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.

Online Business Can Be a Boom for Baby Boomers

I've spent the past eight months researching and creating an online business.

I was downsized two years ago. But as a person over 50 I wasn't eager to go through the stress of interviews and starting all over again. So, I began to ponder alternative ways that I could work and earn money.

I turned to investigating online businesses. As a marketing communications professional online business was a very interesting concept. I threw myself into an eight-month immersion session and learned as much as I could about the process, the people who were making it work, and the potential for success.

What I learned was there are many people who are selling products, their skills, and their experience online and making a living doing it. I came to the conclusion that many Baby Boomers, like me, would benefit greatly from creating their own online business. Whether they are unemployed or not, an online business could serve them well in the future.

According to Pew Research "roughly 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day, and about 10,000 more will cross that threshold every day for the next 19 years."

That's a huge population of seniors. But these seniors aren't like the ones in the past. They are more educated, physically active and in better health. That means they will be living longer than their parents. They will need to have a substantial retirement nest egg to live a good quality of life. So, after thorough research, I created Prime Life Academy to help other Baby Boomers.

Unfortunately, during the past recession, many of them lost a substantial portion of their investments, lost their jobs or were forced to take early retirement. Some had to tap into any savings that they had. Many of them are already planning to keep working past retirement. 

The benefits of creating an online business: 

• Work from home. (Yes, in your pajamas.)
• Option to start before retirement. You don't have to start after retirement. 
• There is a low cost of entry. Your costs include your computer, printer, some office supplies and a few online courses. Not a building or office.
• There is an active group of people doing the same thing you are doing.

Authors, personal coaches, teachers, retailers, pastors, plumbers, anyone that has a product or skill can create an online business. Your offering can take the form(s) of a physical product, webinars, e-books, audio/video modules or e-courses. Some online businesses branch into offering workshops and seminars based on their online activities. 

Consider it and check out Prime Life Academy.

Prime Life Academy helps Baby boomers create success and freedom through the power of entrepreneurship. We give you all the tools you need to find ways to take action on creating a business to supplement your income well into retirement doing what you love, all while becoming happier and more fulfilled.