Blogging for Change

A Sweet Finish to a Great Cause

2012-01-13T16:59:00.000-05:00

When roller derby meets hot chocolate to raise funds for a good cause, the results can only be SWEET!

Our friends at Pioneer Valley Roller Derby created a fun little movie trailer about their experience volunteering at Northhampton's annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage. Sweet indeed!

PVRD at 2011 Hot Chocolate Run from Slam Dinista on Vimeo.

2011-12-01T17:46:00.001-05:00

10 Little Rules for a Blissy Life

Authored by Carol Palmatier
Illustrated by Karan Parkin
Why is it that some people seem to have the world by a string? They get what they want, they meet their goals, and somehow they seem to have it figured out. What's their secret?

From spiritual gurus to motivational speakers, everyone has their own version of the answer. And the biggest answer of all? The secret to bliss is to throw away the rule book you were given, and write your own.

The author has done just that, and she shares the insights gained during a painful, healing and powerfully transformative time in her life. In this fun and quirky little "life book," she shares with you her own 10 rules to live by, and offers you the space to discover the rules that hold you hostage. And then gives you permission to break every single one.

Ready to try living by your own rules for a change? This book is for you.

...

This book is written by Graphix for Change's very own Carol Palmatier, Change Agent. Congratulations Carol on this spectacular accomplishment.

Purchase Carol's new book here: https://www.createspace.com/3714585

Milton Glaser discussing "fear of failure"

2011-07-23T21:58:00.000-04:00

Milton Glaser is a famous graphic designer. His work consists of things you all have seen for years and years, like the "I love NY" logo and so many other works of graphic design. In this video, Milton talks to us about the Fear of Failure.

Milton said that "You must embrace failure, you must admit what is, you must find out what you are capable of doing."

On a personal note, as a former athlete and coach of throwing events in track and field, I know that the most successful people in the world are the ones who have made the most mistakes. They practice over and over and make mistake after mistake after mistake. My athletes would ask me, "Coach, should I just make a "mark" and stand throw? My answer is always "why would you do that? If you're ever going to reach beyond what your mind says that you can do, you have to be fearless. They would say "what if I foul?" My answer to that was "who cares, you won't even remember this track meet in a week." In life, if we always hold back, or never do anything differently, we will never realize how truly great we really are. We are all capable of greatness, we just have to be fearless and go get it!

Milton Glaser – on the fear of failure. from Berghs' Exhibition '11 on Vimeo.

Amazon A3

2011-07-23T11:09:00.002-04:00

Karan Parkin, Graphix Gal at Graphix for Change, is a web designer and graphic artist. Karan has owned and managed parkinDESIGN, now Graphix For Change, since it was established in 1998. With formal training in fine art and graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design, she combines graphic design concepts with practical development of marketing tools that meet the needs and accomplish the goals of her clients. Karan considers each client relationship a partnership – an opportunity to bring her creative skills to work in meeting the client's needs. Her creative approach to graphic problem solving leads to compelling design solutions.

I want to tell you about this great service that Amazon provides. It's called Amazon A3 and stands for Amazon Simple Storage System. Here's what they say about it:

"Amazon S3 provides a simple web services interface that can be used to store and retrieve any amount of data, at any time, from anywhere on the web."

This is a great place to back up your website "in the cloud" for the cheapest price there is, especially for large amounts of data. Infact, for the first year, they will give you a whole lot for nothing.

As part of the AWS Free Usage Tier, you can get started with Amazon S3 for free. Upon sign-up, new AWS customers receive 5 GB of Amazon S3 storage, 20,000 Get Requests, 2,000 Put Requests, and 15GB of data transfer out each month for one year."

At Graphix for Change we can use this to back up your Joomla website in the cloud, if we install Akeeba Backup component for Joomla.

Leadership Lessons from the Dancing Guy

2011-06-28T14:08:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen this video yet, check it out. In three minutes it shows and explains how to start a social change movement. It's simple yet brilliant. Oh ya, it's entertaining as well.

9 Building our Expert Status and Preventing Violence in the Process

2011-03-01T13:00:00.000-05:00

Emerging Technologies as an Essential Tool for Bystander Intervention

2011-02-25T14:57:00.004-05:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized and domestic violence and is passionate about progressive movements that are visionary, inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. Some would say that she’s “all over the place”. She prefers to say that she thrives on variety and is energized by the multi-faceted, never ending, interconnected and always exciting work of social change. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

I see the term bystander intervention as a term for people doing the right thing in the moment and building better relationships in the process. The second level of the social ecological model of prevention focuses on building relationships that promote non-violence and that address the risk factors for perpetration. This context is a perfect framework for understanding how emerging technologies can be used as a tool for bystander intervention.

Most parents of teens will tell you that Facebook, texting, instant messaging and so many other social media tools are the mode of communications in their nearly 24/7 world. We often hear about the negative impact of these emerging technologies through bullying stories. These tools can also be used as opportunities for bystander interventions.

We think that there is an exciting match between the goals of the sexual violence movement and the opportunities created by the emerging internet technologies. We believe that our movement needs to jump into these new technologies to ensure that our voices are heard in this new and exciting environment.

Let me give you a concrete example.

I just googled the term sexual violence in the city where I live. Here’s the list of sites on page one.
• the local sexual assault service provider,
• a training event that happened last year,
• 3 defense attorneys giving advice to someone accused of sexual assault or domestic violence,
•some general business links to the local rape crisis center and some other law firms.
• a listing of local newspaper articles on sexual assaults,
• some links to law firms 90 miles from here and some national organizations.

Then if I scroll through the entries, I begin to find sites that give messages about sexual violence – this is where it starts to become a problem.
• a YouTube video of a sex scene that is really a simulated rape.
• an entry in a website on college stories where a survivor of date rape shared her story and then received a long list of comments, some supportive, others victim blaming and abusive.

Here’s the good thing about this list. If I were a victim of rape looking for help, I would have found the local hotline easily enough.

Here’s the challenge as I see it. Putting on the hat of an interested bystander, I did not find any information about what I could do to help end sexual violence. I easily found news and resources, yet I could not find any information about what I could do in my community. None of the important messages of the movement such as what role my school, sports team or my church could play in setting new social norms, increasing safety, support and comfort for victims or interventions for those at risk to abuse were anywhere in the top 50 listings.

Even more problematic for the sexual violence movement and the communities we serve, I didn’t see any simple information about what’s healthy and normal, what to expect if I report sexual abuse, or what to do when I someone I know discloses abuse to me. I can’t readily find out what will happen if I witness an abusive joke or have a friend who has attitudes that blame the victim. In order to support bystander intervention we need to find ways to teach people how to engage in their relationships in healthy and non-violent ways. We need to teach and give examples of the ways that stronger relationships help to build communities that promote prevention.

Next, The challenge and how we can meet it

Working the Social-Ecological Model with SV 2.0 Tools

2011-02-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized and domestic violence and is passionate about progressive movements that are visionary, inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. Some would say that she’s “all over the place”. She prefers to say that she thrives on variety and is energized by the multi-faceted, never ending, interconnected and always exciting work of social change. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

Primary Prevention aimed at Individual Factors

In the social-ecological model of prevention, the first level of factors that can influence social change is the individual level. These are the personal factors that may put someone at higher risk of perpetrating sexual violence. One of the biggest factors that the SV movement has consistently named is a set of attitudes that support the myths of sexual violence. In fact, the basic message of the movement – you might be tempted to call it a mantra – is “sexual assault is not your fault”. The basis for the widespread belief that victims are somehow to blame for their own victimization has long been identified as a key source of the problem.

For years, community education efforts have focused their message on exposing the myths around victim blaming and placing the responsibility on the person who chooses to commit the act of sexual violence. And rightfully so, According to the World Report on Violence and Health, these attitudes and beliefs are key in understanding who may be at higher risk of perpetrating these crimes, and therefore, what messages and interventions might be helpful in preventing them.

If you’d like to read more about what the World Health Organization has to say about this, read this Chapter on Sexual Violence from the World Report on Violence and Health. While it has plenty to say about risk factors for sexual victimization of women, some of the most compelling factors are the individual characteristics or factors that seem to increase men’s risk of committing rape. Once we work from a deeper understanding of these risk factors, we have the potential for real primary prevention. Here are some of the risk factors as identified in this report and some ideas for ways that Web 2.0 tools are being used toward prevention efforts.

Alcohol and drug use – This factor points the way to collaborative efforts with efforts that identify and address alcohol and drug abuse. Some of the ways to use these tools would be to develop a forum for leaders and advocates in both field to communicate and draw on each other’s strengths, cross training and issue development using webinar technology.

