The Smart Communications Podcast

Episode 21: How can communications help development?

October 31st, 2018  |  19 mins 42 secs

fundraising, nonprofit communications, nonprofit development, nonprofit fundraising, nonprofits

Big Duck goes to Fundraising Day 2018 and asks rockstars in the fundraising world one question: What can communications do to support development? Tune in to hear their answers—and more.

Episode 20: How do you get affiliates to speak with one voice?

October 17th, 2018  |  14 mins 43 secs

apda, branding, nonprofit branding, nonprofit brands, nonprofit communications

Stephanie Paul, VP of Marketing and Development at the American Parkinson Disease Association, shares her experiences rebranding and how it helped APDA's chapters sing from the same songbook.

Episode 19: How can you get your new brand to stick?

October 10th, 2018  |  16 mins 28 secs

brand stickiness, internal communications, nonprofit, nonprofit branding, nonprofit brands, nonprofit communications

As a nonprofit’s rebrand comes to a close, the task of getting the brand to take hold—and stay alive—begins. Tune in to learn what nonprofits need internally to ensure their new brand sticks.

Episode 18: Should you fire that lousy board member?

September 19th, 2018  |  11 mins 41 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, jargon, language, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, phrases, pronouns, values, word choice, words

A shared understanding of governance is the key to a strong nonprofit board. Simone Joyaux, author of “Firing Lousy Board Members” defines what that means, why it matters, what it takes to get there.

Episode 17: How can you facilitate great internal communications?

September 5th, 2018  |  15 mins 6 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, jargon, language, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, phrases, pronouns, values, word choice, words

Communicating well internally can help your organization communicate well externally. Listen in for useful tools and practices to facilitate productive conversations inside your org.

Episode 16: Should nonprofits rebrand when overhauling their websites?

August 22nd, 2018  |  7 mins 15 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, jargon, language, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, phrases, pronouns, values, word choice, words

Should nonprofits squeeze in a full rebrand when their website needs an update? Listen to learn more.

Episode 15: How do you articulate your community’s values?

August 8th, 2018  |  15 mins 54 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, jargon, language, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, phrases, pronouns, values, word choice, words

Nonprofit leaders have a great opportunity to define their organization’s values by listening to clients and other key constituents in their community. Listen to learn how to shape your values collaboratively.

Episode 14: Can we engage audiences with YouTube Live?

August 1st, 2018  |  10 mins 28 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, digital marketing, jargon, language, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, phrases, pronouns, strategy, values, word choice, words, youtube, youtube live

Sharing information and starting conversations online are powerful ways nonprofits can engage new audiences. Listen to learn more about a burgeoning platform in the nonprofit space—YouTube live.

Episode 13: Should we digitize our brand guide?

July 24th, 2018  |  7 mins 18 secs

board, brand guide, branding, communications, digital brand guide, digital branding, digital style guide, donor engagement, events, fundraising, galas, giving, in-person cultivation, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits, style guide

Brand guides contain everything you need to write and design on behalf of your nonprofit, and many organizations are beginning to digitize them. Listen to learn more about the pros of digital brand guides.

Episode 12: What makes a great nonprofit tagline?

July 11th, 2018  |  14 mins 4 secs

board, branding, communications, copy, copywriting, creative, jargon, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits, organizational taglines, taglines

A tagline can’t communicate everything, but it can fill in gaps left by the name and logo and help express your brand. Tune in for new ways of thinking about your organization’s tagline.

Episode 11: How can nonprofit leaders take successful sabbaticals?

July 3rd, 2018  |  18 mins 19 secs

When nonprofit leaders prepare effectively for taking extended time off, it can strengthen their senior team, too. Tune in to learn what it takes to plan and take a successful sabbatical.

Episode 10: What words should you avoid?

June 27th, 2018  |  10 mins 24 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, jargon, language, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, phrases, pronouns, values, word choice, words

Lila Tublin, one of Big Duck’s copywriters, uncovers words, phrases, jargon, and pronouns(!) nonprofit communicators should think carefully about before using, gleaned from our popular “Words to Avoid” annual blog, plus shares tips to ensure your writing is clear and easy to understand no matter what. Click play to tune in.

Episode 9: Why is it so hard to raise awareness?

June 13th, 2018  |  8 mins 40 secs

awareness, brand personality, brand strategy, branding, campaigns, communications, core values, development, fundraising, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, raising awareness, values

To successfully increase their organization’s visibility through campaigns, nonprofit leaders need to ensure they’re grounded in strategy—with concrete goals, audiences, and actions in mind.

Episode 8: How are organizational values and personality different?

May 30th, 2018  |  12 mins 7 secs

brand personality, brand strategy, branding, communications, core values, marketing, nonprofit communications, nonprofits, organizational values, personality, values

Organizational values and brand personality are related but very different, and often get confused. We’ll define and differentiate them in this podcast.

Episode 7: Are events and galas still effective?

May 16th, 2018  |  12 mins 25 secs

board, branding, communications, donor engagement, events, fundraising, galas, giving, in-person cultivation, marketing, nonprofit boards, nonprofit communications, nonprofit management, nonprofits

Episode 6: How do you get feedback from a working group?

May 1st, 2018  |  8 mins 54 secs