor SurveysPretty sure I said this:<br /><br />Nonprofits can learn a lot about themselves by going through what their clients or donors experience, going on the Website, or dealing anonymously with an employee or volunteer.<br /><br />During the 2011 Bridge Conference, Bridget L. Brandt of Sage Business Solutions emphasized the importance of knowing an organization from an outsider’s perspective. Part of that, she said, can be accomplished by conducting surveys, but she also cautioned that surveys must be done judiciously.<br /><br />Brandt offered the following tips for conducting surveys:<br />• Don’t over-survey your donors or clients.<br /><br />• Make a plan – how many people in your organization are taking part in the survey? Centralize the process.<br /><br />• Write a short questionnaire.<br /><br />• Use simple words.<br /><br />• Relax your grammar.<br /><br />• Assure a common understanding. Don’t use terms specific to your organization.<br /><br />• Don’t write leading questions. You want honesty.<br /><br />• Don’t make the list of choices too long.<br /><br />• Avoid difficult concepts.<br /><br />• Avoid difficult recall questions.<br /><br />• Put your questions in logical order.<br /><br />• Pre-test your survey.<br /><br />• Provide a cover memo or introduction. Tell them why you are surveying.<br /><br />• Use some open-ended questions. You want to present them with an opportunity to tell you more, both good and bad.<br /><br />Take-away: Surveys can be a powerful tool, but it is important to get it right!<br /><br />Thanks for posting <a href="http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/article/detail/14-tips-for-surveying-your-donors-3987">http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/article/detail/14-tips-for-surveying-your-donors-3987</a>.Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-71526351315656194162011-09-21T11:28:00.000-07:002011-09-21T12:06:26.770-07:00I want an ipad--lessons for nonprofits!I want an Ipad!<br /><br />I am 100% sure I don't need one. I am not sure if I will know how to use it, will find it valuable, or create new efficiencies as a result of owning it, but I want an Ipad!<br /><br />And, I am not alone. In a little over a year, Apple's Ipad has more than 15 million customers. So, what can we all learn from it? A lot!<br /><br />Here are three great tips we can all learn from Apple Ipad's tremendous success.<br /><br />1. We need to be cool! Ipads are undeniably the must have gadget of the "cool". We need to make sure that our organizations are also appealing in those same ways. Take a look at <a href="http://www.charitywater.org/">www.charitywater.org</a> if you are not sure what a "cool" nonprofit looks like.<br /><br />2. We need to be fun! For some of you, that is a challenge based on your cause, but for some of you there is a real opportunity. Think about creating an app that you could sell for donations or a web game that might go viral. The Ipad is used about 1/3 of the time for games...take advantage of that market to increase awareness of your organization.<br /><br />3. We need to Share! The Ipad makes it easy to share information. You should do the same for your organization. Use share widgets like the ones available in Sage Fundraising Online. Share information about your organization on the web, at events, in social media, and everywhere you can. Most importantly, make it easy for others to do the same.<br /><br />Take-away: Be the Ipad, and if you have an extra, please feel free to send it my way!Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-77742325074599456712011-09-12T07:51:00.000-07:002011-09-14T07:03:17.224-07:00What should we do? Nonprofits and Diaster Relief Efforts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJv-0eCMr1x0tBY2n43fU_R3nGJhjUoZ-dowKjihvjLhdTJndET5ViaAJlns7lXH6SVPSNlLO0SB4-ky564jO8mi3hOGWbSGBwURpzl4zuMTZCxMMdjJFtFv-yjCX47N105gGqJbgUz-L/s1600/fire.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652214326518551570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJv-0eCMr1x0tBY2n43fU_R3nGJhjUoZ-dowKjihvjLhdTJndET5ViaAJlns7lXH6SVPSNlLO0SB4-ky564jO8mi3hOGWbSGBwURpzl4zuMTZCxMMdjJFtFv-yjCX47N105gGqJbgUz-L/s320/fire.jpg" /></a>In central Texas some of our cities look like war zones now, completely devastated by wildfires. We haven't had rain in so long, I have kind of forgotten what it even looks like. With the recent devastation, I have seen many nonprofits struggle with how to help and many step in to work miracles.<br /><br />I think it is important for nonprofits to remember their focus and mission, but in times like these it is also important to help where you can. Here are some great tips for answering the question of "What Should We Do?"<br /><br />* Be useful: Remember, people are already overwhelmed with impact of the disaster. Work to align your mission to initiatives which provide a helping hand. Look for ways to help that represent what your organization stands for.