Coercive sexual fantasies and other attitudes and beliefs supportive of sexual violence and hostility towards women– Now documented as a risk factor which means that it is not longer enough to try to put out positive messages through education and media efforts, we need to call it out wherever we find these images on the internet. By taking a by-stander approach, we can use Facebook and other social media groups to organize people to comment on sexist and coercive images, comment on the many YouTube videos that show sex acts as simulated rapes, comment on victim-blaming and abusive comments. The more we can galvanize those who work for change on sexual violence to do more than ignore these images, to take about 30 seconds and make a comment, the more we impact change. This holds potential for a new type of community engagement volunteer, a group of people who partner with a local or statewide program to systematically respond to the misleading messages that are everyone regarding sexual violence.

History of sexual abuse as a child and/or witness family violence as a child – This research tells us that a history of sexual abuse or family violence can increase the risk factor. This does not mean that we’re saying that all men who were sexually abused or witnessed domestic violence are sexual perpetrators. It does mean, however, that we have data that compels us to figure out how to deepen the involvement and outreach of men in the work and broaden the work to assist men in the aftermath of their histories of violence. Web 2.0 tools can be used to speak to specific cultural groups and populations. It’s important that we figure out how to use these tools to speak to men who may have experienced violence themselves. And for advocates and counselors, we can use forums and social media to share ideas, further develop models for healing, outreach, and engagement of men.

If you have tried to use a Web 2.0 tool to engage in prevention at the individual level, I’d love to hear about it.

Next, Putting the tools of SV 2.0 to use in addressing relationship factors.

Get the right message about sexual violence out there, Rise above the ABUSE

2011-02-18T12:25:00.004-05:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized and domestic violence and is passionate about progressive movements that are visionary, inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. Some would say that she’s “all over the place”. She prefers to say that she thrives on variety and is energized by the multi-faceted, never ending, interconnected and always exciting work of social change. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

I just did my “let’s see what comes up when I Google something” exercise and kept it simple. I just googled the word rape. The front page led me to a series of offensive and degrading videos on YouTube – and the comments that were equally degrading. Then I saw some of the political news – debates about whether the definition of rape will be changed at the federal level. Unfortunately, it was difficult to find any links to a hotline or any information about the realities of rape. I imagined what I might be thinking, how I might be feeling if I were a survivor looking for information and help. I’m not sure that I’d ever reach out, that I’d feel trust in any group or service.

Social media has provided a means of communicating with our constituents that is unprecedented in this work. Unfortunately, in spite of all of the efforts at speaking survivors’ truth, debunking the myths, and helping the world understand that there is a difference between sex and rape, this message appears invisible in the very medium that many people are using to seek out organizations for help and information.

We can turn this around. What it will take is an intentional effort on the parts of local rape crisis centers, state and national coalitions to understand and utilize social media to get the truth out there.

Article marketing is one way that we could begin to get our messages out there. Remember, the best website in the world fails to create change if no one finds it. The most articulate leader will fail to gain followers if no one hears her voice. This is where marketing with your content comes in.

Article marketing is part of the comprehensive marketing process that gets your voice out into the wider world. The process is simple:
• create a 400-500 word article on a topic of interest to your audience
• syndicate it for online publishers through a content distribution system
• include a link back to your site, to drive readers there for more information

The article marketing process is a simple yet effective method to drive more traffic to your site and make it easier for your audience to find you. It also positions you as a recognized expert in your field. Having a number of published articles in your area of expertise creates a solid professional online "snap shot" of your work.

If the idea of distributing articles feels like an impossible increase in work, don’t forget that you already have much of the content. You have grant proposals, program descriptions, fact sheets, materials that your community education staff are using, training materials. You probably already have the rough materials for hundreds of articles that your audience needs to know. Once you realize this, your job is to organize it into short articles and develop a system to distribute them. It won’t be long that your information and a link back to your website will come up before the victim-blaming and abusive information.

To Blog or not to Blog? For Sexual Violence change agents, that is no longer the question...

2011-02-15T10:19:00.002-05:00

Expert Status and the Challenge to Maintain our own Voice

2011-02-11T10:15:00.001-05:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized and domestic violence and is passionate about progressive movements that are visionary, inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. Some would say that she’s “all over the place”. She prefers to say that she thrives on variety and is energized by the multi-faceted, never ending, interconnected and always exciting work of social change. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

I just googled the term sexual violence in the city where I live. Here’s the list of sites on page one. First, a link to the local sexual assault service provider, then a link to a training event that happened last year, next 3 defense attorneys giving advice to someone accused of sexual assault or domestic violence, and then some general business links to the local rape crisis center and some other law firms. Then I came across a listing of local newspaper articles on sexual assaults, then some links to law firms 90 miles from here and some national organizations.

Here’s the good thing about this list. If I were a victim of rape looking for help, I would have found the local hotline easily enough. Here’s the problem as I see it, putting on the hat of a sexual assault victim, while I would have found the local hotline, I would not have found any information that speaks to me in this moment. I easily found news and resources, yet I could not as easily find some of the key messages of safety, health, comfort and support. I don’t see any indication of what’s normal, what to expect, what to do. I can’t readily find out what will happen if I decide to call the hotline. Will I forced to report to the police? What are my options?

Then if I scroll through the entries, the problem gets worse. I find a YouTube video of a sex scene that is really a simulated rape. I find an entry in a website on college stories where a survivor of date rape shared her story and then received a long list of comments, some supportive, others victim blaming and abusive.

Here’s the challenge to those of us working in organizations addressing sexual violence. To the general public seeking basic information, our knowledge base is one of the best kept secrets on the internet. Search engines have certain rules. They find information based on their matrices that involve key words, phrases, and links to good information. Search engines don’t discern between survivor-centered and supportive messages and victim-blaming non-supportive messages.

We can meet this challenge by strategically building our expert status. We need to create the website pages, blog posts, articles, and links to the information that we know survivors need. We can do this by getting savvy about how the internet finds and prioritizes information and optimizing our own websites to respond.

We also need to realize that the internet which at first was a convenient place for organizations to post an electronic version of their brochures and reports, is now an interactive, changing, breathing thing. Many organizations are now catching up to this trend and they’re seeing results. By building websites that also become platforms for news and information, for discussion and trends, to help communities engage and connect, that attract donors and supporters, our work is more often coming up on the front page. Yes it changes things, it often requires changing job descriptions, workplans, updating skills, and increasing knowledge, but the payoff can be huge – survivors can more easily find you, donors can more readily support you, communities can more easily engage with you.

Here’s an example of an organization that adopted a more optimized format for their website presence. The Enough Abuse Campaign in Boston, Massachusetts seeks to engage people in the prevention of child sexual abuse. Their website includes interactive ways to get engaged, information about the issue as well as about the organization, a blog, compelling images, and most important, reasons for people to keep returning.

Next – Tools and technologies of SV 2.0 - Blogging

SV 2.0 - Definitions

2011-02-08T10:12:00.002-05:00

Finding Your Voice - The Five Words Approach

2011-02-07T08:44:00.002-05:00

One of the biggest challenges for many of our clients, when they begin blogging and engaging in social media, is finding their true voice. Being able to communicate authentically begins with knowing who you are, and how you want to come across to your audience.

This article from Copyblogger will help. It will show you how to parse your identity down to five specific words. Then, when you write anything -- a blog post, a tweet, a Facebook status update, an email -- you'll have a guideline to go to. Re-read everything you draft and ask yourself if you've hit those five words.

This same idea is what we do in our first step of the "5 Questions in 5 Days" process with our clients. We ask them five specific questions designed to dig out their authentic voice, the change they want to make in the world, who they need to reach and what challenges they find in reaching them. It's a process that almost always results in a deeper understanding of their mission and how much easier it is to move toward it when they are coming from an authentic place.

What's your five words? Share it here and let's see the real you!

SV 2.0 – Using Web 2.0 Tools to Address Emerging Issues in Sexual Violence

2011-02-04T10:07:00.002-05:00

Recently I asked a random question on Facebook – What do people think are the most pressing issues facing nonprofit organizations today? I got many of the expected responses, most started with the phrase “not enough” – money, time, support, staff, diversity, information - all good answers and key issues.

One of the most compelling responses gets to the core of the issues of SV 2.0. Here it is "when people think they are doing social change because they have a Facebook page." It made me LOL because I could relate. I had to think about the many useless and trivial status posts (my own FB BFF’s excluded, of course) that we all have to weed through to get to the things that really matter.

Tools are just that – tools. I have a bunch of tools in my basement – hammers, saws, hardware, paint supplies, you name it. Yet, I still have some unfinished projects in my house – a hallway that needs to be painted, a floor that squeaks, an empty spot on my kitchen wall where a cabinet would be useful. I have the tools to do all of these things, but so far these things are not done. So, there must be more to getting the job done than just having the tools. Web-based tools have similar qualities. You need to have them, know how to use them, know what you want to accomplish by using them, and know how you’ll be able to tell what you’ve accomplished. That’s why we coined the term SV 2.0. We think of SV 2.0 as the bridge between the tools we can use thanks to Web 2.0 and the movement to address sexual violence.

