Email automation can save you time and increase your revenue…how cool is that! There are so many different ways you can use automations at all stages of the donor journey. Here are five automations you can implement to help you grow your list, nurture your audience and keep them coming back for more.

→ what is an automation? → creating a welcome sequence. → what to send after someone purchases from you. → lead magnets that help you grow your list. → building energy buzz with pre/post event emails. → creating a process for follow up after one on one conversations

[3:17] Email automations are emails that go in the background. They help you develop a deeper connection with your audience and are specific for the actions that your audience is taking. To set this up you'll need an email service provide. Some of my favorites are in the resources below. [6:06] Automation #1 – Welcome Sequence. This is the emails people get right after they have donated. It allows them to dive deeper into your organization and feel a part of your community. [8:13] Automation #2 – After a Purchase. This is in relation to a purchase like tickets or pet adoption etc. This isn't related to a donation. Think about how you can add value to them for the product they've purchased and build more trust and repeat purchases. [9:53] Automation #3 – A Lead Magnet. A lead magnet gives someone a resource or solution to a pain point in exchange for their email address. This can be a checklist, pdf, audio clip, etc. The important thing is that it gets you in front of your ideal audience. [11:53] Automation #4 – Pre/Post Event Emails. These are emails that your event attendees get prior to the event. This helps to create buzz and and energy for the event as well as provide important information they need to have fun! Then, after the event, having a serious of emails that shares results and how they can dive deeper with you moving forward. [15:41] Automation #5 – Follow up from one on one conversations. This might be the trickiest but this allows you to follow up with people you've had one on on conversations with that fit in a smiliar bucket. What you send them will vary based off the type of conversation. It can help you stay top of mind while still adding value.

Digital Marketing Therapy Sessions ConvertKit* ActiveCampaign EP 122 | Building a Welcome Sequence with Sarah Cook [guide] 9 Ways You Can Raise More Money Online

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Credit card processing is a cost of doing business, it's something we all accept. Did you know that you can negotiate rates and that not everyone pays the same rates for the processing?

Understanding what your contract is is crucial. Working with consultant who can help you navigate the language and the things to consider can save you a good amount of money. That's money that can support your mission and help you increase your impact.

→ differences in processing options. → flat rates vs variable rates → when its time to consider another option. → the importance of finding a true partner → video and Gen Z. → keys to making a viral video

[6:13] There are big differences in credit card processing options. Stripe, Square, and Paypal offer singular rates without an opportunity for negotiation. You can also find partners that can help you find the right platform for your unique business and negotiate rates on your behalf. Finally, you can work with a bank that offers one solution and usually has less wiggle room on rates. [11:12] Flat rates vs variable – what you should consider. Flat rates are playing with the law of averages. Different cards have different rates. For example, a debit card is way less than a high rewards card or AMEX black card. With a flat rate it doesn't matter how they pay, your charge is the same. Variable rates take into account the card the user pays with. You pay accordingly so while you can't always control the rate, more than likely you'll end up ahead. [19:48] Find a partner that can help you negotiate rates. Credit card processing is a whole new language. Find someone that you trust that can help you navigate, much like you utilize your health insurance broker. They can often do a statement analysis to show you the specific savings. While they may not be able to save you money at least you'll know you're getting the best rate for where you're at.

[quiz] Should You DIY Your Website

Founder, High Desert Merchant Services

Jen has a professional life that's a mix of hospitality and entrepreneurship. When she started a family working nights was no longer an option, because she didn't like missing nighttime baths, books and snuggles in 2018. She got involved in the payment processing space, and over the years has vetted several processing companies forged relationships, gain deep knowledge about various systems, and have and have pre negotiated rates for clients better than they can get on their own.

Today, she proudly helps businesses with all their payment processing needs. Thanks to those who have allowed her to serve them in this capacity, she enjoys the good fortune of earning an honest income while also being present as a mom do things for clients by ensuring they keep as much of their hard earned money as possible, enjoying excellent service and have a partner and payments for life.

Learn more: https://highdesertmerchantservices.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Getting donations is important – but it's not something that should be left up to luck! Paying attention to how your donation page is set up is a great first step. Using data from those donations and your analytics can help you make decisions to improve your donor experience and increase conversions.

→ how to make donating easy. → why your donation page needs to be mobile friendly. → testing donation pages for better conversions. → match the info on the donation page to the purpose of the page. → why a CRM gives you more insight to your donors. → keys to making a viral video. → free options within Donor Dock.

