SmallBizTrends.com has some info about the CAN-SPAM Act and how to comply. From the article, your email marketing is compliant if you do these 4 things:

• the subject line is not misleading and advertisements are clearly labeled as such;
• the email headers, sending email address and other identifiers in the headers have not been tampered with in order to conceal your identity
• the body of the email contains a valid physical address for the sender; and
• the email contains a functioning opt-out mechanism, and opt out requests are honored within 10 business days of receipt of that request.

With public dollars drying up and corporate donations down, what are non-profits going to do for the shortfall? In Seth Godin’s book, Flipping the Funnel (for non-profits),  you need to hand the bullhorn over to your evangelists. Non-profits could keep spending money on mass marketing campaigns, but it’s easier to leverage your current donor file. It’s easier to get a donor to donate again than to convert a prospect to a donor. Also, a donor would have an easier time converting a peer into a donor than the non-profit sales person.

It’s also a time to get creative. People want something for their dollars. An event. Merchandise. Micro-payments.

Are you using Cafe Press or other online store to provide promotional items? Are you having design contests?

Nothing tells a story better than video, Are you taking advantage of YouTube and Revver? Not by creating ads, but by telling a story from the beneficiary’s point of view perhaps.

What are micro-payments? Ever seen the “buy-me-a-beer-if-you-liked-this”? Letting people donate any amount – $5, $10, etc. On Twitter, some people raised $14K for a cause in 14 hours. Facebook ads are cheap right now – and supposedly very targeted. If it cost you $50 to advertise your next contest, new tee-shirt design or fund-raiser, wouldn’t it be worth it?

How about a referral contest? What donor can bring in the most new donors? Give them a prize and recognition at your next event.

These are just some random thoughts that were sparked by Communispace CEO, Diane Hessan, on Twitter today.

Another thought is to work with the closest American marketing Association chapter or Ad2 group.

Want to learn a little something about Direct Marketing? I have quite a few clients using direct marketing, so I am bringing in an expert.

On Friday, June 5th, 2009 at 3 PM Eastern time, join us as we welcome Steve Tingiris, founder of Prospect Smarter and then launched Enthusem.com, which is an online/offline direct marketing platform. Steve knows direct marketing. We are going to discuss the Keys to Success with direct marketing – the message, the offer, the list, and repetition. In addition, we will discuss DM expectations, statistics, PURL’s, and a few minutes on Enthusem, because I actually like the platform.

This is the first in a series of interactive calls about sales and marketing in 2009. There will be about 18 minutes of presentation before we open it up for Q&A.

Register now for just $29!

Seminar Rates

Member $9.95 Non-Member $29.00

You can get a reduced rate for joining my Marketing Subscription service!