SV 2.0 Sexual Violence Emerging Issues Meet Web 2.0 Emerging Technologies

2011-02-02T15:47:00.001-05:00

At Graphix for Change, we coined the term SV 2.0 when we began to see the match between the goals of the sexual violence movement and the opportunities created by putting internet technologies to use toward our goals. we began educating our clients and putting these tools to work toward their efforts to organize their work, build their organizations, and promote the issues. Overall, SV 2.0 is a match between the emerging issues we face as a movement and the tools we need to get the work done. This series is aimed to get the conversation going about some specific uses of these technologies in organizing primary prevention based on the public health based theories contained in the social-ecological model and the Spectrum of Prevention.

Here’s a brief look at the social-ecological model as it can be applied to most any issue that involves social change.

Image Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexual violence prevention: Beginning the Dialogue. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2004.

This diagrams illustrates the levels of the social-ecological model. It identifies the inter-related levels of influences on any issue and can specifically be applied to the work to end and address sexual violence. Beginning with an understanding of these levels will help build an understanding of how best to use internet-based tools to promote our goals. The levels go from small to large, from individual influences, relationships, community, and societal.

Next Post – Definitions of SV 2.0

Great Advice for Branding Your Twitter Background

2011-02-02T10:40:00.000-05:00

When you have a vision to share, you need to use all the online real estate you can. One great way to tell your organization's story is via Twitter. This blog post from the folks at Sprout Social will walk you through how to created a branded Twitter background. Share this post with your agency's designer, or contact us if you need a designer to help.

9 Crazy Tips to Get Your Message Heard

2010-12-04T08:51:00.001-05:00

"You’ve got to check out Ian’s Blog at KarmicConsulting.net – he’s like a much smarter, taller and better looking version of Mike Filsaime, without the cheesy chess king collarless shirt fetish. He’s also a great ping pong player and looks great in purple. If I am blessed with a boy child, I will surely name him Ian."

Read his latest deliciousness here.

Is Timing Everything on Facebook?

2010-11-11T15:20:00.002-05:00

Wondering when your posts will be most effective? This article from Mashable offers up some great metrics from actual user data. Use it to plan your own engagement with your readers, but be warned...there's more to a good post than timing!

5 Types of Articles -- a Free Report

2010-10-11T09:35:00.003-04:00

David Goldsmith is a freelance writer and author of the popular e-book "25 Ways to Write for Money". Discover how you can earn a good living from your writing. Download your copy of his e-book today at http://www.WriterIncome.com

5 Types of Articles to Write

Part of the challenge of publishing good articles is knowing where to start. This report, by expert article writer David Goldsmith, will help. He outlines five common types of articles and how they can be used.

Download your free report here, and let him inspire you to write your own articles. Enjoy!

So Clear, So Simple...A Nonprofit Website Strategy

2010-10-07T16:35:00.003-04:00

Wanted to share this blog post from MoreDonors.com. If you are stuck and aren't sure where to go with your agency's website, consider these 10 pages. It's a fairly foolproof start, and can easily be customized to your own particular needs.

10 Pages Every Charity Website Should Have

Want to implement this for your own organization? Talk to us.

Winner Winner Winner!

2010-09-09T13:11:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Community Violence Solutions of San Pablo, CA. Their organization was chosen as the winner in our "Help I Need a New Logo" contest at the National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles last week.

We had dozens of entries, and it was a tough decision. Ultimately, the panel felt that CVS had a compelling need for a new logo, and planned to leverage that into a full brand identity campaign that will increase their reach and build sustainability for their organization.

As we work with CVS to create their new logo, we'll keep you posted here. To all the other entrants, please watch your email as we'll be offering you a special opportunity to work together on your own brand identity. Thanks to everyone who entered!

The "Help I Need A New Logo" Contest is On!

2010-08-30T19:31:00.003-04:00

Anyone going to the National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles this week? Need a new logo for your organization? Stop by our table in the Tech Lounge and tell us why!

Winner announced on Friday at the conference. Play along on Twitter, #NSAC.

A "Must Have" Tool for Project Collaborations

2010-08-19T15:29:00.003-04:00

Are you in charge of managing projects for your business or non-profit organization? Do yourself a HUGE favor and check out Basecamp, the online project collaboration system from the genius geeks at 37 Signals.

I've been using it for a few years now, and we use it a Graphix for Change to work with our clients. It's simple to learn, and gives me that "big picture" overview that lets me sleep waaaay better at night. Bonus: it's affordable for just about any size org. Seriously, I'd be lost without this.

(Full disclosure...Basecamp will give me a free month for anyone who signs up for a paid account through my links. I'm not doing this for the free month, but because I really do LOVE and use this service every day. So, there you have it :-)

Gandhi Rap

2010-08-13T10:13:00.002-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qd-fAnHjPg&sns=emEnjoy this great video about being the change you want see in the world based in the life and message of Gandhi.

Training Based in Adult Learning Theory

2010-07-28T11:09:00.000-04:00

Are Your NonProfit Marketing Efforts Seeing Double?

2010-07-22T10:30:00.007-04:00

Does your nonprofit organization suffer from blurry vision when it comes to marketing? Do you find yourself distracted by all the online marketing options? Do you feel you need 3D glasses just to create some clarity in your marketing efforts? You're not alone.

"Marketing the mission" is not for the weak hearted. It takes no small amount of focus, clarity and execution to maintain consistent messaging in all your nonprofit marketing efforts. And with the addition of online marketing and social media, a whole new world has opened up. It can be overwhelming, to say the least, to keep your voice strong, consistent and targeted to your mission. Here are three simple ways you can do this, starting today:

1. Optimize your website for your mission's keywords.

Look at your mission and pull out the key phrases that you might expect someone to search for you under. If you provide housing referrals in Boston, for example, a good keyword phrase might be "homeless in Boston."

Look at your website copy, and add that phrase to a page tile, a subhead, and a few times in the body copy. Then make sure you've added it to your meta-description tag as well (your webmaster can do this for you; contact me if you need help).

What this does is make it more likely that someone entering the phrase "homeless in Boston" will see your website.

2. "Missionize" your Twitter account

(You don't have one for your agency? Set one up; it's free and simple). Add your logo, and use your mission statement as your "account profile." This is a simple way to tie your nonprofit marketing efforts into your overall mission.

Don't worry for now about what you'll tweet or who will follow you. Just get it set up and make your first Tweet.

3. Make a blog post that clarifies or expands on your mission.

Just a few paragraphs are all you need, talking about your organization and how it serves to change the world.

Don't have a blog? Borrow one! Look for other blogs in your field, and ask if you could make a "guest post" in theirs. It's done all the time; the blog owner will appreciate having a new point of view, and you'll gain some new eyes on your nonprofit marketing message.

The key to a consolidated nonprofit marketing approach is to see the mission clearly, above all else. Twitter, blogging, the annual report, your website, brochures for donors...these are all simply different forms of tools we use to get the message across.

So put on your 3D glasses, get the big picture, and focus back on your mission. The rest will fall into place.

Resource Sharing Project Launches with New Logo

2010-07-09T16:47:00.006-04:00

The Resource Sharing Project was created to help sexual assault state coalitions across the country access the resources they need to develop and thrive. They provide technical assistance, support, and facilitate peer-driven resources for all sexual assault state coalitions.

We are thrilled to support this important work by designing a logo for their new project, Enhancing Sexual Assault Services: A Demonstration Initiative (ESAS). ESAS seeks to help existing programs do their work better, by sharing the resources that already exist. It’s not about coming in and telling them how it’s done; it’s about listening, understanding, sharing ideas and building new approaches. It is offered in a spirit of deep appreciation and respect for the hard work they are currently doing.

Enhancing Sexual Assault Services seeks to change the mindset of existing domestic violence service providers, to help them understand that sexual violence is a distinct issue apart from domestic violence.
It seeks to change or expand their focus to include previously under-served communities; i.e. teens, males, LGBT, adult survivors of childhood abuse.
It further seeks to change the discussion in communities and the media, to acknowledge that sexual assault and abuse happens everywhere, and must be acknowledged before any lasting change can be made.

We are honored to be a part of their work to change the world.

Social Change Theory and Your Nonprofit Marketing Strategy

2010-06-28T13:30:00.003-04:00

Social change and public service are complex, involving many interrelated people, organizations, concepts and approaches. Effective nonprofit marketing for social change brings the tools of design and marketing to projects that promote program development, policy change, organizational development, and community organizing.

You may find it helpful to work within a framework so that it’s a little easier to organize, track progress, measure, and accomplish. Consider working within a framework of social change that was developed by the Center for Effective Philanthropy.

