Newsletter: This Tool Identifies Fast-Rising Retail Categories 📈 ; Nonprofit Builds Audience on Zoom with Goat-2-Meeting 🐐 ; Why Your Newsletter Needs a Personal Voice🎙
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." - Charles Dickens
There are many things that are sinking my spirits this month: the loss of life to the virus, the economic disruption - both nationally and personally - the hassle and anxiety of trying to do anything outside the home. But there are some bright spots too 🌈...
1. I have a great community of readers to serve. The open rate for this newsletter continues to hover around 60% and people continue to sign-up for it every week. Thanks to all of YOU for sharing it with everyone you know!
2. I feel more connected to my readers. Last month, I had the chance to talk to some of you and I offered some helpful advice for moving forward. It felt good to be useful!
3. I'm learning new things. Having more time means more learning! I've been learning about new sites, technologies and platforms that will help me help you in the coming months. On a personal level, I'm working in my flower gardens this spring and there is ALWAYS something to learn about gardening! 🌷😊🌸
4. I'm reading more. Last year I read 47 books. But earlier this year I was so busy I had pretty much given up on reading that many books this year. Now I'm back on track! One of the books I'm reading is Fanocracy, this month's Social Impact Book Club pick. Join us!
5. I'm taking care of my mom. She's 88 and hasn't been in the greatest health since January. She spent a few months in a rehab center, but now she is home. Less work and travel has allowed me to visit with her more and to make sure she is safe, healthy and happy.
How are you doing? Hit reply and tell me what your silver lining is. Sometimes it's hard to find. But it's always there!
🦠 Responding to COVID-1
1. Looking for a place to start on new partnerships? B2B will be up and running soon. ⬆️Movie theaters? Concerts? Not so much.
2. More businesses that are thriving during the pandemic. "The industries that are thriving seem to comfortably slot into our quarantined lives."
3. As other industries are discovering, when live events come back you'll have a new branding asset to sell to sponsors.
4. Consumer behavior is changing changing rapidly and unpredictably, right? So use this interactive tool from Google to identify fast-rising retail categories and go after them! Seems like this is the week to target electric tortilla makers...
🤑 Marketing Your Cause
1. This charity is building an audience on Zoom with Goat-2-Meeting. 🐐Brilliant idea!
2. Whether you are contacting supporters for individual or corporate gifts, a lot of people use their work emails. Now, a good 25% of those emails could be invalid. Here are four things you should be doing now to safeguard your database.
3. Zoos around the world are running behind-the-scenes programs while they are closed. However, the Oakland Zoo may be the first to try to monetize its programs with a subscription service. Build an audience. Engage with that audience. Monetize that audience.
4. Do you read Ann Handley's fabulous newsletter? You should! In the latest issue, Ann writes that the best newsletters have a personal voice. Need an example (besides mine and Ann's)? How about "David," the "anchor" of the New York Times newsletter...
😎 Cool Jobs in Cause
1. Corporate Partnerships & Development Lead, Vow to End Child Marriage (NYC)
2. Cause Marketing Specialist, East Tennessee Children's Hospital (Knoxville, TN)
3. AVP, Corporate Partnerships, Covenant House International (NYC)
Have your cause-related job featured here for FREE. Hit reply to this email and give me the details and a link to the position.
🧠🍌 Brain Food
1. Umm...food banks can't go on like this.😢
2. Remember all those nice things I said about Kroger last week, well...
3. Best. Headline. Evah: Massholes Can Even Ruin Ice Cream: Why I Hate People
Have a question, comment, or just want to say hi? Just leave a comment below or head over to Twitter.
