Websites, social media, newsletters, fundraising communications. Compelling, strategic content isn't an option. It's required. How do you to take a holistic view of your content strategy and make what you say stand out in your readers' minds?

1. Content Writing Boot Camp

2. Content Writing Boot Camp Content Writing Boot Camp for the Nonprofit Websites, social media, newsletters, fundraising communications. Compelling, strategic content isn't an option. It's required. How do you to take a holistic view of your content strategy and make what you say stand out in your readers' minds? Roll up your sleeves. This is a hands-on workshop. Trainers: Paul Weber, EAG President Laura Lake, VP Client & Interactive Services Brenda Galloway, Director of Content

3. Our Plan for the Morning Before we write, we must differentiate our nonprofit – in just 3 words Finding your words and building on your promise Implementation (Social Media, Strategic Keywording, etc.)

4. Who is EAG? Full-service agency serving small business & nonprofits Advertising, Creative, Online & Education Kauffman Foundation FastTrac, UMKC Small Business Center and other small business incubators Nonprofit experience Capital campaign consulting firms Giving Institute & Giving USA Foundation School districts, start-ups, social service agencies & more Board members and volunteers

5. Why do we need to write?

7. They know what works and what doesn’t work

9. Words alone are not enough to drive action Understand the customer (donor) and their emotion Offer value in exchange for their time, gift, attention Targeted messages offer much better results Measure and monitor performance Big brands focus on relationships Follow the Behaviors of Big Brands

10. Brand Positioning & Powerful Words

11. Establish a Brand Position The words we use tell us a lot about a brand.

12. Living a Brand Position

13. Establishing a Brand Position Positioning creates distinction and choice. Yes, donors have similar options and choices.

15. Does everyone know it and understand it?

16. Spread the word among the board, staff, volunteers, donors, constituents

18. Helps you “compete” when fundraising from “casual donors”

19. Helps expand awareness of your mission

20. People remember causes – you want them to remember you!

21. Good

22. “I give to the arts”

23. Better

25. Use your 3-words, 3-sentences in your message

26. Simple concepts & simple phrases

27. We see over 8,000 messages a day

28. Repetition increases memory

30. A Case Study in Development The Challenge: Develop Purpose, Mission & Vision Honor the past but recognize a significantly changing membership and structure Consider all the internal constituents Use as many of the keywords and phrases accumulated in board attempts to develop the message

31. A Case Study in Development Our Voice Cannot Always be Heard Our voice, loud and proud, will speak to our history of service to mankind. (Honor the past 100 years & Service to Mankind) Our voice, brave and determined, will speak of the past in reverence but look toward the future with anticipation. (Recognize that significant changes are coming)

32. A Case Study in Development Our voice is heard in harmony; the harmony of individuals coming together to create a community. (What were once clubs, may now become communities) Our voice is one of conviction and strength, the attributes of leaders. (A transition of purpose; leadership development) Our voice is one of empathy and compassion, a beacon for those who wish to serve. (Calling to individuals who want to serve, not necessarily join) Our voice cannot always be heard. For those who cannot hear, there is Sertoma. (And the mission, hearing heath, never changes)

33. Brand Positioning What are your three words? Would your board agree? Would your constituents understand?

34. The Importance of Three Little Words

36. Make it immediately recognizable in the community

37. Serve as the root of all communications

38. Act as your unique rally cry

39. Keep your message on track no matter who’s writing it

40. Reflect your organization’s stability

42. Southwest Uses Their Words

43. Komen.org Uses Their Words

44. The Worksheet List three words that best encompass your organization’s cause, mission and results: 1. 2. 3. Develop a sentence detailing your three words: 1. 2. 3. Create paragraphs expanding on your sentences: 1. 2. 3.

46. Think of your mission

48. Will your supporters understand immediately?For example: 1. strong kids 2. strong families 3. strong communities

49. Building on Your Promise Step 1: Write a sentence detailing each of your “key” words. Step 2: Share your sentences. Get feedback in the form of questions. For example: 1. Nurturing the potential of every child and teen. 2. Improving the nation's health and well-being. 3. Giving back and providing support to our neighbors.

50. Filling in the Details Step 1: Share your sentences. Step 2: Partners give feedback in the form of questions that the sentences left unanswered and vague. These are the questions you’ll answer next. For example: 1. How does the Y nurture children? 2. What do you offer to promote family health? 3. How does the community benefit exactly?

51. Almost There… Last step: Address the questions in a paragraph for each of your “key” words. For example: 1. We believe the values and skills learned early on are vital building blocks for life. Because of the Y, more young people in neighborhoods around the nation are taking a greater interest in learning and making smarter life choices. At the Y, children and teens learn values and positive behaviors, and can explore their unique talents and interests, helping them realize their potential. That makes for confident kids today and contributing and engaged adults tomorrow. 2. Being healthy means more than simply being physically active. It’s about maintaining a balanced spirit, mind and body. The Y is a place where you can work toward that balance by challenging yourself to learn a new skill or hobby, fostering connections with friends through our lifelong learning programs, or bringing your loved ones closer together through our many family-centered activities. At the Y, it’s not about the activity you choose as much as it is about the benefits of living healthier on the inside as well as the outside. 3. The generosity of others is at the core of the Y’s existence as a nonprofit. It is only through the support of our hundreds of thousands of volunteers and public and private donors that we are able to support and give back to the communities we engage—summer food programs, social services, global services, volunteerism & giving and advocacy.