This framework conceptualizes social change as occurring on five interconnected levels. As you work on a project, organize the work so that you can be clear about what the project is intended to do. After all, the point of it all will be to inspire people to be a part of positive change. This helps you build a strong nonprofit marketing strategy whether you are seeking to engage communities, get people excited about your vision, help get the work done, and broaden people's minds. Some of the specific actions you are seeking to inspire are to donate money, vote on a referendum, come to an event, influence local citizens, or reach out for help.

We think about social change as progressive steps on a ladder. Each step is an important part of the work; some build on others, all are needed to get to the goal.

Level 1 -- Changing the definition of something or reframing the public understanding. This can come about through educational campaigns, training staff or volunteers, or research analysis and dissemination. A needs assessment might be a place to begin your work toward reframing how an issue is defined.

Level 2 -- Changing how individuals and communities behave. Examples of ways that individuals change behavior are through support groups or classes that promote healthy choices. A solid program design can maximize its potential to promote changes in behavior.

Level 3 -- Increasing critical mass and community engagement. Community organizing, fundraising events and building coalitions all serve to increase engagement. Your website, training materials and marketing strategies can be aimed toward community engagement.

Level 4 -- Changing policy and institutions. You might work to change a law, advocate for a budget increase, or change an organization’s policies. To do this, you need to develop a base of support for a change in a law or a budget item by utilizing strategies that can change institutional and public policy.

Level 5 -- Sustaining your accomplishments. These activities assure sustainability and strength such as board development, strategic planning, staff training, or team building. Marketing and the increased visibility can go a long way toward building your nonprofit's organizational capacity, so that your work and your impact will be around as long as the work is needed.

Having a foundational framework gives you a springboard to asking key questions that inform the nonprofit design and marketing strategies. Ask yourself:
* Will it be a new message?
* Will it reach a community that is now underserved?
* What do they want people to do when they see the message?
* How will it generate community support?
* How will it broaden their visibility? Will it address a problem in their community?

By thinking through these questions, you'll develop a design and marketing concept specifically tailored to achieve your goals.

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

Are We Really Hard Wired For Good?

2010-06-08T19:55:00.008-04:00

Are we as humans hard-wired for empathy and a higher consciousness? "Bestselling author, political adviser and social and ethical prophet Jeremy Rifkin" thinks so. This stunning video gives an encapsulated history of human empathy, and offers some intriguing ideas for social change leaders.

As Rifkin says, "Empathy is grounded in the acknowledgment of death and the celebration of life." If we as humans can extend our natural inclination for empathy beyond the fictional and artificial borders of theology, politics and nationality, we just might have a shot a survival.

View the full video of Jeremy Rifkin’s talk at the Royal Society of the Arts. Fascinating concepts, brilliantly illustrated. Thanks to Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog for highlighting this video.

Publicity Checklist for NonProfits

2010-06-02T22:32:00.006-04:00

Are you getting good results with your media outreach? PR pro Richard Berman from NYC offers a good guide for anyone approaching the media hoping for a story placement. He shares his ideas here:

A Publicity Checklist: Please Read Before Approaching the World With Your Story

Cool back-up / online storage tool

2010-06-02T12:29:00.004-04:00

Karan founded parkinDESIGN & Graphix for Change to apply her life long love of art and the creative process and put it to work for her clients. As the Graphix Gal at Graphix for Change, she knows design and knows the challenges of running a small business or a nonprofit. You'll find Karan is a rare combination of practicality and creativity and is the Queen of free web gadgets.

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This is a great tool.

At Graphix for Change, we use a content management system for website design called Joomla! One issue we encountered is: how to automate the backup of Joomla! and have the backup file stored on the website hosting site as well as "in the cloud". This is where Dropbox comes in. There is a nifty component for Joomla!, called Akeeba, that will automatically do both... backup to the webhosting server AND to Dropbox at the click of a button.

All you need to do to backup your Joomla! website: - create a FREE Dropbox account that gives you 2 GB of space - Install the Akeeba component to Joomla!

- Make the settings in Akeeba, by putting your username / password for Dropbox. - Push the Backup Now button in Akeeba You're done!

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Click Here to sign up for your
free Dropbox account

NOTE: they also have paid accounts

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Dropbox Features

File Sync

Dropbox allows you to sync your files online and across your computers automatically.

2GB of online storage for free, with up to 100GB available to paying customers.
Sync files of any size or type.
Sync Windows, Mac and Linux computers.
Automatically syncs when new files or changes are detected.
Work on files in your Dropbox even if you're offline. Your changes sync once your computer has an Internet connection again.
Dropbox transfers will correctly resume where they left off if the connection drops.
Efficient sync - only the pieces of a file that changed (not the whole file) are synced. This saves you time.
Doesn't hog your Internet connection. You can manually set bandwidth limits.

Sharing files is simple and can be done with only a few clicks.

Shared folders allow several people to collaborate on a set of files.
You can see other people's changes instantly.
A "Public" folder that lets you link directly to files in your Dropbox.
Control who is able to access shared folders (including ability to kick people out and remove the shared files from their computers).
Automatically create shareable online photo galleries from folders of photos in your Dropbox.

Online Backup

Dropbox backs up your files online without you having to think about it.

Automatic backup of your files.
Undelete files and folders.
Restore previous versions of your files.
30 days of undo history, with unlimited undo available as a paid option.

Web Access

A copy of your files are stored on Dropbox's secure servers. This lets you access them from any computer or mobile device.

Manipulate files as you would on your desktop - add, edit, delete, rename etc.
Search your entire Dropbox for files.
A "Recent Events" feed that shows you a summary of activity in your Dropbox.
Create shared folders and invite people to them.
Recover previous versions of any file or undelete deleted files.
View photo galleries created automatically from photos in your Dropbox.

Security & Privacy

Dropbox takes the security and privacy of your files very seriously.

Shared folders are viewable only by people you invite.
All transmission of file data and metadata occurs over an encrypted channel (SSL).
All files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES-256) and are inaccessible without your account password.
Dropbox website and client software have been hardened against attacks from hackers.
Dropbox employees are not able to view any user's files.
Online access to your files requires your username and password.
Public files are only viewable by people who have a link to the file(s). Public folders are not browsable or searchable.

Mobile Device Access

The free Dropbox application for iPhone, iPad, and Android lets you:

Access your Dropbox on the go.
View files from within the application.
Download files for offline viewing.
Take photos and videos and sync them to your Dropbox.
Share links to files in your Dropbox.
Export your files to other applications.
Sync downloaded files so they're up-to-date.

Still Waiting to Start Blogging for Your Non-Profit?

2010-05-16T20:57:00.003-04:00

MOVA Launches Redesigned Site with Help from Springfield Agency

2010-05-04T10:52:00.004-04:00

(Springfield – May 1, 2010) – A public/private partnership between the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) and a local Springfield design agency has created a new way for victims, witnesses and survivors of crime in the Commonwealth to access the resources they need.

MOVA is an independent state agency devoted to upholding and advancing the rights of crime victims. From individual victim advocacy, community education and professional training to legislative policy-setting, funding and program management, MOVA works to ensure that victims and survivors have the supports, services and rights they need and deserve.

Their new website makes it easier for crime victims, survivors, and those who support and assist them, to find the right information, quickly. An important part of the website is the “MOVA Help Directory.” This comprehensive database provides a quick way to search for information on topics of violent crime including sexual assault, domestic violence, gang violence, hate crimes and elder abuse.

Janet Fine, Executive Director of MOVA expressed her enthusiasm for the newly created website, “We are committed to ensuring that people seeking information, services and support in the aftermath of crime can access it whenever they need it. Our new website is one very important way in which we will be able to do so for people with varied needs and from all communities around the state.”

To implement this large scale web development project, the agency chose Graphix For Change. The Springfield company provides graphic design, grounded in social change and informed by the latest in marketing.

“MOVA is all about reaching and serving victims of crime in Massachusetts and getting them connected to the people and resources they need,” said Marianne Winters, Project Manager for Graphix for Change. “That’s why this is the perfect partnership for us; we bring a commitment to social justice and technical knowledge in website development so that together with MOVA, we were able to create this important information resource for victims across the state.”

The new MOVA website can be found at http://www.mass.gov/MOVA.

Blogging For Your Non-Profit: Stuck For Ideas?

2010-05-04T10:48:00.001-04:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to market their mission. She is known as the "Words Girl" around Graphix For Change. Her current quest is to get a grip on how online marketing analytics can help grow a non-profit's program and reach.

5 Quick Post Ideas For Your NonProfit Blog

If your nonprofit agency is among the growing number adding its voice to the blog-o-rama, congratulations. Committing to a blog is a big deal. It shows you're serious about engaging with your community and stakeholders in a powerful and effective way.

The commitment has been made, and the task has been assigned to you. As the "agency blogger" you are now likely staring at the big blank screen, wondering how to fill it with words of wit, wisdom and wow. You're not alone. Here are five quick ideas for blog posts.

What makes a good nonprofit blog post?

