For those who have heard the podcast already… the subtitle to this article is: “Why your Mother Never Reads...
Archive for category: Marketing
Surveying your members for insights about your organization is no small deal. If your nonprofit is letting its members...
Why Nobody Opens your Newsletters or Reads your Blog
Steve Vick, , How To Videos, Marketing, Video, 0There are two things that convince people to open email newsletters and read website content. A really good title...
One of the most important things you do with your nonprofit is market your services and/or products. But for...
NPA 024: Google Grants for Nonprofits – Get $10K in Free Adwords
Steve Vick, , Fundraising, Grant Writing, Marketing, Podcast, 2In this episode I talk with Jason Granger of Infinity Marketing Group about Google Grants. Yes, Google gives grants...
NPA 023: Starting a Nonprofit as a Side Job – an Interview with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation
Steve Vick, , Marketing, Podcast, 2In this episode I talk with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation. Nick is an blogger, podcaster and entrepreneur...
NPA 020: How to Find Sponsors for Your Nonprofit with Abby Clemence
Steve Vick, , Fundraising, Marketing, Podcast, 0Abby Clemence is a corporate sponsorship expert who specializes in gaining sponsorship’s for nonprofits. In this podcast we discuss...
When Looks Matter: How and Why to Develop a Style Guide
Christie Schuessler, , Marketing, Nonprofit 101, 0As a new employee at a larger non-profit I was given an introduction to the brand by the communications...
Listen to the Podcast
Recent Posts
How to Start a Nonprofit
Free Nonprofit Branding Course
Other Important Impression Makers
GET A WEBSITE
This should be one of the first things you do. A website that has your information on it is invaluable. You can put your mission, your contact information, your forms, your board meetings, your volunteer calendar, your donation page, your staff information and so much more online.
A professional looking website is easy to set up and very affordable (less than $100, really!). And it is a great way to build the capacity of your organization.
GET A LOGO
The number of new nonprofits that get created each year keeps rising. Separating your organization from the rest is an important part of establishing yourself in your community. No matter what your mission is, it will have more impact if it is branded with a recognizable logo.
Some Tips & Resources
Type in "free logo" in Google. You’ll be surprised how many decent choices there are.
If you are having trouble deciding on a logo, you can opt to have "text" logo. There are many organizations that simply use text as their logo. If you choose to do this, learn all you can about the subtleties of fonts, colors, balance, line height, font-weight and line spacing.
Pre-made logos are professional and inexpensive. GraphicRiver.com has over 25,000 logo designs. And it is easy to search for what you want. Their pre-made logos start at $29.
Hire a pro. I use 99designs.com*. All you have to do is post your project on their website and dozens of professional designers submit their ideas. Then you pick the one you like best. This cost about $300. They also have pre-made logos for $100.
Learn more:
Pre-made logos: GraphicRiver.net, 99designs.com
Custom Logos: 99designs.com
Word of Caution
Watch out for volunteer logo makers. I have rarely seen a volunteer make a logo that I would want for my organization. This is not saying that they didn’t have artistic talent. But that is usually the problem. They are artist.
Logos are not art. Let me repeat that. Logos are not art. A logo is a simple, clean, easily digestible symbol. Your logo should not have more than three colors, two fonts and two distinct objects/shapes.
Designing a logo is the one thing I suggest getting a professional designer to do from the get-go. Having said that, there are actually some good "free" logos available. They can be a bit generic, but better than having "art" as your logo.
One last thing about logos. A logo does not define your business. Your nonprofit logo starts with no meaning. The logo acquires the meaning from the product and/or services you provide.
(Here’s a little secret: The Nonprofit Ally logo is a free one I found on the web. But the logo for the nonprofit I started I had custom made at 99designs).
Membership Links
Taking a Course is Easy
Below you can track your progress and know exactly what lesson your are on what is coming next.
Ready to Start Your Course?
Don’t see any courses? That’s OK.
You probably just need to sign in.
Already signed-in? Wanna register for a course?
That’s easy too. Check out what we have to offer. Most courses are FREE!