Uncategorized Archives - SMXi Software

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 […]

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 🙂 […]

Uncanny Valley – why clowns are scary

Coulrophobia – the medical term for fear of clowns – is quite common, although not always a pathological fear, you sense they are creepy. Well it turns out that there is a good reason for this. While psychologists think it stems from their transgressive behaviour (unpredictable and antisocial), neurobiology has a different take and is […]

Have you discovered Approval Pipeline yet?

If you’re a printer or graphic designer, the challenge of getting designs and layouts approved is often tricky. One extra name on the email list can cause a meltdown. If you’re working with a printer or graphic design agency, you may have experienced the pain of what happens when different people are viewing different versions […]

Day 3: Fundraising requires skills and expertise

If you think that anybody can fundraise you are mistaken. Fundraising takes skills and hard work; the best fundraisers can make a huge difference to the fortunes of your charity. Appoint a smart, fast-learning team and offer them plenty of training and support. Bear in mind that it’s important to hire a fundraiser to raise […]

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 […]

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 […]

Do you Pin? Check out this interesting Video Infographic: A marketer’s guide to pinterest

I’m a big fan of eye-catching infographics, but this one is even more engaging, its a video!. Very interesting facts about Pinterest, how you should use it and how popular it is. […]

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 […]

JAM today, jam tomorrow

If you are not a member of the Arts Marketing Association, you really should be. The latest issue of JAM (their magazine) focusses on customer development and includes excellent articles by Heather Maitland (looking at research tells about audience loyalty; Katy Raines on how assessing audience loyalty is essential (as she says “do the maths” […]

Is Google Priority Mailbox the end for email marketing?

First of all let me say that as a consumer of vast amounts of email this is a great development from the recipients side of the equation – and it will become the norm. Hotmail is following a similar path and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it turn up in desktop apps such as […]

New things that technology enables: The Virtual Choir

Click here to find out more about Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

Apps we like: British Red Cross First Aid

“If a friend or family member was having a heart attack or was choking, would you know how to help them? The free app features simple, easy advice on 18 everyday first aid scenarios, as well as tips on how to prepare for emergencies, from severe winter weather to road traffic accidents.” This app is […]

Don’t Drop the Ball: You Need Great Member Management Software to Grow Your Organisation

Membership Software is the backbone of your organisation, if you want success you have make sure you get your due diligence done first!
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Derek Holder: trailblazer

A lot of good things have been said about Derek since he died in February, but I just wanted to add my little bit. I first met Derek back in 1982/3 when I was persuaded to lecture about financial evaluation on the Diploma. Just a bit of a seminar I was told, easy – although […]

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, […]