Most of us know that pro bono is a phrase derived from Latin meaning “For the public good”. In certain sectors, like the legal profession doing pro bono work is quite common. The same for the charitable sector. I have always done quite a lot of pro bono work because I find it rewarding to…
DetailsI know my lot in life. I am a designer. I am a graphics communicator. But, I have a beef. A branding beef to be clear. At the risk of offending, well, pretty much every charity I work with, please stop killing me with your “brand”. Too many charities have been told by too many…
DetailsThis falls into the “Passing along great information” category. From the September 5th, Donor Power Blog posting: 7 surprising facts about direct-response fundraising: 1. Blank carrier envelopes usually out-perform envelopes with teasers. 2. Longer letters perform better. Usually. There are exceptions. 3. The most-read part of a fundraising letter is the P.S. 4. Typos improve…
DetailsMy three and a half year old son registered for Junior Kindergarten. Inspired by the earnest communication style of Mason’s new teacher, here are some simple rules about creating engaging, dynamic and meaningful direct response copy. #5: Show AND tell. Use stories, testimonials and eye contact to illustrate your message. Stories connect us to each…
DetailsI know, you probably hear it all the time but I don’t see charities trying it enough anymore. I know money is tight but you should constantly be testing something to see what your donors respond to and what they don’t respond to. Testing is most common with direct mail but take a cue from…
DetailsWhat is “Good Design”? To this designer, good design is well-researched, appropriate, methodical, concise and thought provoking. The first thing I do with new clients – is research. Who are they? Who is their audience? What sorts of challenges do they have? Who are their competitors? How are their competitors better than them – or…
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