Nonprofit Technology Network

Nonprofit Technology Network

www.nten.org/

I coincidentally stumbled upon a nonprofit organization that specializes in nonprofit technology and felt it was worthwhile to share. Nonprofit Technology Network's (NTEN) mission is to "aspire a world where all nonprofit organizations use technology skillfully and confidently to meet community needs and fulfill their missions." NTEN believes “that technology allows nonprofits to work with greater social impact.” They facilitate information in hopes that their members use technology to create a greater social impact in the nonprofit community by advocacy, education, and research. NTEN was launched in 2000 and have continued to grow as educators and mentors in the nonprofit technology community.

This organization could be very helpful to many nonprofits who are trying to transform their organization and make their organization more technological savvy. They provide important information to their members in hopes to improve all technological aspects of their organization. According to a press release on December 20, 2010, NTEN received a $1.1 million dollar grant from Google. I thought this grant was very impressive and shows NTEN’s credibility as a substantial 501c3. The grant was given to NTEN to support the education of their members and for their organization to produce research and training for data management, visualization, and collaboration of cloud technology.

The membership fees are very reasonable and provide a discounted price for nonprofits and students. The membership provide many benefits such as access to webinars, conferences, research, industry reports, and access to other IT training. NTEN members belong to such organizations as the Red Cross, Guidestar, and Americans for the Arts. Not only would NTEN provide IT information and support for an organization but would also provide networking opportunities to numerous nonprofits throughout the country.

NTEN is an unexpected organization that I believe can help many nonprofits especially those who are afraid of technology. NTEN provides vital IT support and education to the nonprofit community and is an exciting organization that I hope to learn more about in the future.

24/7/365

My mind is especially set in the realm of online giving these days because we're so focused on it in AMGT 601.  I found this on the Chronicle of Philanthropy, and it provides a quick review of the role of online giving and (more related to us) the importance of having a good, secure website.  http://philanthropy.com/article/Easy-Steps-to-Attract-Online/131160/

Marc Halpert, managing director of E-giving, makes a number of solid points about what should be on an online donation page.  Firstly, the page has to look just like the website with a seamless transition into and out of it.  Otherwise, despite how PCI compliant an organization may be, potential donors will be nervous about submitting their credit card information.  Halpert suggests that an organization using a third party to collect donations should consider hiring a web developer to have their own donation page as soon as possible.  He explains that the merchant account, the secure gateway, and the shopping cart should all be branding by the organization in order to put donors at ease.  Similarly, the donor needs to receive immediate acknowledgement of the receipt of their gift, both on the website and in an email.

Donation pages should also include options for "in tribute" giving, especially around the "memorial" giving season that we have coming up (Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, etc.).  Having options for recurring giving is also positive, as many of the younger generations prefer to give in multiple, small installments.

Both Halpert and Katy Flint Coppinger (senior director of development at Food Bank for Westchester) agree that online giving is hugely beneficial to non-profits.  It allows the non-profit to capture contact information and send it immediately into a database, there's the ability for an immediate response to error (or an immediate thank you!), and it makes the organization accessible 24/7/365.  With that said, however, organizations must use the tools wisely and promote online giving as much as possible by making website URLs obvious on materials and in email blasts.

NGA Sharing Art Online

National Gallery of Art opens collections online

I found this article online over the weekend and have mixed feelings about it. The National Gallery of Art has over 20,000 of its pieces available as images online for the public to view and share. Online galleries are great because people get busy and hopping online to quickly see some of the art available at your local (or miles away) museum is convenient. Sharing art online is also wonderful because it allows people to show friends and family some of the things they love and hopefully inspire them to go see the art in person. 

However, some people may forget or just not understand the power of seeing a great piece of art in person. Then you end up with an audience relying on the ease of which they can catch the latest exhibit online and claim they have seen it to their friends. I know that is an extreme point of view, but everyday we get new things put in front of us that make our lives easier or things more accessible. I'm not complaining, but I hope this use of technology is more of an inspiration for people to go visit and support museums and not an excuse to not go. 

 

The Internet in the Visual Arts.

Visual arts organizations have been particularly criticized for being slow to catch on to technology such as the Internet.  However, I think it’s more about being careful of knowing how the inclusion of technological tools such as the Internet, can bring exposure to an organization's overall mission, vision, and goals.  As marketing research has shown, one of the trends that are particular to audiences/art consumers is having freedom to choose what art will be seen, where it will be seen, and how it will be seen.  The same can be true for arts managers when choosing how they can broaden the reach of their organizational mission, vision and goals to such audiences/art consumers.  Here are just a few examples of how some arts driven organizations have carefully chosen to embrace the Internet in some respect by being specific in the purpose of its use. 

