Award Winning Blog

Human vs. Machine

We humans built the machines so the “vs.” doesn’t properly credit our maker status bona fides. Having said that, machine is often much faster and yes, better. Here’s another instance that feels pretty close to home. This experiment used professional copywriters to draft ad campaign copy, 100 words or fewer, for an NGO for four […]

Learn More January 10, 2024

The New Acquisition: Don’t Miss out in 2024

One of the eternal mysteries here at the Agitator is why so many fundraisers ignore the issue of donor retention in favor of obsessive focus on donor acquisition. They’re whistling past the graveyard of declining acquisition returns and rising costs. Even back in 2012 when we launched the three-year study of donor behavior that led […]

Learn More January 8, 2024

When is Less More?

Facebook is nothing if not obsessed with users using the app more frequently and for longer durations. App notifications are like crack for this hamster wheel and so the idea of sending fewer seems anathema. But this is exactly what their data science team did because user satisfaction surveys showed a preference for fewer notifications. […]

Learn More January 5, 2024

People Don’t Give Because We Ask

Just those first few notes and I’m transported to 1981 and formative years, memories and emotions. It creates a physical response, those music chills. Journey’s, Don’t Stop Believin’ is iconic for me but here’s the paradox: you only hear the music because Journey plays, but you don’t feel the connection because they play. You feel […]

Learn More January 3, 2024

Still Need A New Year’s Resolution?

Here are some possibilities, courtesy of Seth Godin … Insulate yourself from anonymous angry people Expose yourself to art you don’t yet understand Precisely measure the results that are important to you Stay blind to the metrics that don’t matter Fail often Ship Lead, don’t manage so much Seek out uncomfortable situations Make an impact […]

Learn More January 1, 2024

Best of 2023: Just Make Sure They Spell My Name Right

Phineas T. Barnum, the 19th-century American showman and circus owner, reportedly said, “I don’t care what they say about me; just make sure they spell my name right.” It’s a great line and often, it’s true. Exposure to the brand increases awareness and it tends to accrue to the positive. We’re predisposed to have a […]

Learn More December 29, 2023