Author Archives: Alumni Channel

How To Survive the Gmail Tabs Marketing Apocalypse – Marketo.com

In the Spring of 2013, Google began rolling out a big restructure of the Gmail inbox, and many email marketers panicked. The Promotions tab that has been showing up in more and more Gmail accounts over the last two months has been repeatedly heralded as, “the death of email marketing.”

A couple of months later, however, we can step back from the apocalyptic rhetoric and take a look at what this really means.

  • Is the Gmail Promotions tab truly a bad thing?
  • How do we keep tabs on the impact of the tabs?
  • What should email marketers do in response?

How To Survive the Gmail Tabs Marketing Apocalypse – Marketo.com.

Tip to Build Stronger Connections With Your Parents and Alumni | LinkedIn

by Jase Tillman

Tip:  Give, And They Will Give Back.

I was reminded of the “good ole days” a few years ago when I received a beautiful, full-color hardback book celebrating my school’s 40th year Anniversary. It’s filled with not just pictures and words, but dreams, memories, and relationships and was sent out to every person affiliated with our school.

I still love looking through it, but it reminded me of several other gifts my school has sent out over the years. Like the bib with the school logo on it when my first son was born. Or the “VIP Pass” that allows me free entry into every home sporting event…. for life. And you can’t beat the free pizza that’s found under the alumni tent at all the home football games.

With each gift, the emotional connection I have to the school is strengthened, and that’s why they’ll continue to get my support on all levels. My alma matter has developed hundreds of passionate supporters and donors by simply reinvesting back into its alumni by giving, instead of only “asking.”

6 Ways To Build Stronger Connections With Your Parents and Alumni | LinkedIn.

Why should I give back to my University or College? | LinkedIn

Universities and colleges all over the globe have some sort of Alumni and Development function within their institution.

This function is designed to enhance relationships with alumni and former staff whilst simultaneously enhancing the experience of current students and staff at the institution.

Read more: Why should I give back to my University or College? | LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Alumni Tool plugin (widget)

LinkedIn is continually seeking ways to better integrate LinkedIn technology with education sites.  Highlight what your alumni are up to now and showcase the diversity of their career paths to your current and prospective students.  Embed this university/college widget into your existing sites.

Alumni Tool Plugin data sheet

Additionally, here’s an example of the Alumni widget in action on a Colgate site: http://www.colgate.edu/distinctly-colgate/success-after-colgate.  You can even link to your school’s ‘notable alumni‘.

Other LinkedIn plugins are listed here: https://developer.linkedin.com/plugins.  And they have a page dedicated to Higher Ed Professionals with all kinds of resources.

4 Things Alumni / Member Organizations Should Stop Doing Now

After a career in alumni relations and institutional advancement,  I’ve since spent the last several years as a member marketing consultant for organizations ranging in size from a few thousand members  to over a million.

I’ve learned a lot from diving into the inner-workings of various types of member groups, identifying and dissecting their problems, and offering solutions to improve member engagement. I’ve heard every excuse possible about why their marketing efforts are not succeeding, and I’ve noticed several patterns among these poor performing member groups. Here are four of the most common things I asked these member groups to stop doing: Continue reading →

Free Fundraising Webinar

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Erica Waasdorp, Author, Monthly Giving: The Sleeping Giant

Ready to radically boost your fundraising? It’s time to build a recurring gift program. In our exclusive webinar, monthly giving expert and “philanthropyholic” Erica Waasdorp shares real-life examples, practical tips, and key strategies for attracting gifts that keep on giving.

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Los Alamitos School District Launches Alumni Channel

Organization LogoThis past week we welcomed Los Alamitos School District and their new alumni community for Los Al High School.  Los Alamitos High School (also known as Los Al) is a 3000 student public high school, going back to the mid 1920s, located in Los Alamitos, California, and also serving the city of Seal Beach and the community of Rossmoor.  Visit Los Al alumni at http://alumni.losal.org.  Just today 133 alumni joined their community!

New ways colleges target rich alumni – money.cnn.com

Targeting alumni for donations is big business for colleges and universities — and schools are getting more savvy with their tactics.

Called “prospect research,” the practice of targeting wealthy alumni is not new. But the tools are getting better: complex data models using massive databases that store everything from wealth and income to class reunion attendance.

via New ways colleges target rich alumni – Feb. 24, 2014.

A Few Good Tools for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising | Idealware

Peer-to-peer fundraising isn’t new. For years, many organizations have engaged supporters to raise funds on their behalf—everyone from staff and volunteers to program participants and current donors. Traditionally these individual campaigns took the form of walk-a-thons and similar events at which supporters enlist sponsors from their own networks of colleagues, friends, and family. Informally, this kind of distributed fundraising is sometimes called “team,” “a-thon,” or “friend-to-friend” fundraising.

Read more: A Few Good Tools for Peer-to-Peer Fundraising | Idealware.