The Impact of Kickstarter, Creative Commons & Creators Project - Off Book - PBS

http://youtu.be/024vLBBJf4I

Art Fairs Join Forces With ‘Virtual’ World

http://www.artnews.com/2012/03/06/art-fairs-join-forces-with-virtual-world/  

From Show and Look to Show and Teach

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/arts/artsspecial/museums-expand-their-educational-offerings.html?scp=1&sq=From%20Show%20and%20Look%20to%20Show%20and%20Teach&st=cse

With Technology, Adding Context to the Costume

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/arts/artsspecial/adding-technology-to-museum-costume-displays.html?scp=1&sq=From%20technology%20adding%20context&st=cse

Facebook Responds

Last week I posted an article regarding the current trend relating to employers requiring applicants to hand over their Facebook login and password information.  


In the stir the debate has caused, Facebook has finally provided their stance on the issue:
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlla/facebook-responds-to-ap-story-about-employers-demanding-passwords-from-job-seekers_b57246


For Erin Egan's full response, see:
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=326598317390057


"Senators Questions Employer Requests for Facebook Passwords"
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/technology/senators-want-employers-facebook-password-requests-reviewed.html?ref=technology


According to Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer, Erin Egan, the company is standing by their Statement of Rights and Responsibilities by stating that uses should NOT pass on their private information.  Egan states that: "Facebook takes your privacy seriously.  We’ll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users, whether by engaging policymakers or, where appropriate, by initiating legal action, including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges."


This may prove to be good news for Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut who are asking Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to investigate whether employers asking for this information is a violation of federal law.   The legality of the employers requesting such private information is murky, and it is the Senators intent to close any gaps in privacy laws.  

As Egan points out, Facebook is doing their part to protect our privacy, but it is important that the users join in the fight, support the Senators and help pass a bill that will seal any gaps not currently covered by privacy protection laws.  As the next generation of Arts Managers, it is imperative that we protect our own rights as we enter into the job market.  

What about our future!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/nyregion/bloomberg-says-social-media-can-hurt-governing.html?_r=1&ref=technology

While this article focuses on social media hurting government, the same could also be about social media hurting nonprofit arts organizations.  This article is in line with my previous post regarding people’s attention spans, or lack thereof.

In the article, it is stated that :

‘The immediacy of social media, he has found, creates both opportunities — for information-sharing and for citizen empowerment — and challenges, for governments, for businesses, for media, to see beyond the next tweet, or the next blog post,” Howard Wolfson, a deputy mayor, said in an interview.

“It’s more about planning for the next 20 years as opposed to the next 20 minutes,” Mr. Wolfson added.”

As we provide more and more instant information to our patrons, how can we keep them captivated long enough to focus on our future?  As managers, we need to focus on sustainability, and how to achieve it.  While we are crafting our strategic plans and looking forward to capital campaigns, it is imperative that we be careful not to create an impatient audience that will loose focus if our tweets take a vacation.

As social media is the ‘it’ in advertising and communication strategy this decade, we can't forget that this technology could also have a not-so-desirable effect on our future.

Twitter as a Box Office Predictor

There is an interesting article in the Arts Marketing Daily today regarding Twitter as a box office predictor. Although Twitter has a reputation as being able to predict the future, some researchers at Princeton have found that it might not be able to predict how well films will perform as previously thought. The research shows that Twitter users are generally more positive than users on online movie review sites. So Twitter doesn't give us all the information we need to make a good prediction after all.

This is good information for Arts Managers to have. While we need to be focused on new technologies, such as Twitter, and how they can help us, we also need to be aware of all the research available so we don't jump on the bandwagon too soon and end up making bad decisions. Most arts organizations are short staffed and underfunded, so we need to make sure we are focusing our marketing dollars in the best way possible.

Click this link for the research paper (you can download a pdf) http://arxiv.org/abs/1203.4642

For the article in the Arts Marketing Daily, click this link: http://paper.li/MasqueArts/arts-marketing-4?utm_source=subscription&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=paper_sub

Infographics: Increasing Our Knowledge or Making Us Dumber?

Infographics seem to be everywhere online, attached to articles and reblogged with great frequency, and off a common feature in database dashboards and reports. This past week, Dave Copeland tackled the inforgraphic in his March 21^st post, "Why Your Infographic Is Evil (And Three Ways To Fix It),"on the technology blog ReadWriteWeb.

In his post, Copeland confesses that while infographics can convey data powerfully, “this latest visual Internet fad of telling almost every story with a dense infographic is something that [he’s] hoping will soon be played out.” Copeland quotes Jasmine Bina of JB Communications as pointing out that “[w]e are becoming numb to infographics.” Bina goes on to explains that while she once welcomed the infographics that popped up on her newsfeed as “as an informational 'treat' because [she] knew the author had used the medium only because it most effectively displayed the information,” it appears to her that since “people have realized the traffic-generating powers of these things, every dumb report with an ounce of usable info is puffed into these massive images.”  A quick perusal of my own newsfeed revealed a great number of these infographics, some relevant (the impact of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), some less so (the increase in digital pictures taken by Americans in 2009, 2010, and 2011).

