Strategic planning and branding are different—but one sets the stage for the other. And the other supports it right back. Today, I’m going to define each and discuss how they ideally and effectively work together. How can your organization get the most out of their relationship? Let’s dive in. What is strategic planning? Strategic planning…
The latest trends in technology offer so many possibilities for growth to nonprofit organizations. That’s one of the reasons I attended the Nonprofit Technology Conference March 3-6, 2015 in Austin. But I also went for the professional development, networking, and a lot of fun along the way. Here’s one top tip from each session I attended…
Let’s say your nonprofit is going through a rebranding, and it’s time to review logo options from your designer or design firm. The ensuing discussion can easily become derailed and devolve into a subjective discussion of who likes blue and who hates orange. It’s important to move beyond personal judgements to ensure you end up…
The terms brand, identity, and logo can be can be difficult to distinguish. They mean different things, and I for one have been guilty of using them interchangeably. And if the brand strategist/designer is doing it, I know others may be muddled too. Let’s figure out the differences between these potentially confusing terms. 1. Logo…
[this article first appeared in the DMA Nonprofit Federation Journal, September 2014] People are passionate about brands they feel connected to, and that doesn’t just apply to consumer products like cars, coffee and yoga clothes – it’s relevant to nonprofit brands too. Loyalty is the holy grail of branding, as it can lead directly to…
If you know anything about me, you know that whenever I am not working, I am outdoors – hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, camping, taking long walks with the dogs (my self-proclaimed motto is “I brake for trailheads”). So it goes without saying that when I moved to Indiana about six months ago, almost every weekend…
At Stone Soup Creative, we believe every great website starts with an organized, authentic, goal-based approach. Style tiles are a powerful tool in the initial steps of web design. Here’s an excerpt from my recent article for Nonprofit MarCommunity, How to Create Style Tiles for Web Design in 3 Easy Steps: Wouldn’t it be great…
Creating an annual report is never an easy endeavor. Here are 3 tips to make the process a little easier, a little faster, and a little more budget-friendly. 1. Make it Shorter Direct mail isn’t dead yet. For many groups, printing and mailing an annual report is still relevant. It makes donors feel good to…
Here are words of wisdom for the next generation (tips I shared with Millennials at the Behance Portfolio Review in Indianapolis), and how they translate for the rest of us. 1. Learn Before you Leap Next generation: I went off on my own too soon, and had to learn everything on my own. If I…
It’s the week after the Super Bowl and the internets have been slathered in commentary about Puppy Bowl X and Budweiser’s cute new Puppy Love commercial. Since I love my dogs (and all my animals!) so much – and I’m a sucker for the groups fighting for their welfare – this month’s topic is easy:…
