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Call it what you will. It’s the idea that when we work together, we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. If achieving
Imagine you’re at a party. There are plenty of new people you could meet and talk to. There’s a guy talking himself up.
In 2026, more emails are being viewed on iPhones than any other device. The average iPhone affords us a measly 41 characters
Here’s an important piece of digital communication that you’ve probably never read: Few of us pay attention to stuff like
Great action pages will attract people via social media, search, traditional media, and even word of mouth. This means they’re ideal for list-building.
When it comes to targeting the best supporters for specific activities, many of us are using (or have used) the sub-list model.
To steal a mantra from our friends in journalism: don’t bury the lede. The idea might have started in newspaper offices
Great communication is not just about what you say but how you say it. Who says it also matters. You won’t always
(Not in that way). Do you ever find yourself staring at your screen, wishing the thing you are trying to write was done
Think of a radio tower. Broadcast signals beaming far and wide. Most people think about email broadcasts this way. Please don’t think
If we want to get the most out of email, we need to make it personal. If every message we send sounds
Let’s be honest, this stuff is hard. Never in human history has there been a communication medium more competitive than the Internet.
Most organizations want to grow their online audience. Some of us rely entirely on our supporters to fuel actions and fundraising—the organizational
We have Homer Simpson to thank for the term that perfectly describes a communication model that turbocharges action requests with urgency. Because
How does the past experience of people on your list influence their interest in receiving ongoing email from you? It turns out
There’s more than one way to build an email list. The various types of digital assets you can use to attract people to your list are your list building entry points. Choosing the right entry points can either set you up for long term success or agonizing frustration.
The very first touchpoint that brings someone to your email list is defining. That moment is responsible for establishing the terms of the relationship they will have with you. Will the interaction position them as an action taker? Or a spectator? Consider how supporters can best help your organization achieve its mission, and then design list-building entry points to mirror that.
Active entry points include:
Passive entry points include:
Simply put, if your core list-building strategy relies on passive entry points, it’s going to be harder to mobilize your supporters into action. You’ll find plenty of digital agencies keen to push passive entry points because they’re easily applied in a commercial environment. However, we have something more valuable to work with. So play to your advantage—optimize online action pages such as petitions and advocacies to fuel your list building strategy. Prioritize your active entry points. These highly-sharable assets will build audiences faster than generic signup forms every time.
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