[7:07] Keep your donation page easy, clear and user friendly. Don't ask more than you need on your donation forms. Think about the user experience and tailor it to your ideal donors. Is your messaging and impact clear? You don't need to share EVERYTHING you do, just the things that are going to matter most for your donors. [10:22] Ensure your donation page is mobile friendly. Forms can be tricky on a mobile device. If people can't make a donation easily from their phone you are leaving significant money on the table. [12:36] Testing your donation pages. There are several things you can test to see what is going to convert best. This includes pre-selected donation amounts, impact statements, different donation pages, etc. Don't make too many different changes at once so you can clearly see what is making the impact. Tracking data is critical to understand the trends and make decisions that will support your fundraising goals. [24:29] Match the purpose of your donation page to the information that's on it. You don't need to include all the information about giving on every single donation page. Remember the goal of the page and put relevant information on there. For example, if it's event registration then have event info, you don't need to include stock options, crypto, etc. [28:34] Sync with your CRM with. The biggest benefit of syncing with your CRM is all the data and tracking you can have. This helps you with future conversations and better segmentation. Plus, you'll have other benefits that you can add into your form for better user experience.

Digital Marketing Therapy Sessions

Founder, Donor Dock

Matt holds a deep-seated passion for working with nonprofit organizations and believes strongly that technology should enable nonprofits to further their mission and drive more impact. Instead, many nonprofits see technology as a burden. With DonorDock, he aims to change that and truly help nonprofits unlock the potential that technology can play within their organization.

Prior to founding DonorDock, he gained broad experience in the technology industry, serving in various positions, including leading a Microsoft Dynamics consulting business and ISV, IT leadership positions, and software architecture and development roles.

Matt holds an MBA from the University of Mary, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from North Dakota State University. He and his family and reside in West Fargo, ND.

Learn more: https://donordock.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Your donation page is critical, but it's only part of the experience your donors should have with you. Setting up your donation page for conversions is great and then it's all important to ensure they are building continued trust with you. This helps with better retention and more financial sustainability for your organization. 

→ value of a frictionless donation page → power of integrating elements into your website. → creating a ways to give page. → having different donation pages for different campaigns

[7:36] Before you build your donation page ensure your messaging is pulled together. This will help you connect better with your donation page and prioritize what you really need on that page. That user experience can also help you determine the tech tools you need to be successful. This can also help you build out the actions that hapen once a donation is given. [15:39] Embed as much as you can on your website. When you have your forms and essential elements on your website, instead of sending them somewhere else, it builds trust and makes a better user experience. It is also easier to control. Put your video on the left and donation form to the right so it catches people's eye right away. [19:13] Create a Ways to Give page with additional information people may want. Add a button below the donation page for people that might want more information so they can make a donation decision. This page should include contact information and more details about all the options they have like crypto, stocks, mail a check, etc. [23:29] Give as much attention to your donation page as you do on your follow up. Nurturing is critical and it starts right after they give. Share the latest and greatest in your zone of genius and keep top of mind with your donors. [30:58] Create different metrics for your online giving. Understanding your goals for online and individual gifts will help you determine your follow up plan and how it fits in with your entire fundraising strategy.

[quiz] Should You DIY Your Website?

Founder and Creative Director, Cosmic

Eric is the Founder and Creative Director of Cosmic — a Social Impact Creative Agency. He believes that the social impact sector must change in order to take advantage of the benefits of the information era.

Today’s websites, digital tools, and platforms make it easier for social impact leaders to quickly and efficiently communicate ideas and reach people aligned with their mission across the globe. Yet, many of the strategies and approaches in the social impact space are still based on what worked well in the pre-digital era. This leaves many organizations under-resourced, siloed, and struggling to reach their full impact potential.Today’s social impact organizations have strong missions and inspiring visions. In order to accomplish their goals, they need to update their communications philosophies, focus their digital strategy, and discover how a well-thought-out brand strategy can help them rise above the noise, connect with supporters and advocates, and win in the attention economy.Eric and Cosmic are on a mission to help social impact leaders and organizations develop a digital-first culture that leads to adopting the tools of the information era in order to reach their desired future state and move humanity forward.

Learn more: https://designbycosmic.com/ 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

What does your donation page look like? Is it easy for people to navigate and find, or is it messy and unclear? Or worse, does it send you right to PayPal! Make the most of your donation page with these tips

→ making it easy to get employer matching gift funds. → how to communicate other ways to give. → ways to convey that you are a trustworthy organization.

[6:01] Double the Donation. This allows you to have people automatically submit their paperwork to get the matching gift from their employers. It has a search functionality and allows them to easily submit necessary information. [7:21] Testing the rest of the donation page to appeal to the donors motivations for giving. Using tools to help you understand how people are engaging with your page will help you determine the order you put information on the page. Ultimately the goal is to build trust and appeal to their values. [12:08] Add elements to build trust. Use a variety of elements. These could include GuideStar seals, testimonials, annual reports, etc.

