With all this social media stuff, is there still a place for direct mail?

Clearly, I’m pretty caught up in all things online and have made the effort to cut down on paper.  However, I came across some interesting facts that make a good case for continuing to use direct mail.

• Direct mail generated almost $8 of every $10 donated to nonprofits in 2009 (Source: Target Analytics).
• People receive more email than postal mail (Source: USPS). This can be a great opportunity to stand out on paper since there are fewer competing messages.
• 80% of consumers rely on more than one channel when making a purchasing decision. I’m sure the same thing applies to donations for nonprofits.
• You can still use it to drive people to your online channels.
• It gives you the opportunity to include a QR code.  More and more people are mobile, so this can be a creative way to get your message to potential and current donors.

So don't completely give up paper.  Just think of creative ways to use both paper and online channels to talk to your donors.

4 ways to save money on computers

There are ways for nonprofits to acquire computers without breaking the bank.  Below are some tips for saving a few dollars. 

Buy a refurbished machine – If your needs are basic word processing and email, you don’t need a high-powered machine. Check the web sites of different vendors and you may find a decent computer within your price range.

Ask one of your donors or board members – It’s okay to note your need in a newsletter or mention it at a board meeting. You may be surprised at how many people have upgraded their computers recently and don’t know what to do with their old ones.

Don’t buy the extended warranty – It’s usually not worth the extra money, but you may want to consider it for a laptop which is more difficult to repair.  When it doubt, check the reviews for similar machines. Users will tell you if the warranty is needed or not.

Buy memory later – Memory is generally cheaper when it’s bought through a third party and is very easy to upgrade in a desktop.  You can compare costs of additional memory built in to the machine versus buying through a vendor, such as crucial.