<br /><br />* Don’t forget your employees and volunteers: Employee & volunteer welfare activities and assistance will not only provide much-needed assistance, but also lend strength your tie to those individuals. Remember they are a part of your organization, so start with helping those in your own house.<br /><br />* Go social, everyone’s talking about it: Social media plays a more important role for disaster updates and assistance. Utilize your own networks to help, and share what you are doing on official channels. Word to the wise, don't overuse official channels.<br /><br />* Have a disaster policy: Make sure you have a disaster policy in place and ready when you need it, and make sure it includes how you will respond to local and area disasters that may not specifically effect your organization. <a href="http://www.npccny.org/info/disaster_plan.htm">Here is a link I found of a downloadable plan to get you started.<br /><br /></a>Take-away: Better safe than sorry, a good experience with your organization in a crisis will never be forgotten.Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-7664722818768626982011-08-29T08:03:00.000-07:002011-08-29T11:40:09.970-07:00Project 9/11Join Project 9/11 today!
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<br />The 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance is a day when individuals, nonprofits, companies, schools and other groups remember by doing, taking time to engage in charitable service in tribute to the victims of 9/11 and those who rose in service in response to the attacks. In observance of the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, millions of people will participate in the single-largest day of charitable service in American history through large-scale volunteer service projects, individual good deeds and other acts of service in tribute to the 9/11 victims and others. Please visit www.911day.org and facebook.com/911day to post and share your “I will” tributes, good deeds, and service activities for this 9/11.
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<br />Take-Away: I will never forget, and I will make sure our company participates in this amazing day of service!
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<br />Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-36609035765291893382011-08-25T14:25:00.000-07:002011-08-25T14:29:27.712-07:00Creating a great experience through transparencyHow do you get your nonprofit on board with increasing transparency and listening to donors? Well, you could take a lesson from the fast-food chain Domino’s. In fact, they recently invested in a digital billboard in the heart of New York’s Times Square to display customer feedback.
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<br />Over the past couple of years, Domino’s has made a huge push to get customers to give the pizza company feedback so it can improve its pizza and delivery service. Those efforts have paid off tremendously, says Gene Galindo, marketing director of 53 locations in Wilmington, N.C., and Charleston, S.C. “We want to know if there are issues, and social media gives us a chance to make things right. Domino’s is extremely transparent.”
<br />The company’s 125-foot-wide Times Square billboard that broadcasted customer comments and their photos was active through Tuesday. The billboard supported its “Oh Yes We Did” campaign and showed off its ongoing efforts to improve to 500,000 passers-by.
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<br />Domino’s spokesman Chris Brandon says about 80% of the feedback on the billboard has been positive, and the other 20% has been “constructive.” People who posted feedback — positive or constructive — received an e-mail to let them know they made the billboard.
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<br />“We were already becoming known for placing high emphasis on customer feedback and the theme of accountability,” Brandon said. “People think [the billboard] is a cool customer experience.”
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<br />Social media has really opened the door for small and large businesses to connect and keep in touch with customers, and there is no reason that nonprofits can't join that wave of opportunity. Maybe we can't all invest in a billboard on Time Square, but we can certainly invest in having open and honest conversations with our constituents.
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<br />Take-away: Start experimenting with social media in your day to day activities. Where can you use social media to increase transparency and start having conversations online about the projects, fundraisers, and events that your organization has slated in its 2012 Program of Works!
