The press is dead, long live the press!

“It’s not a good time to be talking about press and public relations” says Heather Maitland in the opening salvo of the latest JAM(1), but then goes on to do just that. And quite rightly too. The problem it seems is over saturation (read competition) and it has always been thus: proprietors were complaining of […]

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Ready for the off: Gift Aid claiming goes digital

From the end of September Gift Aid Claims will be different. The current R68(i) form will be no more and you will have to submit using one of 3 options: Complete on-line forms with attached spreadsheet (up to 1,000 claims per submission, but as many submissions as you like); Submit from your database on-line [direct […]

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Magnificent Maps at The British Library

A new, free, exhibition opens on April 30th at The British Library called Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art, running until September 19th, it brings together some of the most impressive wall maps ever created – some of which have never been exhibited before. Why are maps so fascinating? I just find myself being able […]

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Day 2: Ask for donations

Most Trustees would like to raise money simply by broadcasting how great their cause is, how great their need is, and then waiting for donations to roll in. However, even the best newsletters and media articles don’t raise much money. Asking people directly and passionately raises money, and there’s no shortcut to this. However, stopping […]

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Day 14: Keep going!

Enthusiasm and motivation are the best habits fundraisers can have.  Schedule some time daily to create your enthusiasm habit; here are five things you can try: If you haven’t come across it yet, make time to read Hildy Gottlieb’s article, The Sound a Thank You Makes.  Try putting her concept into practice and regularly spend some […]

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AMA Conference 2014

It’s the first morning at the AMA conference in Bristol. At the Watershed, temperature climbing, no air con except an open window and some fans. But we are set up and waiting for the rush. […]

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British Library unveils UK Web Archive

The British Library has unveiled an archive of UK websites (full story) to prevent a black hole. The project has been running since 2004 and aims to avoid “a digital black hole in UK web history”. One of the problems they face is copyright. They hope that Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 will be extended […]

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Being much more personal

I just read a short, but great blog from  Adam Thurman on the Mission Paradox and following on from my blog the other day about email marketing seemed very timely. The one bit that says it all: “If I say the word “marketing” and all you think about is ads or Facebook you are thinking too […]

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Up Close and Personal

“By the end of 2012 there will be more connected devices than people on Earth”: the first sentence of Heather Maitland‘s article really kicks off The latest edition of JAM is a very timely look at mobile marketing. A host of excellent articles that build up to the final one (well it’s in the middle […]

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When technology succeeds

This is a quote that we used in out original brochure, it was true then, it’s true now. “IT (information technology) is both the cause of problems and the source of solutions, but is not the magic touchstone. Its implementation is by people, its utilisation is by people, the ultimate arbiters of success or failure, […]

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What is a QR code?

What is a QR Code? So you may have heard that QR Codes are set to become the ‘next big thing’ but thinking to yourself, what is a QR Code!? QR or Quick Response Codes are a type of two-dimensional barcode that can be read using smartphones and dedicated QR reading devices, that link directly […]

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Very useful infographic explaining browser trends

Just stumbled upon this infographic today and thought I would share it. Its always interesting and highly useful to know this sort of stuff, also its worth noting you can find out this kind of information specifically for your own website if you check your google analytics. Personally I like to use Google Chrome 🙂 […]

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Fundraising Fortnight

The last few years have been particularly tough for the charity sector as it’s had to find new ways to operate and interact with the government whilst meeting the needs of those it serves. A period of economic growth followed swiftly by recession has seen income levels under pressure at exactly the time when charity […]

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