1. Staff news: Consider posting feature profiles on your key staffers. Do one post per person, and include some relevant professional background, along with some colorful personal information as appropriate. Include a picture (preferably not a stuffy head shot; show them as they really are). Get a quote from the staffer on how the mission of your agency dovetails with their personal goals or passions.

2. Market the Mission: Do a blog post about your agency's mission. Then give your own take on what it means to you. You'll be surprised how quickly you can write 400 words when you are talking about mission-driven work that matters. Include a real example of how your agency's work has affected change.

3. Community News - Nonprofits hire leaders, who keep a good ear open for relevent local and regional news stories. Comment on currents events, from the perspective of your agency's work toward social change. This is a great opportunity to engage a wider audience from your local base and garner support for your issues.

4. National and Global Events - You work to change the world. Let your readers know how you feel about the legislative policy in Washington or on the world stage. This work does not take place in a vacuum; demonstrate how these "far off" events impact real people in real ways.

5. Pass It On - Read something that resonates? Do a quick introduction, then refer your readers to the link for the complete article. Not every word in your blog needs to come from your keypad. In fact, featuring guest authors in this way is not only good for your readers, it also builds backlinks to other blogs in your industry. This leads to wider exposure, more readers and more engagement. Of course, be sure to give credit to the original author and include a link back to their site. They might even come to your blog and comment.

Don't forget you can write several posts at a time, save them as "drafts," and set the date to go live in the future. Shut off the phone, close the door and get writing. You'll appreciate the time you spend now when you realize you have enough blog posts drafted to schedule you through the next month or two. (I'm writing this on the plane on my way from Boston to Philadelphia. It's a quick 50 minute flight, and because of bad weather we are delayed for at least an hour. A perfect to knock off a handful of posts. If you can't find the time to blog for your nonprofit agency, steal the time!)

Engaging our supporters to shift the paradigm

2010-03-20T13:01:00.006-04:00

Todd Cohen posts in "Inside Philanthropy" a great article challenging all of us working in non-profits to engage our supporters and shake off the old paradigm that non-profit somehow means "less" in the eyes of the corporate world.

Read his full post here. The Web 2.0 tools available make it simple, as well as imperative, to engage on a new level.

Check out this great FREE image editing tool

2010-03-10T11:45:00.007-05:00

Pixlr is a FREE, yes FREE online photo editor. It is one of the online programs that lives in the "cloud". I find that my clients need a simple photo editor to size, sharpen, color correct and optimize for web or print use. You can grab images from a website or upload them from your computer. The interface is simple and straight forward. There are a couple bells and whistles, but this does the basics especially well. Go to Pixlr

A 9-Minute Primer On Twitter Backgrounds

2010-02-14T16:48:00.002-05:00

If you're serious about using Twitter as part of your overall marketing plan, skip the standard plug-in Twitter backgrounds. The whole idea of socializing your brand begins with some consistency of image and style across all your channels.

Creating a custom background has been something of a chore, and involved more guesswork than good design. Until I saw this short video by Steve at Amazing Video Tours. Now, I get it. This 9-minute video makes it easy for just about anyone to create a graphically-optimized custom Twitter background. And if you don't have the design chops to pull it off yourself, hand this video off to your designer. A good Web 2.0 designer will know what to do.

Enjoy...and when your custom Twitter background is up and posted, come back and share it with us!

Turning helplessness into hope...mobilizing to end violence in Springfield, Massachusetts

2010-01-22T14:06:00.001-05:00

Can You Commit to Blogging For Your Non-Profit?

2009-12-29T11:31:00.001-05:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to market their mission. She is known as the "Words Girl" around Graphix For Change. Her current quest is to get a grip on how online marketing analytics can help grow a non-profit's program and reach.

In Part 1 of the first class for Inbound Marketing University, "How to Blog Effectively for Business (GetFound 101)" with Ann Handley and Mack Collier of MarketingProfs.com, we explored the basic components of a blog, and how they work together. Blogs are without a doubt a powerful marketing tool for your non-profit agency. There is so much opportunity for reaching out to your audience and getting good exposure through your blog. So, now we get to the hard question: are you ready for it?

Let's take a close look at exactly what a blog commitment means.

Does Your Agency Have the Resources to Add Blogging to Your Non-Profit Marketing Plan?

Let's look at the two main resource issues to consider before you jump in and commit. First, do you have the time? Can you devote consistent time each week to updating the blog? Secondly, do you have the people? Ideally, you'll want at least two or three people contributing, not only to share the work load, but to bring in fresh perspectives.

The worst thing you can have is a blog that is dead in the water, with old posts and no fresh content. As Mack Collier says, "your blog does not have an expiration date." This is a commitment you'll make from here on out. It's too frustrating for your audience to begin to interact with them, only to have the blog go dark.

Who Should Do the Blogging for Your Non-Profit?

Building a good blog with lots of comments and interaction does take time. It's not magic; you need to build an audience, and encourage response. So consider carefully who you choose to write for your blog. Ann Hadley of MarketingProfs recommends you choose bloggers with the following characteristics:

1. an understanding of blogging and social media

2. true enthusiasm for your agency and its mission

3. passion for connecting with and helping your clients and collaborators

4. good, fluent writing skills

The Executive Director may not be the right choice to be your primary blogger! This might come as a surprise for some agencies. While it's great for your readers to have an opportunity to interact with your ED, he or she may not have the ability to truly commit to consistent blogging.

A great place to look for help is your volunteer base, including your board and your operational volunteers. Your volunteers have a level of commitment and passion for your agency that can make them fantastic evangelists. Just be ready to give them some guidelines about story ideas and style. It's a good idea to have a second set of eyes on any blog post before it goes live; have a staffer assigned to review each post before it goes live.

A blog is a wonderful marketing tool for your non-profit agency. Weigh the pros and cons carefully before you commit. If you decide that blogging is right for you, go forth boldly and connect with your world!

Inbound Marketing University - Blogging 101

2009-12-07T09:45:00.002-05:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to market their mission. She is known as the "Words Girl" around Graphix For Change. Her current quest is to get a grip on how online marketing analytics can help grow a non-profit's program and reach.

Last week I wrote about Inbound Marketing University, an online learning adventure that I'll be sharing with you in this blog.

I just completed lesson one, "How to Blog Effectively for Business (GetFound 101)" with Ann Handley and Mack Collier of MarketingProfs.com. The take-away from lesson one is simplicity; breaking the blogging platform down into its most common components.

Why blog?
In 2008, 45% of the US online population read blogs on a monthly basis. In 2013, that number is projected to be 58%, 0r 128 million. In 2008, 13% of the US online population created or maintained a blog; by 2013 38 million US netizens will be blogging.

There will be an online conversation about your agency, company or area of expertise. If you aren't engaged in it, you have no say over how that conversation is framed. With an active blog, you become a thought leader in the discussion.

So, what is a blog?
A blog has two basic characteristics:
1)A tool that allows you to quickly and easily create and publish new content; and

2)allows readers to leave feedback on that content, as well as react to feedback from other readers.

Google loves blogs. Why?
The content is constantly changing and fresh. Search engines want to provide their users with the freshest, most relevant information available. By blogging, your site becomes fresh, exciting, and more attractive to the search engines. You get more traffic.

Basic components of blog
Most blogs have the same basic components: the post, the comments, a sidebar, and a header.

The Post
This is the dominant part of the blog; it sets the tone for what you talk about, how you want to position yourself to your readers. This is where you add your fresh content. This is not about advertising or talking about your agency. It's about giving folks information that will be helpful to them. This allows you to establish your expertise while providing useful information.

The Comments
This is where your readers get a say in the content being created. When your readers interact, it makes your content more powerful, more interesting. When someone does comment, be sure you comment back, in a conversational and personal way. Use first names; be welcoming and friendly. Make that personal connection and you'll open the door for even more comments.

The Sidebar
The sidebar is your opportunity to connect with other people in other ways. For example, you can add your Twitter feed, or offer an RSS feed of your blog. You can run a quick poll, or add a sign-up form for your newsletter. The great thing about the sidebar is this can be fully automated, so it is constantly changing, but completely hands-free for you.

Header
This is a great place to put your branding elements (logo, tagline, etc) as well as links to more information about the agency or company. It sets the overall look and feel of the blog, and ties it in to your existing website.

Layout and Design
There are myriad choices for layout, either through easy-to-use templates or customization. A word here...start simple, start clean. Make it easy to understand at a glance, so the reader's focus isn't distracted trying to "figure it out." You can even use dropdowns for the information in the sidebar, for a really clean look.

That's the basics of "what is a blog?" In the next post we'll talk about some things to consider before you commit to a blog. In the meantime, please add your thoughts about blogs, and if you know of a blog that you really love, post it here so we can talk about it.

Inbound Marketing for Non-Profits - A Learning Adventure

2009-12-04T09:23:00.002-05:00

To Blog or not to Blog? For Social Change agents, that is no longer the question...