<br />Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-35115455181703453762011-08-16T10:53:00.000-07:002011-08-16T12:19:53.720-07:005 Steps to Help Your Nonprofit Survive the Stock Market Rollercoaster<p>I recently read an article on small business and the impact this month of scary political maneuvering is causing. In fact, it has been a scary month for every nonprofit organization. Watching the stock market is enough to make anyone sick, and nonprofits everywhere nervous. Many financial experts believe that the market is always a leading indicator of where the economy is headed. Some are even predicting a "double dip" recession. How will the tumbling of the stock market affect your organization?
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<br />The survey <span style="color:#000000;">of </span><a href="http://www.openforum.com/articles/hold-tight-5-steps-to-surviving-the-stock-market-rollercoaster?extlink=em-openf-SBdaily"><span style="color:#000000;">small business owners </span></a><span style="color:#000000;">last</span> week revealed the following:
<br />- Forty-eight percent think sales from their customers will “decrease as a result of a fear of a new recession."
<br />- Forty-three percent replied that “it would have no effect at all.”
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<br />So, whether the U.S. is headed into another recession is unknown. But, the author recommends small business owners stop worrying and take more control by following five steps. I have taken the liberty of adapting those five very well thought out steps to the nonprofit world, because I 100% agree with all five of them.
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<br /><strong>1. Forget Chicken Little
<br /></strong>Ignore the daily stock market ups and downs. To listen to the pundits, the world is coming to an end. It is not helpful to get caught up in the emotional hysteria of these massive swings. Don’t try to "time the market" on your own personal investment strategy either. You may get lucky, but for most of us, this is a loser. Turn off the daily negative media if that helps. Just say NO!
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<br /><strong>2. Find your share of donations
<br /></strong>The U.S. donation volume was $303 billion in 2010, and $15 billion online. Do you think you could find another million dollars worth of donations to help grow your organization in such a large pool of donors? Darn right! Stick to the fundamentals and start exploring what you can do instead of what you are scared to do.
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<br /><strong>3. Watch your cash flow
<br /></strong>Cash tends to slow down in a tough economy. Make sure that donors are still engaging with your organization and keep the lines of communication open. Organizations that have positive cash flow and are willing to invest in the future can always find opportunities to prosper.
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<br /><strong>4. Get boring fast
<br /></strong>The knee-jerk reaction is to broaden your organization’s solutions to gain more donors. This is the absolutely wrong strategy. Focus on the areas where new strategies are working for other nonprofits (i.e. online fundraising, year end giving) and where old strategies are proven.
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<br /><strong>5. Keep selling every day
<br /></strong>Again, the first reaction is to cut costs and curtail “overhead expenses” like marketing and sales. Results show that organizations that market through difficult times are more profitable when donors get more money to spend. Remember growing an organization is about building long-term trustful, engaging relationships. None of this can get accomplished successfully if your organization stops marketing itself daily.
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<br />Take-away: Is the sky falling? What tactics will you be taking through the remainder of 2011? Share with us here and with other nonprofits! </p>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-40001623844512066542011-08-09T13:43:00.000-07:002011-09-28T07:17:52.258-07:00How to: Write a Good Nonprofit Thank-you NoteA good nonprofit thank-you note seems a rare find, and in today's competitive nonprofit market it is more important than ever. So, I want to share a few key tips to writing a good thank-you note.<br /><br /><div>1. <strong>Hand write it!</strong> Thank-you notes should always be hand written.<br /></div><br /><div>2. <strong>Explain why!</strong> Share why you are thanking the person and how it will make a difference in your organization and the world. (Think big!)<br /></div><div><br />3. <strong>A picture is worth a thousand words!</strong> When possible include a picture that demonstrates how that person has helped the organization and those impacted by the donation.<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div>To further assist, I am including a couple of photos of a great thank-you mailer that our VP of Development got from NTEN.