How Non-Profits Can Expand their Fundraising Efforts for Free

Does Google own the entire internet? Some people I know would say "yes".  No matter what you think of Google here is something every non-profit needs to know. If you have or are involved with a non-profit Google will give you $10,000 per month of free advertising!  It could go up as high as $30,000. To be eligible, you must be a 501(3) C.

Google Ad Grants is the nonprofit edition of AdWords, Google's online advertising tool. According to Google, the grants empower "nonprofit organizations, through $10,000 per month in in-kind AdWords™ advertising, to promote their missions and initiatives on Google search result pages." 

It's HUGE! It means you can get FREE advertising about your non-profit anywhere on the internet that Google owns "space".  And where is that? (Yeah, you can say they own the internet).

Why would you want to do advertising?  Besides promoting your mission and initiatives, you can also push people to your website where people can donate to your organization.  With Google Ads you can target your audience by demographics so that you get in front of the exact people that you want and need.

So, what is the catch?  You have to manage the first $10,000 ($329 per day) really well. If you can prove you have good management of the tool, you will be eligible to expand your grant.  In other words, you have to know how to use AdWords and understand the process of cost per click advertising. 

• A $2.00 maximum cost-per-click (CPC)
• Only run keyword-targeted campaigns
• Only appear on Google search result pages
• Only run text ads

That might be tricky for most non-profits that don't have a full time person who can manage this for them.  A good social media manager with Google experience or certification can help you with it.  Or just drop me an email with Google Grants in the subject line and I can assist you.

To find out more, just Google “Google Adwords Grants for Non-profits”.  They provide a handy downloadable guide to assist you.

If you want to get the free report "The 7 Worst Marketing Mistakes You Can Make (and how to avoid them)" join our VIP Marketing Academy at www.fluidcommunictions.net and get free marketing tips, information and insights. 

Also join us on Facebook at facebook.com/fluidcomm and @vipmrkting on Twitter. Karen Williams is president of Fluid Communications, a marketing communications company in Northwest Indiana.

Joint venturing to expand business

I got married last week -- to two guys.  It was strictly business.

It is to two associates of mine who own a successful website development company. They are quite successful at their business but what I noticed was they were just a website development company. The construction guys. They knew all about web design, algorithms and analytics -- all the things to make the site function properly.

I explained to them how I felt they were missing a huge marketing opportunity.  So, I asked them how they were marketing to keep customers coming back once they created a website. They both looked at me rather blankly. Other than hosting fees and the occasional updates their clients decided on, not much. They were always seeking new business.  And we all know that getting new business costs more than keeping business.

I explained to them the opportunity for marketing their own website business was to expand into content development.  They needed to develop content for their clients -- for the websites they built, digital advertising campaigns, downloadable e-books, etc. They also had an opportunity to show clients how offering those pieces on websites can increase web traffic.

"You see," I began, "you can create your own additional line of business. Also by creating your own e-newsletter that you send talking about the need to update websites, how to create mobile advertising, using video, etc... you keep your clients engaged with you.  You can also become the only source they need for their digital marketing."

I saw the light bulb go on.  "Oh," they said in unison.  My proposal had worked.  Since I do content and digital advertising "we" thought a partnership would be great.  In the business world it is called a joint venture.

So, the newsletter I developed for their over 300 clients that talked about our joint venture went out last week.  It provided information I created on how websites need to continue to be updated and how video on websites can drive more traffic. The newsletter worked.  They got two clients to call immediately (clients they had for over 10 years) to talk about updating their sites and perhaps adding video.

Beyond the content I provide for my new "partners",  I also am getting exposure for other services I provide to the 300 clients they have.  I embed my affiliate links in the e-newsletter, my own downloadable content and other opportunities to generate revenue for my business as well -- along with creating the content for his clients.

Soon, I am sure we will have more clients -- you can call them our children -- who will need all types of content.