As people’s attention spans seem to decrease as our quick access to information increases, it makes sense that infographics would be an almost necessary-evil in conveying data. Why read several pages of a report when four or five images can provide a graphic representation just as easily? Until the popularity of infographics wanes, Copeland has a strategy:  three ways to improve the use of inforgraphics, “whether you're a blogger looking for content or a public relations firm looking to get your client's message out.” While arts organizations are not necessarily bloggers, they do have a message to get out, whether on their own or through a PR firm. Arts organizations should thus bear in mind Copeland’s three fixes for infographics:  the accuracy of the information matters, it is often necessary to have text (clear, concise, information expanding text) to accompany the infographic, and in terms of size and content, the infographic should be short and sweet.

Read the entire post at http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/why_your_infographic_is_evil_and_three_ways_to_fix.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+readwriteweb+%28ReadWriteWeb%29.

-Adrienne

http://www.re-decoded.com/2012/03/testing-goraise-mobile-for-the-raisers-edge/

Interesting thoughts on a 3rd party mobile app to access Raisers Edge.

Ticketing Software Survey

I read an interesting study done in 2011 involving Arts Organizations and their satisfaction of ticketing software. There were 987 total participants in the survey. The survey was covering which attributes the organizations consider a critical ticketing tool, which factors influence organizations' ticketing software choices, which tools the arts and cultural organizations are using and how satisfied the organizations are with their current ticketing solutions.  It was interesting to me after participating in tutorials of various ticketing software to see how organizations are utilizing the software, what features they are using and what features they are leaving behind. This was so interesting to me because some ticketing software prides themselves in services that arts organizations just aren't using. Here are the most frequently selected attributes and the least frequently selected attributes:

Most frequently selected attributes: 

1. Online sales (91%) 

2. Credit card processing (90%) 

3. Seat mapping/reserved ticketing (82%) 

4. Custom reporting (78%) 

5. Multi-user (multiple sellers logged in at once) 

(77%) 

5. Customer support / tech support (77%) 

Least selected attributes: 

1. Mobile integration (24%) 

2. Demand-based pricing capability (37%) 

3. Barcodes/gate control (38%) 

3. Ability to print images or logo on ticket (38%) 

4. Social media integration (40%) 

5. Security features/ticket forgery prevention (41%) 

http://hw.libsyn.com/p/d/d/e/dde4ea5899f9d0c4/2011TicketingSoftwareSatisfactionSurveyReport.pdf?sid=8365fecad15dffb7628d1cddc9d16abb&l_sid=30060&l_eid=&l_mid=2497833&expiration=1332280018&hwt=0bae5167bd53234e97eedd11022d089e

Security and "The Cloud"

 Articles and commentaries about cloud computing seem to popping with increased regularity as more and more people become exposed to “the cloud.” A common concern in discussions about cloud computing is the level of security possible.  Over at Wired’s Cloudline Blog, Todd Nielsen has written three recent pieces about cloud computing. Today’s post, “The Truths, Untruths, and Fuzzy Truths of Cloud Security” is all about security concerns. Of particular interest to me was his exploration into whether traditional networks or cloud computing are more secure.

When examining the “fuzzy truth” that traditional networking is more secure than cloud computing, Nielsen points out that “[i]f you run a company that has a dedicated team of security experts that are monitoring your network 24/7/365 for all exploits and security risks, and this team can take instant steps to secure the network in case of problems, and you have a team that is constantly testing software and updating it to fix security holes, then sure, traditional computing can be more secure.” This kind of constant vigilance is beyond what many small to medium sized businesses (or arts organizations) can afford, which is why current data seems to support the idea that traditional networks are, as Nielsen explains, “easier to get into […] and these are the ones hackers are targeting.” Another concern for traditional networks brought up by Nielsen role of organizational insiders in security breaches.  

On the other side is the argument that cloud computing is more secure than traditional network computing. Nielsen points out that “most reputable cloud companies have an elastic and automated infrastructure backed up by a team of security professionals [and] infrastructures are increasingly more complex.” Given their complexity, they are more difficult for hackers to penetrate. However, Nielsen also points out the two-fold “dark-side” of cloud computing. First, not all clouds are created equal and some of these lesser quality providers are besmirching the good name of others. While many cloud providers offer excellent security, Nielsen explains that some companies are “an IT solution provider who has installed some server in a data center and called it a cloud,” lacks expertise in security, and “[has] poor security measures in place.” Second, like in traditional networks, there is the issue of hacking. Nielsen observes that “when a public cloud solution provider is hacked, the effect is often more widely felt, or at least has the potential to be more widely felt.” In the end, despite the risks, organizations continue to transition to cloud computing because, as Nielsen explains “they recognize that the security they get in the cloud is greater than they can affordably provide themselves.”

As with any technology or software, organizations need to weigh the pros and cons of a particular solution and then, if they wish to implement it, need to carefully research providers and options. In terms of cloud computing and security, writes Nielsen, “[i]f you do not know what questions to ask, then you need to educate yourself, or hire an expert that does […] if you care enough to not make sure your data is safe and with a reputable company, then you will have to accept the responsibility that comes with that decision.” As with any decision, the organization is accountable for its choices. There are no perfect solutions for absolute security – online or off, in the cloud or not – but, as Nielsen concludes, “by educating ourselves on what cloud computing is, we gain a deeper understanding of its benefits and risks, empowering us to make wiser decisions and to develop a strategy that is right for our organizations.”

