Ten Things Your NonProfit Website Should Have

Published by AYN Brand | Filed under Branding, How To, NonProfits

The nonprofit sector can be just as competitive as the business sector, with a vast number of worthy organizations vying for the same resources in a potentially tapped, burned out, dwindling pool. As a nonprofit professional, you just can’t put information out and expect donors and volunteers to come knocking. Your organization’s marketing efforts - and especially its website - need to quickly and effectively engage people and inspire them to take action.

To accomplish your nonprofit organization’s goals, here are are ten things your website should have in order to immediately grab a reader’s attention and successfully motivate them to support your organization:

1. Clear, intuitive navigation. Your website should be organized to immediately appeal to and easily be understood by the people who visit your website. Your audience is looking for more information about what you do, why they should care, and how they can help. If it’s difficult for them to find that information, they may get frustrated; and peace of mind is just one simple browser/tab close away.

2. A visible “Donate” button for people ready to give. Don’t be afraid to ask for donations on your website. People are visiting your site to find out why and how to support you: make it as easy as possible for them to do so.

Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

Published by AYN Brand | Filed under Business

As entrepreneurs and business owners, sometimes we get so mired in the day-to-day, the paperwork, the duties and responsibilities, that we forget who we really are. We are the makers of music and the dreamers of dreams. Remember: no matter how small the task, no matter how mundane the errand, you are making progress. You are building something great. You are the change you wish to see in the world.

Our mission at AYN Brand is to help you build that “something great” by helping you develop an identity, culture, and community in the marketplace, successfully and sustainably. In this recession, we believe it’s even more important to advocate for corporate social responsibility, and to lead by example in embracing the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profits. Yes, we can have it all, as long as we make informed, balanced decisions with the ultimate goal of long-term viability. If you’d like to join us in this mission, please join our “threeps” group on Ning.

We’ve seen what happens to People and Planet when companies focus solely on Profits; and we know what happens to companies when they don’t focus on Profits at all. In both cases, they fail. People lose jobs. Entrepreneurs lose livelihoods. We must stop losing…in every sense. How do YOU think we can end this losing streak?

SWAMP Salon : Social Media & Web 2.0 for Independent Filmmakers

Published by AYN Brand | Filed under Branding, How To, Social Media, Workshops

I love film, both as an audience member and as a participant. (One of AYN Brand’s recent clients was “Owl and the Sparrow,” which premiered at AMC theaters in Houston last weekend.)  So when Michelle Mower of SWAMP (SouthWest Alternate Media Project) asked me to teach a free workshop on Social Media for Filmmakers at the Rice University VADA Theater (Media Center), I  jumped at the opportunity to support independent filmmakers by helping them learn:

• What are Web 2.0 and Social Media?
• How can I use them to brand my company and myself and establish an online presence?
• How can I use them to develop projects and distribute content?
• How can I use them to engage audiences and create a loyal fan base?

Through research for the workshop, I found a few excellent examples at PowertothePixel and Variety on how other indie filmmakers were tapping into the Long Tail for their fans’ financial support. These innovators used social media tools like IndieGoGo and ChipIn to crowdsource funding for their projects. They used social networks like Facebook and Twitter to connect with audiences and build interest and buzz for their films from concept to script to production to release … building communities online that led to loyal fans who later purchased tickets and DVDs.