[quiz] Should You DIY Your Website? Double the Donation HotJar Microsoft Clarity [podcast] EP 152 | Building Your Brand Message with Ashlee Sang

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Short form video content isn't going away. If it isn't a part of your strategy, what are you waiting for? Short form video is a great way for you to connect more with your audience and build trust. It is also the preferred way more and more people want to engage with a brand!

Get strategies for creating short form content and how to go about adding it in your digital marketing plan.

→ what is short form video content? → tips for creating videos.  → tools for creating short form video. → repurposing long form video content into short form. → video and Gen Z. → keys to making a viral video

[4:47] What is short form content? 30-90 second vertical video clips that are utilized on social media, YouTube, Pinterest etc. It is easy to create with your phone and helps you connect more authentically with your audience. It is important to make the videos with your audience in mind, hook them in the first 3 seconds and stop the scroll. [9:33] Using tools can help you create videos. While you can easily use your phone and the editors in the individual social media platforms, there are also some great tools to help make it easier. Check out the resources for those mentioned in this episode. [12:43] Starting with your existing long form and breaking it into short form video is a great place to start. Context here is the most important thing. Viewers won't have seen the entire thing so you want to make sure they can still get the clear message. [15:51] Video is crucial for connecting with Gen Z and Millenials. They want to see your face and hear your voice. This is how they build trust and prefer to connect with brands. [19:47] The three main tenants to telling stories with your video are entertain, educate and inspire. The more of these three elements you can include in a video, the more likelyl it'll go viral and get more views.

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Ben is a video editor with 12 years of production experience in a variety of industries. Ben’s current focus is on creating short-form videos for social media platforms. He works with personal brands and consultants, helping them effectively communicate their messages through video. Throughout his career, Ben has developed a reputation for his creativity, technical expertise, and ability to work collaboratively with clients to achieve their goals.

Outside of video, Ben is an accomplished musician/songwriter and has traveled the world playing guitar in alternative rock bands. He lives in Akron, OH with his wife and 2 Australian Shepards. Learn more: www.newenergymedia.org 

Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@benhendricks  Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/newenergymedia 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Have you played with AI yet? It seems like it is everywhere you look and a part of all your existing platforms from Canva to social media software and in stand alone tools. It can help you with research, writing content, finding the perfect image and so much more! Is it a tool you should be using? And if so, how can you best go about utilizing it? That is what we discuss in this episode!

→ what is AI? → how AI can help with your email marketing. → how AI can save you time. → using AI to generate images and video.

[4:59] What can AI do for you?. It will create copy for you based off of the prompts that you ask it. It goes out and pulls information from the internet to give you the right content. [5:37] AI can help you with your email marketing. You can use it to brainstorm ideas of what to write. It could also help you craft first drafts of your emails. Finally, it is great at helping you craft subject lines that will encourage more people to open those emails. [9:19] The prompts you give AI will determine the quality of the response. A prompt is what you put in the search bar. There are several types that include idea generation as well as writing entire blog posts or emails. [13:38] You can use prompts to get AI to write closer to your voice. Understanding who your audience is and what their motivations and beliefs are will help you build promts that speak to them. It's also important to get clear on your why to help you craft the right stories. [23:25] AI can help you generate images and video you need for your marketing. AI can help you cut up your videos into shorter ones for repurposing. It can also help with podcasts as well.

Digital Marketing Therapy Sessions Simon Sinek | Start With Why Jasper Chat GPT Canva Descript Otter

Scott Bywater is one of the most sought after marketing copywriters in Australia, who runs what many regard as the highest level private marketing group in Australia, Elite Marketers..

He is the creator of the online ‘Simple Email ROI System’ course and over the past 21 years has written for gurus and leading companies including Kerwin Rae, Jay Conrad Levinson (of ‘Guerilla Marketing’ fame), Mercola.com and The Learning Annex.

He’s an in-demand speaker who has presented at James Schramko’s SuperFast Business, Dale Beaumont and Ben Simkin’s masterminds – and is on a mission to help coaches, consultants and course creators leverage their most undervalued asset (their email list) without being pushy or salesy. Learn more at: http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au 

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@copywritingthatsells/videos 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

We can spend a lot of time creating content. In doing so, we hope to get results. These results include more traffic to your website, more conversions, more subscribers to your email list, etc. If you aren't sure if your content is working for you, this episode is for you!

→ what types of content you should create. → crafting content for different stages of awareness. → reverse engineering your content based on when your next ask is. → the importance of collecting data (even if you aren't ready to use it yet). → give people next steps in your content → researching content ideas your audience wants to hear about.