Read Nielsen's full post at  http://www.wired.com/cloudline/2012/03/cloud-security/

-Adrienne

QR codes in AMGT

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/2012/03/part-2-wikimedia-and-qr-codes-in-the-museum-setting/#more-4326
This article discusses the use of QR codes and QRPedia in terms of museums. It is a very accessible tool because the code will direct the user's phone to the wiki site in the language that their phone is programmed in, breaking down that language barrier. This tool helps to reach out to the younger, more technologically savvy visitors to the museums by tying in the use of their electronic devices to more fully connect to the exhibits. Overall this makes a lot of information about exhibits much more accessible without overpowering people who just want the basic information that is displayed in the museum. The museum it was first used in reported over 3,300 scans in the first six months, which I see as very positive. The museum owners made it clear that it is important to have large, easy to read and understand directions on how to scan the code and use the system. Overall I see this as a very positive crossover between technology and the arts. 

Save it on the Cloud

"Save it on the cloud!"  "Sync your cloud or change your cloud provider for Syncs directly from your iPhone." "A local and Cloud File Manager enabling one view to manage files from multiple Clouds." "What.. you don't have Dropbox?!" All you hear about these days in regards to storage, hardware and programming usually involves the almighty "Cloud" in some shape or form.  I tend to get nervous about devices such as USB and CDs as my primary backup device. What happens if they break or you loose them than your computer crashed? You will loose everything. The cloud allows you to safeguard files and data that are vital to your existence, not to sound so extreme but for a nonprofit that information is usually just that important. Since we have talked a lot about cloud based software in our past few webinars I felt it was important to become better acquainted and up to date with the cloud. 

Anna Jaeger's blog, Why Should Nonprofit  Care About Cloud Computing?, provides a straight forward definition of the cloud, "Essentially, cloud computing enables computer software and hardware resources to be accessed over the Internet without the need to have any detailed or specific knowledge of the infrastructure used to deliver the resources. You really don't need to know what the phone or electric company does on their end to enable calls and make the lights to go on when you flip the switch; and, you really don't want to know as long as it works." The cloud really isn't as confusing as it seems and many people actually use cloud based programs everyday without even knowing. These cloud based programs include Google's Gmail, Snapfish, Facebook, and even Mason Live. If people understand that they use cloud based software everyday than they may be more inclined to change to this type of software and are likely to become less intimidated.  

To better understand the cloud I'm going to do a SWOT. 

Strengths: 

- The Cloud is essentially a green technology because the power is shared and concentrated between high efficiency data centers while "decreasing the amount of IT infrastructure" in an office space. 

- A majority of computing and storage takes place online your organization will use less power and be able to use computers that are cheaper.  "The new cloud computing companies have developed economies of scale far beyond what most companies can achieve with their own systems."

- Labor costs and added labor/salary will decrease because there will be a decrease in the need of IT support personnel. "According to Jaeger,  the basic advantage of cloud computing is that people don't have to maintain infrastructure for applications, which saves labor costs, as well as electricity costs. Also, people can access the applications anywhere they have a computer and Internet access."

Weaknesses:

- Security is an issue that many cloud users worry about because it is not as a controlled environment as other storage devices and confidentiality may be compromised.   

- When using the cloud your organization is relying on the "host company" to maintain and protect all of your data and changes can occur without your knowledge. Jaeger explains, "The disadvantages to cloud computing are mainly that users are dependent on the companies that host applications to maintain them and also to keep user data intact and protected. Changes in applications often happen without user knowledge or consent, and user data is controlled as well by the host company." 

- With the cloud, you are ultimately dependent of the Internet and without it you will not be able to access the cloud and your information.

Opportunities: (For this section I wanted to quote it directly from the site because I think Jim Lynch explained it in terms that are easy to understand in his blog,Considering the cloud? What organizations should know before making the plunge)

5 Trends for the future of the Cloud in regards to nonprofits (aka Opportunities for the Cloud)

1) More and more applications and IT services are moving to the cloud, so it's offering more IT choices and hence is making IT decisions more complicated and more confusing. Some cloud-based services like webhosting, HR services, and conferencing (like Skype) are already well developed in the cloud, while others like security and IT service and maintenance will take longer to develop. You might consider plugging more in to online social networks and also the TechSoup Community Forums to ask questions about which services are appropriate to your specific situation.

2) For the next 6 to 8 years we'll be in a state of hybrid cloud adoption, so for instance, more people will be using both "on premises" and cloud versions of standard office software like Microsoft Office, or a combination of the installed software and a different online collaboration or document-sharing suite. The way people use computers will change toward easier collaboration and sharing and better access to the office anywhere you are. You might consider developing more robust management capacity to supervise and support a remote and more mobile workforce. 