2009-11-24T14:25:00.002-05:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

We work with leaders of non-profit organizations and public service groups. Our job is to help them bring about social change by utilizing the tools available on the internet. So, eventually, the conversation will come up about a blog. Usually, for those who have not yet begun to blog, they wrinkle their face, or make some other not so subtle non-verbal sign of resistance. To address this resistance and to help you think about getting started, Graphix for Change provides you with the
Top 10 Reasons why Social Change agents should blog.

1. It’s not just for amateurs with too much time on their hands. Blogging got a bad rap when too many people started blogging their brains out without citations, research, or letting facts get in the way of a good punch line. Now blogs are being used as a serious way to get your point across and to promote an organization’s mission.

2. Leaders need followers. Think of your blog as your leadership platform, as your way to reach your organization’s audience with your message.

3. It helps your reflect on your work and stay focused. Writing a blog entry requires that you clarify your position on something, that you think about what you want the public to know, and how you hope they will act with regard to your issue.

4. Organizations are the experts. Blogging helps you build your expert status. Eventually your name and organization will become recognized as a key mover on your issue.

5. If you don’t join the conversation, you won’t be in it. Because of the explosion of social media, there are folks out there talking about your issues. Make sure that your perspective is out there through a blog, otherwise, the conversation could go down another path.

6. Public visibility attracts money. Blogging will help you become known to potential donors, funders, and supporters.

7. Dialogue on an issue is healthy. When people are reading and responding to your blog posts, it generates fresh and dynamic debate. This helps move your work forward.

8. Blog a shout out - have a friend forever. If you appreciate what someone has done - a reporter, legislator, board member, give them praise through your blog. This will resonate not only with the person you thank, but will let the rest of the world know that you appreciate the efforts of your community.

9. The world needs to hear what you have to say - plain and simple. What if the world were a person and asked the question - How would you have me change? Your blog can provide the instructions.

10. Blogging is easy, fun, and free.

Changing the world? Start by Changing a Definition

2009-11-13T11:56:00.001-05:00

So, you want to change the world, eh? Social change is to many people like love - you know it when you feel it, but it's sometimes difficult to describe. Indeed, social change is complex, involving many interrelated people, organizations, concepts and policies. It can be difficult to define.

I find it essential to work within a framework, and one of the best that I’ve found is offered through The Center for Effective Philanthropy and and then applied through the Women's Funding Network. This framework conceptualizes social change as occurring on five interconnected levels, the first one being Changing the Definition of something.

I can’t think of a better way to begin than changing the definition of something, first in one person’s mind, and then in understanding of others. Indeed, for every social justice issues, it seems to begin here. Working on sexualized violence, for example, starts with redefining rape, learning the origins of the historical concepts of rape as a property crime against the men (either father or husbands) in a woman’s life. The redefinition emerges when we turn it around and realize that rape is an attack on the body, mind, and soul of the victim and is not the victim’s fault or responsibility. Working on issues of poverty begins when we redefine poverty through a lens of understanding society’s oppression. I’m convinced that this is where it starts.

So, how do we change the definitions of the issues that we address through our organizations and alliances? We can begin amongst ourselves but very quickly that becomes an exercise of cyclical ranting - the proverbial singing to the choir. What we really need is a means of changing definitions more broadly - by reaching the minds and hearts of the general public, policy makers, allies, families, educators.

I’m convinced that we can start here through an intentional campaign of telling the world. At Graphix for Change we utilize web-based tools to build and promote the expert status of organizations. Most organizations who work to help people affected by a problem are indeed the experts on the issue, but often don’t get the public recognition or credit for being the experts. Through a system of article marketing we take what organizations know about an issue and help you widely distribute it, by placing it on your website as well as numerous other sites. The result is a more informed public, with a redefined understanding of your issue, while at the same time, your status as an expert and leader in the area expands. Shift happens, let’s start shifting some definitions today.

Good Design is not a luxury for nonprofits, it’s a necessity

2009-11-09T12:33:00.001-05:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

At Graphix for Change, we do design and marketing for nonprofits. We also get it because we’ve been there. In my past lives as an employee of various not-for-profits, I’ve had the titles of Executive Director, Associate Director for this and that, Development Manager, Counselor, Community Educator...you get the idea. In each of my positions, I would tumble head-first into the classic dilemma that most non-profits face. Do we put our resources into the work or into telling people about our work? Do we spend money on people or printing? Website development or advertising? Can’t we get it donated? I’ve been on the other end of the phone when someone called to say they want to donate us a vacuum cleaner - that needs to be repaired - that uses bags that are discontinued. You can guess whether or not we accepted it...I realized finally that there has to be a line that we could easily cross where our efforts at cost savings actually cost us more, because we run the risk of not getting our message out, of not reaching those who really need our help, of not making the difference we set out to make.

We want to change the world and we take seriously our role as stewards of the resources, donated by individuals affected by the issue that we want to change, or granted to us through foundations and government sources that support us. So, I’m convinced that it’s just as important to pay attention to how our message is presented as to what the message is. Think about it, key things that we need to know are branded for a reason. It’s because there are ways that we as people take in information and then translate that information into action. A stop sign is a red hexagon with white letters, this is a logo for a brand that we no longer even think about, but it’s one of the first things we pay attention to when we’re driving. Apply this to how you’d like to change people’s behavior or the way our systems operate, and we’ve harnessed some serious social change potential.

The internet has become a place where not only can we post our information, but we can use it to interact with our clients, our donors, our supporters. When organizations begin to utilize their websites as more than a billboard or an electronic brochure, then we begin to engage with our friends and supporters in new ways, while we develop systems that support efficiency and interaction. Welcome to Web 2.0, nonprofit world. Let’s change some things together.

Taking The Plunge

2009-11-03T12:11:00.001-05:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to market their mission, in partnership with Graphix For Change. Carol is also the owner of Brandeur Marketing.

I took myself to the movies on Sunday, and saw "Whip It"...just me, myself and a bag of way-too-buttery popcorn. The cast was fantastic...think "Ocean's Eleven" on estrogen. Some of the smartest, funniest and hippest female actors out there, in a great ensemble story that left me feeling like I could easily take on the world.

What struck me as I left the theater was the delicious boldness of Drew Barrymore in her directorial debut. Never one to ask for permission, Ms. Barrymore has taken a story about grrrrl power and made it real. She had something to say, and she said it loudly, clearly and without a trace of self-consciousness. She took The Plunge and came up sparkling.

While I bought my ticket expecting to be entertained, I never expected to be inspired. But I was. It got me thinking about all the "plunges" we take in our lives. And what happens when we miss our opportunity to dive in. How many times have I wanted to say something, wanted to speak up, wanted to voice an opinion, and was held back by...anything.

Being in marketing, it's easy to take those plunges that everyone expects us to take. You have to put yourself out there for the big events, the fundraising campaign, the monthly newsletter, the networking. You've got a mission, and you know how to make some noise around it.

But what about those unexpected plunges, when you just have to dive in and make a statement? Scary stuff. Do it anyway. Say your piece. Speak your mind. Be your own hero.

Life is a collection of all those plunges you take, and the ones you let pass by. I'm diving in. See you in the deep end!

Using Keywords to Find Your Audience

2009-10-27T12:33:00.003-04:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to market their mission, in partnership with Graphix For Change. Carol is also the owner of Brandeur Marketing.

Want to attract the right people to your site? Then you've got to get into their minds and think like they do. This is especially true if your site caters to a specific audience or a niche market. Let's walk through a simple process that will really help you put a stake in the ground on finding your audience online.

1. Identify a "real person" in your audience.

First, you have to think like your audience. This can be a challenge, so bear with me and we'll walk through this together.

Get out a blank piece of paper and jot down a few typical "people" who might use your site. They might be survivors, advocates, volunteers, or family members. Make a list of at least three different "personas."

Got your list? Okay, spend a few minutes on each "persona" and flesh them out. Give them an age, a location, and a real reason for needing your agency's services. It can help if you base this on real life experience, so maybe think of some of your clients and how you've helped them.

2. Get in their brains

Now that you've identified your personas, it's time to start thinking like they do.

Imagine that you are the first "persona" on your list. What might you be thinking as you search for help or information? Keep in mind...these are real people, sometimes in crisis or a state of real need. They aren't necessarily well-versed in your industry's jargon or buzzwords. And they need what you offer.

Take a few minutes right now and jot down some of the search terms your personas might use. Remember, think like them. While your agency might offer "victim's assistance and advocacy" it's highly unlikely that your person in crisis is going to think in those terms. Instead, use the kind of language and wording that your audience is likely to use.

Think locally. If you serve the Boston area, include "Boston" in your search terms. There's no sense trying to reach an audience in San Francisco if you only offer local services.

3. Do a search

After you've identified a few key search terms for each persona, enter them into a search engine and look carefully at the results. Is your client likely to find the information they need? Is your agency in the search results? This can really be an eye opener for a lot of people, when they realize that they are not likely to be found by the people who really need them.

Once you've found a few key phrases that will bring the right people to your site, start using those terms in your site copy, especially in headlines, subheadings and article titles. This will help the search engines find your site and include it in their search results. And that will help your audience get the help they need...that's the key to all of it.

What do we really Need?

2009-10-27T09:55:00.001-04:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

What is is that we need?
I’ve been thinking alot about social services, their systems, rules, forms, processes, people, institutions, and all of it. I’m thinking about it alot now, not because of any academic or intellectual endeavor, but because I’m in the thick of it right now. Within the last month, stuff ... really big complicated stuff... happened in my family. The end result was the doubling of my family and household when we welcomed our niece and nephew into our home after the illness and death of their mom. So, here we were (and in many ways still are) in need as a family. But, of what, exactly, are we in need? We went to court and were told “you need to complete this stack of papers”. Okay we said, as we turned around to stand at the only counter we could find and began to fill out the forms seeking to be appointed as legal guardians. Then there was the endless instructions, you need to sit in this courtroom, no this one, no back to the first one. Then, at another agency we were told, “you need to fill out this form and bring this list of documents”. It went on like that - schools, health care organizations, state institutions. All the while they almost had me convinced. Maybe if I just focus on the forms, fill them all out correctly, bring the documents, pieces of paper, paper that proves that other paper exists. You get the idea. Then I stepped back for a minute because someone said to me, intending it as a compliment “oh, maybe you could be my guardian, you’re doing such a great job”. I think I hurt her eardrum when I kinda yelled “no, be my friend - there’s no paperwork and it’s what I really need”. It made me keep thinking about the difference between social change and social service. I’m convinced, now more than ever that what people need is not just a social service, but institutions, organizations, well-trained people, procedures that understand that we all bring ourselves and our real human needs to human service organizations. People aren’t sick, addicted, poor, victimized, isolated, disabled, uneducated, or oppressed because they lack social services, it’s because our social system lacks many of the things that people need. My problem is not that I lacked a service, it’s that my life, and the lives of these beautiful children have been altered, turned upside down, never to be the way they were. There’s good and bad in that. There’s change, sadness, joy, anxiety, trouble, transition, hope. All of it. So, I’ll stay committed to the systems change work and will never again look at a form, or a process, or a social service the same way that I did before.

The Ducks Are Hungry - How Article Marketing Works in a Crowd

2009-09-21T13:09:00.001-04:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to more effectively market their mission. She is the Words Girl at Graphix For Change, and owner/marketing consultant at Brandeur Marketing.

Like a flock of hungry ducks, online searchers will peck at any scrap they can find to get the right info. Throw them crackers. Write short articles about your area of expertise, and submit your articles to an article distribution service. It's how article marketing works to feed the ducks.

The ducks are hungry. And apparently they will eat anything. They've been hovering around my patio door, sounding highly annoyed that I'm not throwing bagel bits and bread crumbs their way.

They are almost frantic, swishing their bills through the damp grass, scarfing up whatever odd things they find.

I'm lucky enough to have a front row seat on Grand Traverse Bay at the moment, overlooking a sandy beach and a marsh full of waterfowl. I took a few days away to clear my head and get some writing done. And the ducks just wouldn't leave me alone.

Until...

The folks in the condo next door starting throwing crackers. Real, legitimate duck food. Now they are leaving behind the odd assortment of grass, bugs and who knows what at my door, and flocking over there for the bonanza.

The scene makes me think of online searchers, and their insatiable quest for information. You know how it happens; you enter a search term in Google or Yahoo! or one of the other search engines, and frantically peck at whatever scraps happen to come along in the search results. The problem is, some of it's edible; some of it is actually palatable; and some of it is not fit for human consumption. And when you do find a good source for reliable information, you go back again and again.

So how do you get your website or organization to be the "go to" source in your field? How do you get yourself in the first page of search results for those hungry ducks...er...potential visitors? It's as easy as throwing crackers.

Simply turn all that good info you already have (on your site, in your FAQs, in your ebooks, reports and white papers) into short (400-600 word) articles. Then distribute them, using a content or article distribution service. You simply enter the article once, and the article distribution service pushes it out to thousands of online publishers, editors, site owners and news groups. Your article gets widespread distribution, and keeps all those searching ducks well fed with palatable info.

The process is known as "article marketing", and it has an amazing lasting effect too. As you publish more and more good information, you become recognized as a leader in your industry. People will turn to you for dependable information, and not have to hunt so hard for the scraps out there.

I can see it happening already. The ducks have become bored and disappointed with my patio door, and keep returning back to the folks next door. The way returning customers, with their repeat business, will flock back to you for more good info. Doesn't that sound ducky?

Now, about those seagulls...

Marketing the Mission in a Web 2.0 World

2009-09-15T11:10:00.002-04:00

Carol Palmatier works with mission-based organizations to help them utilize Web 2.0 tools to more effectively market their mission. She is the Words Girl at Graphix For Change, and owner/marketing consultant at Brandeur Marketing.

Understaffed. Overworked. Dedicated to the cause, yet running on empty. When you work for social justice and social change, these emotions are all too familiar.

I was privileged to be a part of the National Sexual Assault Conference last week in Washington DC. There I met some truly amazing and inspiring people who are working to change the world. Not just in words or in lofty concepts, but right down on the ground. They are working to change the world and make it better place. They do this with the advocacy and services they provide for survivors. They also change how the world will look in the future, through education, prevention and policy initiatives.

These people are truly remarkable.

And they have a problem.

Almost everyone with whom I spoke had a common issue. These organizations working for social change have huge amounts of data, research and educational material in their possession. And yet they are struggling to get that information out to the people who really need it...the survivors, the people in crisis who don't know where to turn, as well as volunteers and donors who could support their work. In an age when access to any amount of information is literally at your fingertips, why is it so hard for these organizations to connect with the people they are desperately trying to reach?

Bring on Web 2.0

The solution, as it often is, is found where the problem lives. There is TOO much information available online, and much of it is myth, misconception and just plain garbage. Many of the people I spoke to lamented the fact that a survivor of sexual assault has to wade through page after page of utter dreck to find the real gems of help, wisdom and support. The answer? These organizations MUST be present on the Web and join in the discussion where it is happening.

Having worked in non-profits for many years, I might guess at what's going on in your mind right now. "Okay, fine, now you want me to add another whole set of tasks to my understaffed, overworked team. Are you serious?"

Um...yes. You have to.

The good news is you probably already have about 90 percent of what you need to make it happen. The other 10 percent is part planning, and part motivation. Let's look at an example:

Think of the last report you read about statistics or trends in your city. It probably contained at least 5,000 words about the issues your community is facing, and suggesting some ways to respond. Now think of the people you would most like to know this information. Is it potential donors? Volunteers? Granting organizations? Other community leaders?

Take a minute a really get a clear picture in your head of 1) what info you want to share and 2) who you want to share it with. Now take the next 20 minutes and rework a section of that report into a 500 word piece, written in your own words. (If the report was published by your own organization, even better...you can likely use much of the content as is without rewriting, since your organization already owns the copyright). Don't agonize over the writing itself. Rather focus on what you passionately want to say.

After you've drafted it, read through it again. Tweak it, give it a careful proofread, and save it. Don't worry about winning a Pulitzer Prize. Just make sure it's clear and readable, with good spelling and grammar.

Now go to your blog and post it. If your organization doesn't have a blog, ask someone in a similar agency to let you post it as a guest author in their blog, with a link back to your website. Tweet it. Update your status on Facebook and give people a link to the post. Send a copy of it via email to your contact list. Add it as an article in your next newsletter. Email it to the editor of your local paper.

Congratulations, you've just used Web 2.0 tools to market your mission, and help get crucial information to the right people. You've joined the discussion where it is happening. You've positioned yourself as a leader in your field. Most importantly, you've changed your corner of the world.

The conversation is happening all around us. Learn how to leverage the tools available and make the Web work for you. The World 2.0 is waiting for us.

Survivors of Sexual Violence have a Huge Stake in Health Care Reform

2009-09-09T20:35:00.001-04:00

It's Wednesday evening, a few minutes before President Obama's big speech on health care. I'm in my hotel room at the National Sexual Assault Conference. I can see a view of the Washington monument from my room and I spent the day talking to people who work in rape crisis centers, coalitions and policy organizations on sexual violence. Can't help but connect the dots to the issues of survivors of sexual violence and the stake that we all have in the health care issue.

Research findings are telling the story loud and clear. People who live through sexual assault, children who are sexually exploited have worse overall health over their lifetimes than the general population. By worse I mean the whole package. Survivors of sexual assault have higher incidences of cancers, cardio-vascular disease, gastrointestinal disease and nervous system disorders. For every major system in the body, the experience of sexual assault seems to heighten the odds and shorten the lives of survivors. For reasons that are yet to be fully understood, survivors of rape and other forms of sexual assault have a huge stake in this issue.

