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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Getting the word out

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  • From: "William C. Garthright" <billg@inebraska.com>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Getting the word out
  • Date: Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:53:41 -0500


*but* - websites cost money and newsletters cost money. The organization has
to get enough money to stay alive, healthy and functioning,


Yes, you're absolutely right. And all organizations struggle with this. Frankly, those that survive will probably be the best at keeping the costs down.

Newsletters and other publications are often the biggest expense. I hate to say this, but I think that eventually - eventually - these things will have to go to on-line publication only. Not yet, of course. You don't want to drive out the old-timers and the computer illiterate. But that's the way the world is moving. The younger people whom you are trying to attract are the future of all organizations, and they'll just expect everything to come on-line. It's quick and it's easy, it doesn't kill trees, and searching out information is a breeze. But the big thing is that it's far, far cheaper than mailing paper copies.


and we have to persuade those who benefit from it to contribute.


Yes, but I still think it will be a matter of joining because you feel that you really SHOULD support this fine organization, rather than joining because you'll get some premium content or other perk. There's just too much information available free on-line. I think NAFEX would be better off, in the long run, letting everyone access all their useful information, since that would encourage more people to become interested. And it would help publicize the very existence of NAFEX, which is critically important, too.

Every time a Google search brings up a NAFEX site (or even this email list), that's ideal advertising for the group. Having Pomona available on-line, to everyone, just means more free advertising.


Procrastinators like you and me have to be motivated to actually part with
their money. If you've got any better ideas about how to get that done, let's
hear them.


Just that it's got to be as quick and easy as possible. If I CAN procrastinate, chances are that I WILL. If you want to charge an extra dollar for credit card transactions (if you're worried about the added cost) as opposed to payment by check, I'd still pay by credit card (or Paypal).

And it's not just getting new members, either. I belong to groups that just expect you to remember to renew (by check) every year. That's a prescription for losing existing members right and left. Ideally, a member should get an automatic email notice when it's time to renew, with a link that will bring up not just a renewal form, but a form already filled in with their name and address. Click on Paypal or credit card, enter your information (or your password for Paypal), and it's done.

If the membership is not renewed, then follow-up emails should be sent (with an easy way of saying "no thanks," of course, but NAFEX should politely request the reason they are not renewing - that's very useful information). Furthermore, if a membership is paid in advance for two or three years, the member should STILL get an annual email telling them that they're paid up,... with an easy link for donations, in case the member would like to further support the group. :-)

Yeah, renewal reminders will have to come by mail, too, at first. But email is the future. It's cheap, it's easy (once the programming is done), and it can be automatic. I think that the organizations that do this best will be the ones that tend to survive. Why do I buy WAY too many books on Amazon.com? Mostly because they make it so ridiculously easy! I'm an impulse shopper, and they can get my order before I have second thoughts. If I had to write them a check, it would sit for awhile,... until I eventually decided that I didn't REALLY need that book, after all. To my mind, successful non-profit groups are going to have to think this way, too.

Bill
Lincoln, NE

--
We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special. - Stephen Hawking




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