Award-Winning Blog


Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore

July 4th,  the day to celebrate and remember what America’s all about. On this fraught-filled, future-fearing  July 4th I sure as hell hope we’re all taking the remembering seriously. Because Agitator’s mission focuses on direct response fundraising, I’ll forego the usual patriotic platitudes.  Instead for Independence Day 2022 I’m invoking the memory and wisdom of […]

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Fundraising Silver Bullet

It’s almost free to do and can raise a lot more money without asking for it more.  That’s as close to silver bullet as one can get. What’s the one thing that created this much lift?  Asking for feedback about the online giving experience.  That’s it.   You get lift from those who give feedback plus […]

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How to Fundraise Like a Big Mac Marketer

Old school Big Mac marketers would sell a Big Mac… By hiring an agency to come up with a clever, “emotional” ad.  Like this one. This ad would be shown to the McDonald’s rewards customers in email and on social. It would be aimed at anyone on mobile doing a search for “fast food near […]

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Everything is Impacting Everything

From real estate to the stock market, to energy, to technology, to politics to fundraising the Pandemic/Supply Chain/Ukraine/Inflation Virus is wreaking havoc. This is certainly the case where direct response –both direct mail and digital—is concerned. Massive shortages of envelopes and paper with prices going up and availability still down. Significant production delays and bottlenecks.  […]

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When Getting Their Attention is Bad

Getting the attention of your supporter in an uber-cluttered world seems like a win.  And certainly a donor’s ignoring the Crate & Barrel promotional discount email to process your appeal email is a big plus. But, what about the attention within your email?  Might some content get their attention and make them less likely to […]

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How to Raise Money Without Asking for It

Ask for money, get money.  If only it were that simple.  The conversion rate with human beings on your donation form is under 20%.   That’s a lot of missing dollars from people needing something other than another ask to convert.  Enter the donor experience. [Calling all digital marketers, register for the free learning session on […]

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