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUbKoz641g0KLyO-MEXA1XSA9wIDJKQQeu33d4lWzeyeo2iQvjnM4ge3_RfQl_J1h6py775E8io8YTDfyFH88mAiQEwo5LDp2IbS-L_VuQGU_CX_Rf8U87Aa8QBcGe7ycfI2NRYWgNm13/s1600/NTEN+Thank-you.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUbKoz641g0KLyO-MEXA1XSA9wIDJKQQeu33d4lWzeyeo2iQvjnM4ge3_RfQl_J1h6py775E8io8YTDfyFH88mAiQEwo5LDp2IbS-L_VuQGU_CX_Rf8U87Aa8QBcGe7ycfI2NRYWgNm13/s320/NTEN+Thank-you.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657414062111997922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Take-away: A great thank-you note is an important step in securing future donations, so get to writing. </div>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-58989256156538360752011-07-27T08:53:00.000-07:002011-07-27T09:14:53.204-07:00Free:Happy :: Video:NonprofitThe online video market continued to gain momentum in 2010, with an average of 179 million Americans watching video each month, according to a new white paper from comScore.<br /><br />Engagement levels also rose during the year, with viewers watching online videos more frequently. So, I ask is your nonprofit using video to engage donors?<br /><br />If not, now is your chance. Visit flipforgood.org and get your free Flip Video camera from Cisco.<br /><br />After you have it, here are some tips for engaging donors with video.<br /><br />1. Post it on YouTube and your site<br /><br />2. Keep it short<br /><br />3. End with a call to action<br /><br />Take-away: Go to flipforgood.org and get your camera, and then start filming!Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-44853919369424263492011-07-21T17:37:00.000-07:002011-07-22T07:16:27.978-07:00The Bridge Conference:5 Things I LearnedI had the great pleasure of speaking at the 6th Annual Bridge to Integrated Marketing Conference in DC today. It was a great conference, and I learned a few things that I thought I would share.<br /><br /><br /><strong>First</strong>, according to Bryan Dodge, a great speaker, there is a clear problem with people's work life balance. There is too much focus on quantity at work and quality at home. In his opinion, and mine that should be reversed. We should be spending more time at home with our families. If we focused on quality at work, we could do just that!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Second</strong>, and also according to Mr. Dodge. We need to start spending more time with energy givers and less with energy takers. Amen Brother!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Third</strong>, (this I learned on the treadmill) this country focuses way too much on pop culture and way too little on world needs. Just think, if we would cover the food/clean water crisis in third world countries only a 10th as much as Nancy Grace has covered the Caylee trial we could probably raise enough money to alleviate the problem all together.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Fourth</strong>, no matter how many times you say it or how many people know it, there is still a lot of ground work that needs to happen in organizations to improve EXPERIENCE! <br /><br /><strong>Fifth</strong>, I continue to be impressed and amazed by the great work that the nonprofits in this world do every day!<br /><br />Take-away: Never stop learning!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Take-away:Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-62083609718316931892011-06-30T13:00:00.000-07:002011-07-05T07:30:47.053-07:00"I Am a Winner, Sort Of"Recently my dear friend Tammy Carter went <a href="http://www.austinovertheedge.com/index.cfm">"Over the Edge"</a> for Make-A-Wish Foundation. She won the award for the slowest rappel which cracks me up. As she put it, "I am a winner, sort of." The event itself was no laughing matter. They raised over quarter of a million dollars, have had a ton of press, and earned over 1500 new individual and corporate supporters in a single event.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 272px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624115144519144594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHeU-EcvRm2NTbNyLpUUM6DfzNjdxG3j-9_ZLhfy5lY0DF762ak2JHlV78ZREo7kn_afBPf4u73mKUV0C5H_MonoAul-MfP1Bb5zY31FHnJlmzfjUaSHL0zoXCjNYMrgZIswKsy3KpAcP/s320/TammyCarter_GTFCUHRDirector.jpg" /> Make-A-Wish Foundation had photographers, video crews, and a full spread of food, drinks, and entertainment all to enhance the event. Tammy raved about the experience and the organization. If it weren't for the unique experience offered, it is unlikely that she would have become a fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Foundation. Now she is a raving fan!<br /><br />As the competition for dollars gets more fierce, the importance of delivering a UNIQUE experience increases exponentially.<br /><br />Take-away: How can you make your next event a unique, standout of the crowd event?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/GreaterTEXASFCU?ob=5">http://www.youtube.com/user/GreaterTEXASFCU?ob=5</a>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-3322955124747643142011-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:002011-06-30T11:36:33.102-07:00What is your motivation to volunteer?This week one of my fellow team members wrote a great blog on what motivates him to volunteer: <a href="http://community.sagenonprofit.com/blog/sagenonprofit/motivations-volunteering">http://community.sagenonprofit.com/blog/sagenonprofit/motivations-volunteering</a>. I always find it interesting to learn more about what motivates people, so I challenged the entire senior team to share. As such, here is mine.<br /><br />I have volunteered with or supported a nonprofit for as long as I can remember. I am typically a supporter for social service causes. I think my passion for those causes comes from growing up in a home with many financial struggles. (Although, I really didn't know it at the time...I like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ramen</span> Noodles).<br /><br />Needless to say, my most recent cause is Support Behind the Badge. The organization is a small start-up that myself and two other women joined forces to bring to Cedar Park.<br /><br />My husband is a police officer and last year, his department was devastated by the loss of a fellow officer. <br /><p style="WIDTH: 320px"><a href="http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/williamson/family-fellow-officers-mourn-death">Reed remembered as officer, mentor: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">kxan</span>.com</a></p>At the funeral my heart went out to Officer Reeds family, and we decided that we wanted to do more to strengthen the bond between the families and friends of the department. And, we wanted to memorialize Officer Reed in a way that was fitting. We decided to start with a scholarship because Officer Reed was very committed to the children of our community and their futures.<br /><br />Since October, we have held several events and are very near establishing the scholarship. It is exciting to be a part of something that we know is going to have an impact on the community for years to come.<br /><br />Take-away: "For it is in giving that we receive." St. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fancis</span>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-28036434490149134412011-06-21T07:53:00.000-07:002011-06-21T08:02:23.992-07:00Say My Name, Say My NameOne of the local <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurants</span> that I happen to frequent has a waitress that always says my name and knows my order. I love, love, love her and often tip her well above my normal tip. That got me thinking...just how <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">valuable</span> is saying someone's name?<br /><br />Well, if you google <em><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">research</span> on saying a persons name</strong></em> you get 80,000,000 results. Hundreds maybe thousands of books have been written on the power of saying a person's name, and yet it is rarely used in a customer experience manner.<br /><br />Take-away: Today, when you thank a customer, thank them by name!<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-25320171456378063582011-05-11T13:49:00.001-07:002011-05-11T14:04:39.200-07:00To the ExtremeToday before my clock hit 9 AM, I had the pleasure of experiencing the best and worst of the customer service wheel. As a result, I once again learned something new.<br /><br />My day started with a trip to my local car dealer, Covert Cadillac, now I may have mentioned it before, but just in case I haven't it is worth restating. This place is truly 5 Star! They make every trip to get my car repaired enjoyable. Yes, I said enjoyable. They offer candy, popcorn, water, soda…whatever you want. Everyone in the place speaks to you with respect and good manners. They don't waste time, and this morning I was asked if I was in a hurry or not because they wanted to wash my car before they returned it. Now that is great, but the best part of it is they asked before assuming I had nothing better to do! I smiled the whole way to work. I thought about how I would probably buy my next car from them, and how I would make it a point to share how wonderful they are with as many people as possible.<br /><br />When I got the work, I started my normal routine of checking emails, and returning phone calls. One of the things on my "to-do" list was to schedule a cleaning service that I had purchased on a Living Social deal. (I love all of these deal sites.)<br /><br />Anyway, I called and was told:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "Are you a living social deal?"</p><br /><p>Me: "Yes, I am."</p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "Ugh…can YOU call me back in 5 minutes?" </p><br /><p>Me: "Sure, but is it ok for me to just wait on hold" (I knew I would forget to call back)</p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "I guess." (One minute passes)</p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "Ok, I can't clean for you until June 17th."</p><br /><p>Me: "That sounds great."</p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "You know, I am not making any money off of these deals. They only give me half of the total. Where is your house?"