What’s In a Blogroll?
Well, it turns out blogrolls can be like the vegetable crisper in your refrigerator … some fresh looking, appetizing, recognizable stuff on the top, and some soft, liquefying, long-forgotten stuff at the bottom (what is that gook and what was I thinking?!).
At least that’s what we found when The Agitator set about ‘refreshing’ our own blogroll recently.
We were prodded to do so by the vigilant Marcella Vitulli at EveryAction, who dared to open our ‘crisper’ and was overcome by signs of decay! And she politely let us know. It was a humbling experience, like when your Mom or mother-in-law checks out your fridge.
Anyway, Roger and I put on our rubber gloves, got the eco-friendly sanitizer, and cleaned out the drawer.
We threw away almost half the limp and dead stuff (sorry if that was yours), kept the sources we check with some regularity (mostly we live off of automatic feeds), and added — as I recall — only three new veggies.
Much cleaner and user-friendly. Now, if you visit our blogroll, you’ll be seeing the best there is … plenty of sound nutrition.
That said, don’t hesitate to let us know if some fruit or veggie you regard as absolutely vital to a healthy fundraiser’s diet is missing. Keep in mind that, just having gone through the purging exercise, we will be quite fussy about over-filling the drawer again … at least quickly.
So, unless forty or fifty readers clamour for Dan’s Gourmet Organic GE-free Parsnips, they won’t be getting added.
Seriously, take a look at our refreshed blogroll. Does it meet your brainfood needs?
Tom
P.S. Or should we just bag the blogroll, on the theory that everyone now gets their brainfood freshly delivered each day la carte via e-newsletters and feeds?
P.S.S. Thanks Marcella … we needed that prod!
8 responses to “What’s In a Blogroll?”
Behavioral Science Q & A
Integrating an individual giving appeal with other communications from a charity can have both positive and negative effects, and the outcome largely depends on how it’s executed. Advantages of Integration Brand Consistency: Maintaining a consistent appearance and messaging across all communications can reinforce the org’s brand identity and strengthen brand recognition and trust among your […]
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I’m not aware of any in-market tests specifically comparing recurring vs. gift frequency language. I suspect the answer might not be the same with all gift frequencies, nor with all people. It sounds like a great opportunity for you to test and find out what works for your audience. Based on the literature, here’s a couple […]
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Based on what we know from existing data, those renewal notices can actually be pretty effective in getting people to donate. They tap into our psychology – creating a sense of urgency, reminding us of past support, and using personalization to make the message hit home. They’re playing on our natural tendencies to feel obligated […]
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I’m not an expert in this but a quick search surfaced this article on the effect of tax reforms on 2019’s charitable giving. The researchers didn’t find a reduction. Actually, they observed an “increase in charitable contributions in 2019, even with the lower tax rates and the dramatically smaller number of taxpayers who itemize their […]
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Whew! Thanks for keeping my blog on your list! Happy to see it made the cut! 🙂
Hey Tom and Roger. I think my much older blog was listed there (which was indeed, rotten and now, long gone) but I am hoping that our current blog at agentsofgood.org – a blog that is filled with practical direct marketing advice, occasional rants and other #donorlove thinking, can once again, make the cut. Thank you!
I can’t live without Nonprofit with Balls — sometimes light, sometimes serious, sometimes both, and always worth reading. http://nonprofitwithballs.com/
Love the blogroll, and honored to be included! I read most of these, but I see I’ve a few to check out! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Now I really have to get that website update by 2017 (see it before it’s gone, a relic of the past!). I love you guys. Thank you. I will aim, every day, to live up to your praise.
p.s. Good readings also from my kick-butt sisters in fundraising arms Mary Cahalane, http://mcahalane.com/blog/, and Sheena Greer, http://colludo.ca/journal/.
Thanks for including me! I started blogging in 2002 and always trying to keep it fresh …
Thank you, Lisa! And Tina, I second Vu’s blog. He’s amazing! And yes please to the Agents. Especially if anyone wants to see how to do annual reports right. I go back there again and again.
I’ve always been afraid of a blog roll, because I *know* I will forget someone important. Probably silly reasoning, right? But if I ever take the leap, Agitator will for sure have a starring role! Thank you both.
Honored! Thanks guys.
I second the inclusion of Mary, John Lepp, and Nonprofit With Balls. Great stuff!