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An obsession turning into reality
Community Building Epiphanies
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Fri 21 Dec 2012, 08:12 pm |
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A rule for blog writers to avoid is to talk “about yourself.” To be interesting, talk about the person you’re talking to. But “what the hell”. I’m excited about something we’re doing so I’m going to throw it out there anyway. Back in October... Keep Reading
5 tips to avoid the classic mistakes in social media
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sat 21 Jul 2012, 04:28 pm |
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To cut to the chase, the 5 tips might surprise you, because they have little to do with using Facebook or mastering Twitter. It's a short list of the things I've observed to be the real barriers to even getting started with social media – you can se... Keep Reading
When communications get lost in translation
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sun 01 Jul 2012, 08:12 pm |
A favourite film of mine is Sofia Coppola's 2003 'Lost in Translation' starring Bill Murray. I won't get into the plot but, typical of Bill Murray movies, people either love it or hate it. In a sense it underlines a theme of the movie ... Keep Reading
Get out more and enjoy the freedom
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sat 23 Jun 2012, 08:12 pm |
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At the beginning of this year I wrote a blog post 'The pressure is on in 2012 for social enterprise and fundraising'. I predicted the realities of receding big ticket fundraising (typically money from grants and Government) would hit many ... Keep Reading
Why? Good marketing hinges on just one word
Community Building Epiphanies
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Mon 09 Apr 2012, 08:12 pm |
A friend reminds me constantly that my favourite utterance is "serendipity". I guess it's because I'm so often struck by occurrences which seem to suddenly converge around a great truth or idea. An example. A recent discussion ... Keep Reading
Commitment and discipline is more important than ever in communications
Community Building Epiphanies
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Tue 20 Mar 2012, 08:12 pm |
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I made the effort last night to put in an appearance at my gym for a bit of overdue exercise. I find that if I make a regular effort I can maintain a healthy level of fitness and if I put in even more effort, I can even increase my fitness fairly easily... Keep Reading
Why genuine creative thinking beats group thinking
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sat 25 Feb 2012, 06:33 pm |
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Frank Capra once said, “a hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” The ability to problem solve is critical for most organisations and businesses, and I offer my 4 thoughts on how to achieve it for your organisation. It might ... Keep Reading
Dating can be tough for poor communicators
Community Building Epiphanies
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Wed 22 Feb 2012, 08:12 pm |
A good recent post in Katya’s non-profit Marketing Blog reminded me of an episode from my past. Some years back I did a period of part-time tutoring at my old alumni, Massey University. Every week I would trundle myself off to a thoroughly ... Keep Reading
Little Nosh supermarket draws PR clanger from grocery giants
Community Building Epiphanies
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Wed 08 Feb 2012, 08:12 pm |
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A small supermarket chain Nosh threw a good marketing move on its competition this week by announcing a cut in its price on milk for this month – down to $2 from $4 on a two-litre bottle. Nosh claimed as motivation a concern about ... Keep Reading
Charities have little to fear and everything to gain from social media
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sun 05 Feb 2012, 08:12 pm |
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In the days when I could run any distance I tended to be a plodding marathon runner, rather than a sprinter - in my mind if not in fact. It always seemed to me that there should not necessarily be a big hurry to get somewhere, .. Keep Reading
How to put a price on a product or service
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sun 29 Jan 2012, 08:12 pm |
The value of something, and therefore the price we’re prepared to pay for it, is in the mind’s eye. I thought about this as I happily paid my $4.50 for trim Latte at Gotham last week. Back at the office I offered my next guest a coffee, tea (all kinds) or juice. “Water will be fine, thanks” was the response. Why is it that we choose to pay for some Keep Reading
Brand is a fundamental issue for effective not-for-profit organisations
Community Building Epiphanies
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Mon 23 Jan 2012, 08:12 pm |
I dropped in to see a friend last week at his communications agency. Mark told me that his agency was doing much less ‘brand development’ work these days “because so many organisations don’t rate its importance as much as they once did.” The next day I attended a meeting with a fundraising charity head and a fundraising expert. I raised questions a Keep Reading
The pressure is on in 2012 for social enterprise and fundraising
Community Building Epiphanies
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Tue 10 Jan 2012, 08:12 pm |
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Welcome to 2012 and I hope you have a happy and prosperous year. But I’m worried about the year ahead for many of our most precious organisations – our charities and community organisations. Yes we know times are still tough. But wars, famines and financial depressions have historically thrown up some dramatic examples of innovation and change. Ne Keep Reading
Selling your cause to the public
Community Building Epiphanies
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Thu 17 Nov 2011, 08:22 pm |
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Today is a good day, one that I know I'll really enjoy. That's because I'm delivering a workshop to a Fundraising Institute (FINZ) learning day. As the heading suggests, it's about "Selling your cause to the public." When I say I'm "delivering a workshop" I prefer to think that I get to stand in front of the room and talk as little as possible. Of Keep Reading
If you're communicating, first have an idea
Community Building Epiphanies
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Sun 06 Nov 2011, 10:17 pm |
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American inventor and TV personality, Ken Hakuta, once said, "Lack of money is no obstacle. Lack of an idea is an obstacle." It’s a quote I often give to charities desperately looking for new and reliable ways to raise funds. So where have all the ‘obstacle breaking’ ideas gone in communications? They’re still out there but seem to be much thinner Keep Reading