Health care, and access to the benefits of decent preventative and intervention treatment are indeed an issue for policy development as it relates to sexual assault survivors. Decent health care would include training and support for medical professionals to screen for and provide supported referrals to survivors. Training for technicians, surgeons, nurses, and social workers on the normal responses that survivors have to sexual assault and how to help support them through testing, surgery, recovery, and prevention would be a part of a comprehensive health care system that works for survivors.

For advocates in the movement to address sexual violence, it would mean program development and training so that we can support survivors as they access the health care system. It would mean learning to ask questions about a survivor's health status and developing programs that provide preventative and wellness options for survivors.

The health impact of sexual violence, if taken on as an issue within rape crisis centers, would be a visible and important issue, a next step for rape crisis centers. Our vision of recovery for survivors, as well as for whole and well communities must be informed by these issues. It's the logical and right next step for our work toward health.

The buzz about prevention

2009-09-03T22:59:00.001-04:00

The 80's called... and while they don't want their prevention work back, they'd just like some credit for the wisdom.

Reflecting on Jane Doe Inc.'s (The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence) series of capacity building gatherings on the prevention of sexual and domestic violence, I can't help but compare the conversations to those I was a part of in earlier days of the movement. Since 1984 I've been working in organizations, and now in partnership with organizations that are working toward an end to violence.

Then we had very little to go on except the burgeoning awareness within our communities. We also had lots of passion and we felt certain that if only we told enough people enough of the facts, if only survivors' stories were shared, then the awareness would motivate people to live violence-free lives and to join us in the fight. Now we have some tools, some research, and a theoretical framework that moves us beyond the awareness thing and into an actual model of prevention.

We're talking about changing individual behavior, improving relationships that support non-violence, changing laws and institutions, and changing society. Now there's language like social-ecological models, bystanders, community development. If you are working in an organization that is committed to prevention, it's definitely worth attending some of these trainings. They offer this framework and some language, and definitely some tools to use in your communities.

But, don't let yourself think that you're starting over. You see, we weren't wrong even back then. We in rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, community based organizations and coaliitons have been workng out of this model for decades now, perhaps with different language, but we have been working on comprehensive prevention strategies for a long time. While we welcome the influx of interest, the modest increase in resources, the evaluation data that helps us know where best to put our efforts, we deserve to honor what we have been doing all along and welcome this as an opportunity to stabilize our work and generate and secure new collaborators and partners in the work. Most important, we must enjoy the process of building our vision. For by describing the world and imagining a time when no one ever becomes the victim of sexual or domestic violence, we are the bold and daring change makers that our world needs. What if we worked on prevention AS IF we really believed it could be done. This, would change everything.

Is there an Economic Stimulus that would End Poverty?

2009-09-03T22:49:00.003-04:00

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

Graphix for Change recently designed Child Poverty in Massachusetts, A tale of two states. In this compelling report, Massachusetts Citizens for Children has pioneered new conversations and commitments toward addressing poverty, including in my home town, Springfield, Mass.

Download report here.

Seemingly endless is the news reporting on the proposed economic stimulus packages. Trillions of dollars being pumped into the financial system so that banks can start lending, businesses can stop laying off and start hiring, in general, so the world can keep turning. Please know, I'm as up for economic stimulation as the next person - I just can't ignore this sinking feeling that I'm having. I'll admit it, it's grown from a sinking feeling to an outright emotion. I knew for sure when I shouted at my television this morning - What about the Poor People???!!!

From everything that I've been seeing and reading, getting the economy back on track means getting back to some type of status quo, which for many many people is not a recovery at all, just a return to when things are bad rather than worse, our communities' poor. Statistically speaking, I live in a poor community. The media household income is around $26,000, the school system that educates my neighborhood's children graduates about 54% of its first year students. Foreclosures and vacant properties are disturbingly increasing. 36% of the children who live where I live are poor.

I also love my neighborhood. Most people at least nod, if not stop and have a conversation with people on the street. The old Victorian homes are beautiful and most have been painted with many colors and are graced with beautiful carpentry and craftsmanship. Our neighbors walk over and play cards or barbecue something for dinner. I can walk to locally owned restaurants and eat food that represents cuisines form around the world. There is a real effort at community as well as delightful successes at cross-cultural communication and friendships.

So, why do I feel that we're being left behind? Perhaps it's because of the assumption inherent in the economic solutions proposed that poverty is acceptable. In fact, no one that I see with a national visibility or level of media attention is saying anything at all about the necessity or desire to eradicate poverty. An economic stimulus package that really worked toward ending poverty would have to include some real efforts at the root causes of poverty. Local communities could receive funds to build and sustain real local grass roots efforts at ending the root causes of poverty. In my neighborhood and neighborhoods like mine, a goal of 100% graduation and 100% job training or college would be set with a full range of supports to make it happen. The focus on ending poverty would no longer be the "trickle-down" notion that has been the default strategy. Instead of expecting a few to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps", we would collectively expect all to fully participate.

Now, I'm not naive to think that there wouldn't be a consequence. First, we'd have to eliminate the threat of poverty as a punishment for mistakes and stock-market fluctuations. I'm looking for the day when the day's headline is something like: All Housed with Decent and Adequate Space to Live, or Children Go to School and Graduate...

Are You Holding Yourself Back??

2009-08-31T21:32:00.002-04:00

Carol Palmatier writes about marketing and personal branding, and is a frequent contributor to a number of industry blogs.

What beliefs are limiting your own life, your success, your relationships, your career? This Tony Robbins interview with Frank Kern and John Reese is an eye-opener.

Last December, I had the awesome opportunity to attend Date With Destiny in Orlando. What I learned there did change my life...when I allow it to! See, the funny thing is, as much as I learned and brought home from that event, I limited the power it could have in my life. The limits are insidious...often hidden, sometimes blatant and still surprising. A limiting belief can rob you of your success before you even begin. And we all have them.

This video interview with two Internet Marketing giants is a good reminder of how powerful these limiting beliefs can be. Everybody needs a wake up call now and again, and I got mine this morning.

If you're not a fan of Tony (yet), this is a good intro to what he's all about.

And it just might change your life before lunch. Enjoy!

The Zen of Personal Branding

2009-08-31T21:30:00.002-04:00

Carol Palmatier writes about marketing and personal branding, and is a frequent contributor to a number of industry blogs.

I hear voices in my head. Constantly. A never-ending stream of ideas, thoughts, words, writings, conversations. On every topic under the sun.

The voices criticize, cajole, inspire, chuckle, encourage, annoy…a melange of discordant ideas, like the episode in which Bugs Bunny conducted the symphony. You remember that one, right? Only Bugs Bunny is my brain, and seems intent on amping up the volume and making its own form of questionably joyful noise.

The funny thing is, I don’t think I am crazy. In fact, I think I’m a pretty normal gal. I believe that most smart, ambitious, goal-oriented people have these voices in their own heads, urging them on, criticizing their mistakes and pushing them forward.

(A little affirmation would be good here. You do have those voices, right?)

Blessedly, I’ve recently begun to learn how to quiet those voices for a time, and simply BE. Be quiet, be still, and observe those voices as an impartial party. It takes practice and effort to recognize the voices for what they are. And it takes no small amount of courage to turn off the noise too. What if this is my million-dollar idea waiting to be heard? What if I really need to learn what this voice is screaming to tell me?

Ssshhhh. Be still already.

What I’ve found in the stillness is precious. It’s the relief you get when that noisy punk kid neighbor finally turns off the Slayer. There’s a new found ability to focus and concentrate on the task. A new creative process takes over, in which the words flow and the thoughts are clear. Suddenly I’m speaking from a new place of truth and IS-ness.

The voice that says “there are other people who know more about this than I do” is replaced by the recognition that we are all learning on our journey. The voice that screams “don’t try that; you might fail” is nudged aside by the realization that success and failure are arbitrary self-imposed concepts.

Now the idea of “going out and marketing myself” becomes simple and conversational. Learning, sharing, growing…not blustering about how wildly amazing I am, or how my years of experience in the field have helped me leverage the….blah blah blah.

Engaging in the conversation is the essence of personal branding and marketing. No one’s asking you to know it all. In fact, who wants to be THAT guy? No one’s deciding you’re a failure or a success..well, no one except you and that Bugs Bunny in your head.

Relax. Be Still. Absorb the quiet. Then come out and introduce yourself to the world. Happy to meet you.

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Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized violence and is passionate about a vision of a movement that is inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

Graphix for Change recently designed Child Poverty in Massachusetts, A tale of two states. In this compelling report, Massachusetts Citizens for Children has pioneered new conversations and commitments toward addressing poverty, including in my home town, Springfield, Mass.

Download report here.

Are You Holding Yourself Back??

The Zen of Personal Branding

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