</p><br /><p>Me: "My address is...."</p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "That's going to be an extra $35 for gas. Do you tip?" </p><br /><p>Me: "As a matter of fact I do tip for good work, but I don't understand why I am being charged an extra $35 for a house that is inside the limits of your service?" </p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "Because otherwise I won't make enough money."<br /></p><br /><p>Blah, Blah, Blah…<br /></p><br /><p>Me: "You know, I would recommend that you not do another Living Social<br />Deal because the primary purpose is to give new clients an opportunity to try<br />your service. And, I am going to be honest with you, based on this conversation;<br />it is unlikely that I will be doing business with yourcompany in the future." </p><br /><p>Cleaner Way: "So, do you want me to put you down or not?" </p><br /><p>Me: "I think, not!"<br /></p></blockquote>(Three seconds pass- I call Living Social, they refund my money, thanks Living Social!)<br />Now, I am confident that the first and last are conversations many of you have had. It's important to remember that all of these conversations do matter and they do have an impact on people's decisions to purchase or give.<br /><br />So, here are some hard and fast rules for experience:<br />1. Delight your customers<br />2. Don't place your problems on your customers<br />3. Remember, a customer is deciding to give to you or do business with you ever time you interact with them, so consistency is KING!<br /><br />Take-Away: Next time you have an interaction with one of your customer's choose to operate like Cadillac instead of like The Cleaner Way!Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-66958036681857979402011-04-19T11:44:00.000-07:002011-04-19T12:13:23.684-07:00Humanity is Alive and WellI tend to be an overly positive person. I like to see the good in all things and in all people. You need to know this to understand where this story is headed.<br /><br />I have a rental home; typically vacation rentals, but I recently leased it to a single mother with two children who was having a terrible run of luck. <br /><br />As the Holidays came, my family helped them with toys and clothes. I was very lenient with rents and waived many fees. I felt like she was truly working on getting her life back on track, and I wanted to help. When she decided to leave, she left the home in what can be described as nothing short of a nightmare. I had not collected a deposit, so I was disappointed and annoyed. When I spoke with her, she apologized repeatedly and promised to reimburse me for all of the additional cleaning costs. Everyone I know, told me I could kiss that money good-bye and that I would never hear from her again.<br /><br />Last week she showed up on my doorstep with cash in hand. She wanted to deliver it in person so she could share how my generosity had helped change her life and restore her faith in humanity. The irony is that she had done the same for me. She is now in a great job, has a great home, and seems to be doing very well. She went on the tell me that she had planned to write a review and make recommendations for the house.<br /><br />It just goes to show that generosity can drive more referrals for your business, and more importantly go a long way in restoring ones faith in humanity.<br /><br />Take-away: Give with no expectation. The rewards will come full circle!Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3096712391537195814.post-71824847717765253322011-04-08T09:09:00.001-07:002011-04-08T09:09:49.018-07:00Using Video to Engage Customers<span xmlns=''><p>At this year's Association for Fundraising conference I sat in on a session "Building Websites to Enhance Donor Engagement" led by Feldmann and Sundar. It was a great session with many great tips. Some of them we have talked about here before, but all of them are worth repeating. <br /></p><p>Here are my top three tips for engaging customers using video based on this session.<br /></p><ol><li>Keep it short. Videos added to your site should be no longer than 2 minutes. And, honestly I think they should be even shorter.<br /></li><li>Post it on your site and YouTube. This doubles your opportunity to share and increases your search optimization.<br /></li><li><div>End every video with a call to action.<br /></div><p><br /> </p></li></ol><p>Here is a great example; although it is a bit on the long side, the video does a great job of sharing the story in a simple, unique, and impactful way. Charity:Water share who they are, what they stand for, and how you can help!!! I love it!<br /></p><p>Thanks AFP for a great session and thanks for turning me on to a new nonprofit with a great mission. <a href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rphhfy4qCfc'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rphhfy4qCfc</a><br /> </p><p>Take-away: Give up your birthday for a better cause, and start using video to share your story. It clearly works.</p></span>Bridget Brandthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18057970351556988539noreply@blogger.com0