3) The cloud hype promises to do many things like reduce software and IT staffing costs. In the next 6 to 8 years, nonprofits will probably not be reducing software and IT staffing costs very much - particularly if you've been able to receive donated software applications through TechSoup, where most nonprofits and public libraries can save dramatically from what retail costs would be for the same applications. Migration to cloud software and services will be gradual and costs will be shifting, but not going down much; at least not right away. If you've not been eligible to receive donated software, then the costs will generally be much less expensive to move to the cloud. You'll probably being paying more in monthly fees, and less in buying software packages.

4) There is not yet an IT system that is fully hosted in the cloud (for example, you just get your computers to the Internet and everything you need for day-to-day functions is hosted there), though platform as a service attempts to address this. Cloud adoption will be gradual. For instance, you might find a database service that is useful, or an online meeting service like ReadyTalk, or begin using cloud-based storage like Windows Live SkyDrive. As time goes on you'll probably be using more cloud based IT software and services and fewer "on premises" software and services.

5) IT hardware costs will gradually go down for nonprofits over the next 6 to 8 years. You will probably need fewer on premises server computers, and less robust and expensive desktop or laptop computers as more of your work is online. However, the cost of servers may go up as fewer organizations and companies need to use them, and they end up being designed for a higher-level niche. We'll be covering this field much more extensively in TechSoup's GreenTech program.

Threats: 

- With the absence of the Internet connection due to power failure, bad weather or poor service provider, work cannot be completed and vital information cannot be accessed which can cripple the organization.  

- Security!! Donor information such as credit cards and personal information could be accessed to third-parties which could affect not just your donors but your organization's reputation. 

- Lack of IT support

There are many technical infrastructure and platforms pertaining to the cloud however I think that it is important for those in the nonprofit sector to understand the advantages and disadvantages rather than the technical information during decision making. Half of your staff will listen and not comprehend those technical terms. Sometimes I think it is better to leave those things for those who truly understand it and can use the information to better access the situation. Techsoup.org has a lot of additional resources regarding the cloud. These link are very helpful in further understanding the use of the cloud and how it can help a nonprofit.

The TechSoup Blog

Why Should Nonprofit  Care About Cloud Computing?

Blogger: Anna Jaeger

December 7, 2010

http://forums.techsoup.org/cs/community/b/tsblog/archive/2010/12/07/why-should-nonprofits-care-about-cloud-computing.aspx 

Cloud Basics for Nonprofits and Libraries

Considering the cloud? What organizations should know before making the plunge

By: Jim Lynch

November 2, 2010

http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/internet/page12826.cfm 

Feedback, Constructive Criticism, Freedom of Expression, or just useless?

As we go about our jobs, we are always looking for ways to capture the reaction of our audience.  We assume that our constituents will provide us with productive feedback, which we can then use to improve our product.  In all of the programs we have looked at so far we have seen various analytics used to capture data.  Additionally, we have seen links to social media, which allow our followers to freely post reviews and critiques regarding our services. 

While we provide people with more freedom to provide us with feedback, what are the proper monitoring techniques that we should consider? What personnel issue does this pose for those nonprofits, which might have limited staff to dedicate to this issue?  We always assume that capturing information is for the best, but, as there are more conversations regarding the quality of the feedback, this might not be true. 

Even though this article discusses how harnessing the readers thoughts and intelligence is hardly worthwhile via the comments that are posted, it made me immediately want to go straight to the comment section! 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/11/tech/web/online-comments-sxsw/index.html

Is it Big Brother, or is it just Social Media?

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/06/10585353-govt-agencies-colleges-demand-applicants-facebook-passwords#.T1X-2KrOCB0.facebook

Would you give your username and password for Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc., during a job interview?

According to MSNBC many employers and Universities are testing the waters of becoming Big Brother and asking for this personal information as part of the screening process.  Many University sports teams require each athlete to friend at least one coach in order to be kept tabs on.

Facebook has yet to take a stand and declare a side on this issue, which I find troublesome, as providing personal log-in information is a violation of their privacy policy.

While watching the presentation for Raisers Edge, I was surprised by the amount of personal information they are able to log for constituents, and wonder how long it will be until profiles are linked to social media sites.  On the one hand, I can see how it would be useful for marketing purposes to track what events your constituents are commenting about, checking in at, buying tickets for, etc., but where is the line between effectively using all of the resources at your disposal, and respecting ones privacy.

What would you do if you received marketing communication from one venue, commenting on your attendance at another?

Search Engine Optimization

How does an arts organization get found on the web? The same way a non-arts business does, through a google (or other) search. Even an organization that has a following needs to be concerned about being found on the web. After all, it doesn't matter how great your website is if no one comes by to see it! Search Engine Optimization is something everyone needs to be thinking about since the internet is the way everyone looks for things. So how do you make sure you are found? You need to optimize your site. This includes finding out what keywords people are using to find you and making sure those are the words you're using on your site, getting inbound links to your site, having unique title tags on your pages, and many other things.

Alexa.com is a company that can perform a site audit for you. You can either buy a monthly subscription or a one time analysis for $199. It will actually analyze your site and give you suggestions for improvement. It's alot like google analytics, which is free, but goes beyond the analytics to actual website usability reports and recommendations on how to increase your search traffic. Even better than an online (anonymous) audit is a consulting company like Marketade.com. Marketade consultants can either teach you how to do some things for yourself, or do it for you. They will take the time to understand your company and what you do, and tailor the optimization to your specific needs. It's more expensive than a one time analysis from Alexa, but much more comprehensive and valuable in the long run.

Arts organizations cannot afford to ignore the importance of this technology. Search Engine Optimization works needs to be a marketing priority so they don't get lost on the web.

Smart Boards & Digital Excursions

Incursion not excursion in the interactive age

 http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/incursion-not-excursion-in-the-interactive-age-20120311-1usa2.html#ixzz1op4JWWGR

"The schools lacking in resources and support tend to be in regional locations and what they've been telling us is that they don't have the budget to travel, even to local regional galleries. So we're rolling out free programs for regional schools and we're going to make sure our website is a further resource. This gives us the potential to reach thousands of schools."

Organizations like the Museum of Contemporary art are participating in a new type of tour. With the use of smart boards, arts organizations can come into schools and give virtual tours or present talks with artists. All of this without the cost of traveling to the actual organization, which is great because schools cannot always afford to make field trips. As we all know the arts in schools is typically the first thing to be cut when schools are struggling with money. This new  feature, even though it requires purchasing a smart board, can save money and time for schools.

 

This also helps arts organizations. For one, organizations can fulfill an educational part of their mission by offering this service for  free or make some income and offer it for a small fee. Two, using this kind of feature helps organizations ensure that future generations are introduced to the arts and in turn create future donors and audience members for the arts. 

 

put an infographic on it

http://philanthropy.com/article/Visualizing-Data-Helps/130990/

One of the things I've noticed thus far as a common theme through the software we've been viewing is the use of graphics.  Each program has had some component that had allowed the user to create a graph with given data (some of which can update in real time) to use for analysis or on a program dashboard.  While these graphs are not quite the same as the infographics discussed in the above article, the use of them demonstrates the importance of producing data in a digital, easy to compute format.  Like Bill Bentley, chief executive of Voices for America's Children said, "'If you throw one of these infographics out the window and somebody walks by and picks it up, we want them to be able to understand it and go, 'Wow, I want to know more about this.''"

We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded by information.  For a non-profit - arts or otherwise - it's especially important to be able to distribute information in a way that's compelling, succinct, and easy to understand.  More and more, organizations are hiring data scientists and managers, and using new and different software to help compile this data and turn it into something that can be used to fulfill a mission.  Some organizations are using infographics for fundraising purposes (in the case of the A Children's Right: why a $10-million dollar donation does not cover all of their program's costs) and some are using them solely to increase their own publicity.  Either way, these organizations are harnessing   their most important data and throwing it out to their audience; many, like Voices for America's Children, have seen huge increases in numbers on social media and in donations in response to one well-planned infographic.

But, as the article notes, the temptation is there to go overboard.  Anne Marie Borrego, director of media relations for the American Red Cross, says "It's good to edit yourself. ... You want to let the picture tell the story."

The article ended with some helpful, bulleted tips for non-profits hoping to make use of the infograph:

Creating an Infographic: Tips for Nonprofits

• Look at a wide variety of infographics, from nonprofits, businesses, and other sources, to get ideas.
• Decide what the charity wants the infographic to achieve. Don’t create one just because it’s a trendy approach.
• Identify what data the organization has collected, but also look for outside sources, such as Census figures, that could bolster the message or help put the group’s data in context.
• Follow the organization’s style guidelines on fonts, color schemes, and tone to maintain the group’s brand.
• Keep it simple. Convey the message quickly and clearly. Too many numbers or ideas can confuse or overwhelm viewers.
• Balance esthetics and substance. An infographic needs to be useful as well as visually appealing.
• Credit sources of data.
• Experiment. Try free and low-cost software to see what’s possible.

 

Are you a Millennial?

By: Jessica Teaford 

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/2012/03/telemarketing-is-dead-and-i-killed-it/#disqus_thread

There is nothing worse than sitting down after a long day to dinner with your boyfriend just to have it interrupted by a telemarketer calling to ask if you would like to buy something or give money to some cause.  The only person I actually will answer the phone for is my mother.  I am not sure how I get on these calling lists but I assure them that if I don’t recognize the number rarely do I answer my phone because most of my important information comes through my email.  I had never heard the term Millennial before but the author not only describes my opinion of telemarketing exactly I am glad to know that other people do not like to talk on the phone just like me.       

One of the main complaints I think arts organizations have is that they have a hard time attracting young people to their venue.  I agree that there is nothing else that will turn me off more than someone calling me from an organization that I have been to once to ask if I would like to donate money to their organization.  I am a poor college student who likes to please people so it makes me very uncomfortable to say no to someone who is asking me for something.  And once I have said no I can no longer show my face at your establishment thus never supporting you again by buying a ticket.  But if you email me about it and no one knows I have said no I can go back no problem.  I’m sure it makes the lives of the development department much harder but it should be there job to know who is getting what message from their organization and they should also be sure that they are approaching people with methods that are most likely to succeed with that particular patron.  

Are you utilizing LinkedIn to your best ability?

http://www.business2community.com/linkedin/top-3-ways-to-optimize-your-linkedin-company-page-0119013

As the world becomes more and more globalized social networking sites like LinkedIn are essential for networking in the business world. This blog list three main ways that you can optimize your LinkedIn company page to make the site work for you. The first is to write a keyword rich company overview. This is helpful because it is the first part of your page that the potential client will see. You can make sure that your company is coming up in searches by adding keywords into your overview. The second is to post keyword-rich status updates. Your company should strive to be in the newsfeed of your clients LinkedIn page daily so that  they will be up to date with links to new blog posts, newsletters and other marketing materials your company might have created. The final tip that was listed on the blog was to create targeted pages for your company's individual products and services. The easier you make it for potential clients to find out more information and come into direct contact with products the more likely they are to use your company. LinkedIn is a great tool for business owners, but it is only as good as the person setting up the company page.

Topspin Media

Any organization or individual that is trying to make a buck in today's age needs to use technology to some degree. For non-profit arts organizations, there are programs like Tessitura, that will track your clients, and make your marketing and development process much easier. For musicians, a whole new surge of online products have come out that help people make websites, track sales, sell their products online, collect marketing data, and more.

There are a handful of companies out there selling their software, but here's the one that really caught my eye: Topspin Media. This video gives a really good breakdown on what their software provides to bands:

Agile methodology

After thinking about the Tessitura presentation and looking at their website I am really intrigued with this software and more importantly the company itself. They seem to be an incredibly transparent company; they understand what they are good at, what they do, how to do it, what they can't do and what they charge for. Anyone who uses this software is not going to be blindsided by any sudden charges. Definitively a huge plus and something that I feel like is hard to come by in the technology world. I feel like sometimes you buy a niche software, use it, have problems, call the company, are on the phone for an hour with them and then you hang up feeling the same way as you did when you called them to begin with. Half of the time you end up on Google searching aimlessly for an answer to your query then finding out that you aren't the only one with this problem. If you don't know anyone who is an IT expert you are stuck. And what does the company do? They charge you for information and really don't help you in the long run.  


Tessitura seems to have a pretty large customer base and have recently added a lot of large corporations such as the National Geographic Society and the New York Philharmonic, according to their website. So it definitively seems like Tessitura is being recognized as a brand that many are using and trusting.


By being a nonprofit themselves, it seems that Tessitura is able to understand their nonprofit customers, carry out both missions, the mission of Tessitura and the customers's and provide services that are really vital for a successful organization. I think that Tessitura being a nonprofit is a huge advantage. I think other nonprofits may feel more comfortable working with them than another software company that is strictly in it to make money. Another aspect about Tessitura that I thought seperated them from their competitors was the software's ability to really be customized for their client.

I decided to read further into the relationship that Tessitura has with their clients by completing a search for customer feedback regarding this software. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the client feedback was very positive and seemed to be portrayed by Brian Feldman. A lot of people have wrote various blogs regarding their experiences and exposures with Tessitura. One blog in particular, written by a man in Australia, explains that he went to the 2010 Tessitura Learning and Community Conference. The conference inspired to him to write about his ideas and opinions of Tessitura Software. At the conference he attended a workshop called "Agile in the Arts." It is interesting how he used the ideas used and taught by Tessitura into his work life and it seems to have helped him tremendously. If a software can help people both indirectly and directly it must be a pretty great company and software. I was really impressed by the software and hopefully the future nonprofit that I work for will be too and I will have the privileged of using it.

Blog written by Matthew Hodge, Sydney, Australia.
http://relentlesspursuit.wordpress.com/tag/tessitura/
The Relentless Pursuit of Cold Shivers; Books, Music, Moves and The Odd Rant
"One Man Agile" 9/13/2010


Another interesting article about Tessitura:
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/StratBridge-Tessitura-Partnership-Gives-Performing-Arts-Centers-Real-Time-Information-they-Need-to-Increase-Revenues-527822

Typography in the Arts

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/2012/02/a-look-at-typography-google-web-fonts-and-more/#more-3989
This blog looks at the rare use of unique typefaces. It points out that while the generic fonts are easy to read, they aren't always the most effective. Often times, fonts are able to convey points better than words alone. It points out that the Met has received a lot of positive media for it's newly designed website. While not the only attractive thing about it, the article does point out that it uses type faces very effectively. It links to multiple other websites and articles to help you better understand how to use typography to your benefit as a way to more effectively promote your arts organization.
Betsy O'Keeffe

What Pinterest means for the arts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2012/feb/24/pinterest-uses-arts-organisations?CMP=twt_gu
Have you heard about Pinterest yet? It's 'a cross between an image-sharing social network and a bookmarking tool. You can "pin" images from anywhere on the web to a virtual personal pinboard. "Pinterest's social function is that users can re-pin items from other boards to their own and 'like' or comment on things others have pinned. There's also an option to cross-share through other social networks. You can also @ users á la Twitter and create collaborative boards, allowing, for example a bride and groom to pin a wedding list together." So how can we use Pinterest for arts organizations?

Digital Publishing - ISSUU

http://www.issuu.com/business/features

One of the trends that I have been noticing in arts organizations lately, is that printed materials are becoming more paperless and digitalized.  Reasons for doing so include reducing printing and advertising costs, being more transparent about financials and strategic plans (nonprofit), and having a more national reach concerning programs, services and events.  For example, I was doing some transparency research on McColl Center for Visual Art (501 (c) 3 nonprofit artist residency) and I stumbled upon the digital publishing platform that they currently use - ISSUU.  Currently, McColl does a great job of using the sight for publishing their art catalogs, Form 990s (also available via Guidestar), Strategic Plans and events. 

ISSUU has great features that include free and unlimited uploads of documents in a variety of formats, quality display, website embedding capabilities, social network integration, statistical tracking tools (see who is reading your publications/site, etc.  One of my favorite features is that you can reach broader audiences and expand your network to other organizations or businesses who use the site and exchange ideas.  ISSUU and other digital platforms would be very useful, especially to start-up/small organizations who cannot afford to use printed materials but still want to provide readily available information about their programs, services and events to their audiences other than just the website. 

Social Media Strategy

I came across two blogposts regarding social media this week that may be of interest to anyone evaluating their social media strategy as part of their overall marketing strategy.

First, from M+R Research Labs, there is Meghan Yarbrough's "Five Things You Must Do on Social Media!" Yarbrough breaks down the five simple things that lead to success in terms of social media strategy.  While basic, each aspect speaks to success not only in social media but in any donor / patron marketing and communication strategy: 1. be personal and authentic, 2. try (and test! test! test!), 3. it all depends on your audience, 4. customize the link preview title and description on Facebook, and 5. create a plan.

Second, speaking of Facebook, is "How A Small Nonprofit Effectively Used Facebook Ads" from Beth Kanter's "The Networked Nonprofit" blog. In this post, Kanter provides the case study of the AXIS Dance Company, a midsized California nonprofit. Facebook ads may not (yet) be on the radar of most nonprofits but Kanter makes the case for considering such ads as part of an organization's media strategy. I also find that Kanter's post dovetails nicely with Yarbrough's points to test what works (and doesn't).

-Adrienne

This news release is a little dated, but what I found interesting is information we didn't get in the Tessitura demonstration.  The software was developed originally by the Metropolitan Opera and is still owned by them exclusively through Impresario, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Metropolitan Opera. Nothing conspiracy theory, just interesting that it wasn't mentioned. Here's the link to the 2004 article:
http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=8241

Systemic Marketing

Systemic Marketing

"To my mind, the ideal model is one in which the relationship between organization and community is at the center of the organization’s identity and all of its decision-making processes. This is what I mean by “systemic marketing.” (As a reminder, my operating definition of marketing is “communication with external constituencies about the work of the organization.”) When the relationship is central, the message is consistent and each point of contact reinforces every other one."

I found this blog post from Doug Borwick and was really surprised that this had to be said. Of course Marketing, Fundraising, and Programming should intermingle at certain points. How does one function without the other? All the departments need to know the audience and need to know how the community connects with the organization in order to serve, reach, and gain donations from it.

I thought this would be common knowledge. Is this not part of why CRM software exists? All allowed staff having access to the audiences behaviors (tickets purchased, donations made, likes and dislikes, or whatever else seems important about the individual) just provides a perfect tool for different departments to feed into one another. No organization should give out different messages to the community. The beauty of programs like PatronManager and Tessitura is how easy it makes linking departments that should be influencing one another anyway.

Personally, I liked PatronManager better. Tessitura seemed annoying to navigate and like it would take longer to understand how to use because everything was in so many different sections. I did like the sliding scale payment system and that it is member owned, but if I had to choose I would go with PatronManager.

Save the Music, Use Technology

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57389085-93/foursquare-and-vh1-partner-to-help-schools-with-music/?tag=mncol;cnetRiver

Interesting partnerships can often lead to fruitful outcomes.  Foursquare and the VH1 Save the Music Foundation have partnered together in order to raise money to save music programming in schools throughout the country.  Each time a foursquare user checks into a music venue, they will be able to unlock a "badge" which will donate $1 to the Foundation.  The program is running during the huge music events South by Southwest and Coachella. 

VH1 Save the Music was established in 1997.  It is essential for an established Foundation of this nature to constantly rethink their fundraising efforts to reach out to new markets.   I am curious to see how programs such as Tessitura would be able to incorporate this kind of data into their client offerings.  What kind of personal information can be logged from a Foursquare check in?  Donations of the smallest denomination can add up to huge profits for any organization, so being able to track and analyze any data is key to a profitable program.