52. Strategic Implementation

53. Strategic Implementation Now that the foundation is laid and you have your Brand Position Your Words Audience Understanding Let’s focus on the development of your content strategy and how it impacts your marketing.

54. Understand the Power of Content Content is a Force Multiplier for Social Media Search Marketing Public Relations

55. Social Media Impact Content Fuels Social MediaWithout content, social media is a sports car with an empty gas tank: All show, no go

56. Search Marketing Impact Content Wows Your Search Engine Marketing Efforts Keyword-rich content and inbound links have historically been the one-two punch of good search engine marketing strategies, but that has changed! Search engines now award you with higher rankings if you produce high quality content.

57. Public Relations Impact Content Drives Public Relations Your ability to create fresh content around the needs of donors and prospects has become more valuable to your PR efforts than a general announcement.

58. There is Always a Need for Content You need content for: Newsletters Websites Donor Appeals Thank You Letters and more….. It’s never ending and probably feels like you are filling bottomless buckets

59. As If That Weren’t Enough… Let’s add some more buckets – Blog Facebook Twitter YouTube Google+ Who Has Time?

60. Your Content Strategy Can Be Manageable Creating and following a content strategy can be overwhelming – but it does work and can help in reaping substantial marketing benefits. Let me show you how to create a manageable strategy by chunking your content strategy into 3 Phases: Phase 1 – Think Ahead – Get OrganizedPhase 2 - Squash Writers Block and Generate Ideas Easily Phase 3 – Utilize Social Media to Help Drive Content

62. Which channels?

63. How often?

64. Organize Your Thoughts Use category folders to help keep your thoughts and ideas organized, being organized helps ease the process of content creation. Sample categories might include: Fact sheets Web pages News Photos Videos

65. Tagging and Category Tools Use virtual tools to help you and speed up the process. My favorite tools for tagging, keeping track of notes and creating categories include: Delicious.com (Social bookmarking service - discover, save, organize and share information) Evernote.com (Virtual software used for note-taking) Webnotes.net (Highlight text and add sticky notes to web pages)

66. Content Schedule Create a content schedule – but be realistic. Don’t set a schedule that you know is unattainable. It will only leave you frustrated. Will you draft new content quarterly, monthly or weekly?

67. Organize Your Calendar Organize your calendar by: Channel (Web / Mobile / Email / Print / Television) Audience Program Format (Text / Video / Photos / Presentations)

68. Content Calendar Use a Content Calendar – It doesn’t have to be sophisticated. It helps when it comes to staying organized with your content.

69. Content Calendar Example

71. Like to Do

72. Ok to BumpGive yourself flexibility!

73. Where Do the Ideas Come From? You’ve created your calendar, you’ve listed the channels and you’ve marked items that are a priority – but where do the content ideas come from?

74. Idea Generating Exercises That Work Brainstorm Mind Mapping Tickler / Pending File (Use those tagging and category tools) Stories Old Archives (Content recycling rule – for every piece of content you recycle you must create two new pieces) Web and Email Analytics – (This data will show you what people looking)

75. When All Else Fails… Use outside resources – Social Media Listening Tools(SocialMentions.com, Google Blog Search, Google Alerts, Twendz) Surveys Content Aggregators(AllTop.com is my favorite) Mainstream Media Headlines Trade News

76. If You Are Still Stuck… Think in terms of – Lists How To’s Review Tips Question and Answer Interviews Opinion Pieces

77. Get Help! Do you really have to generate all of the content yourself? Why not consider using contributors? Guest Columnists Experts Board Members Clients Donors

78. Lay the Groundwork with Contributors If you use contributors – lay the groundwork by: Making your expectations clear Spell out the process step-by-step Build in a cushion of time – you’ll be glad you did.

79. Utilize Social Media How does social media fit into the content mix? Social media is the marriage of content and conversation.

80. Conversations Can Become Content Conversations can be made into content by: Highlighting trending topics Publishing Q & As Summarize Debates

81. Social Media Drives Content Use social media to drive content by: Asking questions Soliciting feedback from your followers Refining your content ideas based on comments that you receive.

82. How the Content Strategy Pieces Fit Together Keep a clear and workable plan, collect ideas and data, write your content or get others to help. Implement and allow content to serve as a force multiplier for you in social media, search marketing and public relations. Ideally – try to create 1 new piece of content weekly. It’s a start – the more you do it, the easier it gets!

83. Summary Slide - TBD Establish a concise brand position Use it consistently so all understand Implement so that content serves as the force multiplier for you.

84. For the full presentation and handouts go to: www.SmallBusinessMiracles.com/Writing Please call or email with questions. Paul Weber Pweber@smallbusinessmiracles.com Brenda Galloway Bgalloway@smallbusinessmiracles.com Laura Lake Llake@smallbusinessmiracles.com 816.842.0100