[7:54] The importance of context in your content. It's important to understand who you're talking to and the scenario the content is being consumed in. By making the content about the individual you are able to connect in a more meaningful way. Just creating content for the sake of content doesn't work. [12:21] Talking to donors at the bottom of the triangle – the wants aware phase. These are your potential donors and they take the longest to move to the top. Your first four lines (or 10-20 seconds) are most critical – regardless of the type of content. End it with solution. [15:00] The next level is symptoms aware. This is where you share the stories of those that you are serving. Instead of just telling people what you do, show it. Start your first four lines (or 10-20 seconds) speaking to emotion through senses. Here is where you can start to get more specific.  [21:43] Process aware is the middle phase. This is where you talk to about your organization and how you are solving the problem. For the first time, this is where you lead with your organization. [24:02] Identity aware is level 5. Here you communicate how the cause fits with your donors values and motivations. Get specific! [25:17] Coach aware! This is the best phase because these people are your biggest fans. When you ask for support they give it. The goal is to get as many people up to this phase in our marketing campaigns in between giving campaigns.

[quiz] Should You DIY Your Website?

Founder, Conversion Kevin

Meet Kevin, the expert who can help you with just that. He's been writing email funnels and sales pages for over 30 different influencers in the health, wellness, and personal development industry. And you know what?

His techniques have increased their program sales between 150% to 300%.

Kevin has had quite the experience in the industry. He has been the main copy and offers coach for two multi-million dollar online coaching and consulting companies.

His expertise has helped their clients craft their high-ticket offers and position their content to convert for their clients.

Nowadays, Kevin runs his own mentorship, mentoring coaches on how they can apply a marketing and sales system that uses the process of belief shifts instead of hard sales. Learn more: https://app.conversionkevin.com/podcast/group 

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

We can spend a lot of time creating content. In doing so, we hope to get results. These results include more traffic to your website, more conversions, more subscribers to your email list, etc. If you aren't sure if your content is working for you, this episode is for you!

→ how content can support your organizational goals. → how to reverse engineer your content for better results. → ways to maximize Google Search Console → the importance of collecting data (even if you aren't ready to use it yet). → give people next steps in your content → researching content ideas your audience wants to hear about.

[5:47] Content marketing is a long term strategy. If you aren't getting the results you want start by evaluating the content you already have. Think about your user journey and reorganize it so that it's presented in a way that speaks to them and is easy for them to find. If you're just getting started, you can speed up the process by running digital ads to your pillar content. [5:17] Reverse engineer your donor journey to see what content is working or what might need to be added. Use your analytics to see what content people are consuming before the make a donation. Also, what pages they are leaving from and not making a donation. This will help you determine how to organize your content as well as what pages might be good for promotion via the Google Ad grant or paid digital advertising. It will also help you determine what content to update, consolidate or write. [11:43] Build trust with search engines. One way you can do this is to prominently feature your authors and build out their profiles on your website. This allows search engines to trust that you are an authority in that area. [15:43] Make sure people have somewhere to go once they've ready your content. When you understand how people use your website before they make a decision you can guide them to additional resources, guides, pieces of content and important pages on your website for a faster decision. You can do this in your content through links, buttons, forms etc. [22:34] Researching to find topics that your audience cares about. This can come from simple things like google searches. Use different types of prompts like “donate to” or information searches. Also use the information that shows up in the search results to show you what people care about and are looking for. 

Google Search Console

CEO and Founder of Wheelhouse Digital Marketing Group

Aaron Burnett is CEO and founder of Wheelhouse Digital Marketing Group, a fast-growing digital marketing agency recognized by INC. Magazine as one of the best places to work in the United States and by both Seattle Magazine and the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the best workplaces in Washington State.

Aaron delivers an engaging, inspiring conversation about building a thriving, values-led business whose growth and culture are fueled by helpfulness, generosity, and joy and about the current state of digital marketing through the lens of a leading digital marketing agency. Learn more at https://wheelhousedmg.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click  Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Creating content helps you with the rest of your marketing efforts. Make sure you're getting as many eyeballs on what you create by repurposing it and sharing it on a wide variety of places.

→ where content can be repurposed. → where to share your content. → types of posts to create. → ways to share via email. → why you shouldn't worry about sharing too often. → how to repurpose your existing long form content.

[4:40] What type of content should you create? The bigger priority is figuring out what content you can create consistency and set a regular schedule. [5:48] Make a list of the platforms you currently market on. This list could include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, email etc. The key is to start where you are currently active and get consistent before you add more in.  [7:25] Types of posts you can create. You can create carousel posts, short form video and static posts. Each type you'd create at least 4 so you'd have one per week if you're only posting long form content monthly. [13:15] Break down your content into weekly emails. Take the same strategy as social media content and break your long form content into weekly emails. Highlight a point and then drive readers to your website for more information. [16:53] Repurposing your existing content. Utilize the existing content you have on your website. You can update high performing content and reshare it to your audience. This is a great way to have more to share without having to always create new.

Learn More about VIP Days EP 162 | How to Craft a Perfect Blog Post

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click  Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours