Category: DIRECT MAIL

What Length Donor Appeal Raises More Fundraising Dollars?

Many development directors face this conundrum when crafting their appeal letters, what works best? A longer letter or a short appeal? Here’s what expert Gary Henricksen thinks and why.

WHAT WORKS BEST, A LONG OR SHORT APPEAL LETTER?

Interesting and intriguing question for a development director, what works best with my donors, a long or a short letter? We review what the experts have to say, experts that have researched and tested this question and have the answers you need now!

Year End Appeals That Have Appeal

Year-End Appeals That Have Appeal

What’s the point of crafting an annual appeal that has no appeal to the donors who receive it? Make sure you are on the right track, not skipping important steps that will ensure the success that your organization is depending on for year-end fundraising success!

Craft Your Best Annual Appeal Letter Ever With these Proven Techniques

Craft Your Best Annual Appeal Letter Ever With these Proven Techniques!

More tips from Blockbuster to craft the best of the best annual fundraising appeal! All kinds of hacks, tweeks and proven techniques that will work for you and your mission.

AWESOME ANNUAL APPEAL IDEAS

Resist surrendering to the good news compulsion in your annual appeal. You have to make people want to help you. Your job is to convince them that you need their help.

Annual Appeal Suggestions and Who better to take annual appeal suggestions from than the Dean of Direct Mail? Jerry Huntsinger from the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration (SOFII) gives these nine great tips for winning appeal letters.

Tip #1 – Good news?
Resist surrendering to the good news compulsion. You have to make people want to help you. Your job is to convince them that you need their help. So if all you talk about is good news, they might think you don’t need their help.

Tip #2 – Talk about yourself
Don’t be reluctant to say “I.” Your donors want a letter from a real live person who is compassionate and cares about their mission. Don’t make it stuffy and institutionalized. Keep it real and personal.

Tip #3 – Surprise!
Don’t let your donors anticipate what you’ll do next. Keep them off balance; keep them guessing. Every fundraising package they receive from you should contain an element of surprise. Check your format and make it unique. You don’t want your donors anticipating your every move.
Tip #4 – Stories
Tell more stories this year about the needy people or animals you are helping. Your donors want to help real people and not an organization.

Tip #5 – Graphic Excitement
Put more graphic excitement in your letters. People are busy and save time by scanning the page and then deciding if the material deserves more of their time. Use bold font and underlining, short paragraphs, more attention grabbing statements, and more headlines.

Tip #6 – Loooong letter
Rethink your prejudice against long copy. This letter has to do a lot of telling and asking so you want to take your time. Make it longer and more compelling.

Tip #7 – No worries
Stop worrying about donors being offended by your fundraising appeals. Worry more about convincing them to send money! They want to hear from you. Don’t be shy. Just write a great letter with great stories.

Tip #8 – Getting to know you
Get to really know your donors specifically. Who signs the checks? Read the positive letters they send in. Every week call three donors at random and talk to them. Tell them you are trying to get to know your donors better.

Tip #9 – Thinking of you
Donors don’t think about you nearly as much as you think about them. They think about you when you call and when they receive a letter from you. So make it good! The better your communication with them, the more fondly they’ll remember you.

How Many Times A Year Should You ‘Ask’ Your Donors For Gifts?

Hey, how often can you ask in a year without driving off donors? And should you work more on raising awareness than raising money? And do you think Newsletters lose money? So many good questions and even better answers taken from Tom Aherns 20 Questions, The Donor Communications Test! You Need to Take this Test and can get it here but if you want a sneak peak, watch this now!
and here’s the link: http://www.aherncomm.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/20Questions_ebook_final2016_v3.pdf

2 PROVEN BLUEPRINTS FOR WINNING BACK LAPSED DONOR LETTERS


Could you use a fabulous blueprint for a super successful Lapsed Donor Letter?

How about not just one, but two?

Watch now and snag this wonderful reconnecting donor content for your own lapsed donor mailing this year!

Loving lapsed donors back into the fold | Simple, brilliant and oh so swipe-able!


http://www.jenviano.com/sites/default/files/Lapsed%20Donor%20Letter.pdf

2 Winning Lapsed Donor Sample Letters


Could you use a fabulous blueprint for a super successful Lapsed Donor Letter? How about not just one, but two? Watch now and snag this wonderful reconnecting donor content for your own lapsed donor mailing this year!

Loving lapsed donors back into the fold | Simple, brilliant and oh so swipe-able!


http://www.jenviano.com/sites/default/files/Lapsed%20Donor%20Letter.pdf

Lapsed Donor Love Letters to Lure & Reel Them Back

We’re focused on the Lapsed Donors and today focus on best lapsed-letter communications to win your donors back and rebuild those wonderful relationships!

How to Dominate Direct Mail

How to Dominate Year-End Direct Mail

Success in direct mail cannot be achieved through a great letter alone. Even if you have the most compelling story written in an impeccable, easy to read letter, it won’t do you any good if it is not read by your supporters. This is why understanding direct mail is so important.

Direct Mail Tips and Tricks

Tune Your Timing

It is very important that your timing is right. At times during the year, there is a lot of mail in boxes everywhere – holiday cards, Black Friday deals, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and more! Make sure that your mail piece hits at the best time possible and stands out from the rest.

Expert Help

Make sure you are working with your mail service people. You need to discuss schedules, exact dates of when you want your pieces to drop, and really get in sync. The last thing you want to do is think you have everything ready to go on time and find out that your piece will take an extra several weeks to mail. It could very easily be a very busy year for them too!

Details, Details, Details

Make sure you have a very detail oriented assistant or team of people to help you look over your package and check every detail. This includes the letter itself, but also the reply card, envelope, mailing list, and anything else you are including. More eyes are the best policy to avoid mistakes!

Donor’s Eyes

Look at your direct mail piece as your donor will look at it. Remember your primary objective – what do you want them to do. Have you asked them often enough? Does your #1 benefit hit your donor right between the eyes? Have you made it clear what you want them to do and how they fit into your organization?

First Impressions

Does your mail piece encourage your donors to open it right now? Is it exciting? Try using colored envelopes or putting a short phrase on the envelope that will make your donors want to open it up right away. Obviously, make sure all of your donor’s information is correct on the envelope as well.

Reply Card

Include a reply card! Is your response device in your letter and does it include a summary of your letter? Without a response device, your supporters won’t be able to easily send in their donations. They may not even realize you are asking for a response at all.