Non-Profit Organizations & Guerrilla Marketing

So called Guerrilla Marketing has been a buzzword in small business circles for almost three decades, but now Guerrilla Marketing guru Jay Conrad Levinson has applied his ideas to the non-profit sector too. Here are a few tips culled from Levinson's book Guerrilla Marketing for Nonprofits.

Non-profit organizations develop low cost guerrilla marketing strategies in order to define their mission and boost the bottom line. Guerrilla marketers leverage bright ideas and hard work into cash flow from donors using combinations of research, technology and media. They foster relationships with donors in order to inspire trust insure long term success.

Non-profits focus their marketing strategy on their mission. Guerrilla non-profit marketers distill their message to it's essence to quickly and effectively communicate a mission statement to a well defined target audience. Successful non-profit marketers seek to take a leading position in their niche, owning the category. Focusing on a niche brings credibility, helps build an audience and separates a non-profit from the competition. Non-profits focus their marketing on a niche to build skills in their category, and improve the overall performance of the organization.

Non-profits conduct primary research in their niche to better serve their mission. They invest time and energy studying the people they want to reach. Knowledge gained from conducting original research delivers manifold benefits to the non-profit. Research helps define overall marketing strategy. Listening to constituents provides feedback that focuses the purpose of the non-profit and delivers a real-time picture of the current state of the organization. The best media choices and marketing mix come into focus based on what actually works. Non-profits conducting their own research gain insight into which programs and products set them apart from their competition.

Guerrilla non-profit marketers work to expand their relationships with their current donors. While it is important to attract new donors, the cost of doing business with current donors is less. Guerrilla non-profits stay in touch with donors and build trusting relationships with them, delivering the message that they have their best interests in mind. Financial information on the non-profit is shared with donors, instilling confidence. They are encouraged to feel personal fulfillment from their involvement with the non-profit organization. The goal is to increase donations while spending less on marketing.

Non-profit guerrilla marketers are tech savvy, embracing digital technologies in implementing marketing strategies. The message of the non-profit is condensed into an easy to understand meme that can be grasped instantly and passed on. The meme is tweeted, used in Facebook updates and incorporated into the overall marketing program. Contacts made in social media environments are channeled to the non-profit blog, website, or other digital location including a call to action. Online content is formatted so that it is easy to share, with social bookmark tabs and video embed codes included in posts.

Steve Lafler
Manx Media Custom TShirt Printing
503-213-3671

Mobile Marketing for T-Shirt Geeks

There are now more mobile phones than people in the United States, with Smartphones in the hands of more than 50% of mobile users. I've been looking at articles from the NY Times, Forbes and Inc, and they all report that mobile advertising and marketing is growing, uh, wicked fast.

I'm no expert on mobile marketing, but clearly it's time for custom T-Shirt printers (hey, that's me!) to add mobile to our marketing mix.

How are we gonna do that? Well, I'll take the easy way out and refer readers to some slick guys in Australia, Oz Promo TShirts, who've put in the work and have posted a darn good article about Mobile Marketing for Custom T-Shirt Printers. I note that most of their comments apply to small business as a whole.

Turns out we're shifting to making tools now (apps), not websites, to aid our marketing efforts.

Steve Lafler
503-213-3671

New Bughouse T-Shirt

I've added a new Bughouse T-Shirt to my online store, in honor of my upcoming tour to promote my new graphic novel Menage a Bughouse.

It's printed full color on a cotton ringer T (white body/black trim) at $18.49.

Steve Lafler
Manx Media
Quality Screen Printing at reasonable rates.

Anvil Organic 420 TShirt

Anvil is offering a great organic cotton T-Shirt, it comes in a great array of colors and the price is right.

Me, I think it's funny that they gave it style number 420. Sure, the suits over at Anvil can say, "It's great marketing--that's the date of Earth Day". Then they take a break and go sit in their Beamer in the parking lot and burn a fatty, right?

Steve Lafler
Manx Media Custom Screen Printing
Get a quote 503-213-3671

Hanes is Still Here: Their Best Value

Hanes still makes great T-Shirts when all is said and done. While the Hanes Beefy-T no longer rules the roost, it is still a big seller, although maybe a bit overpriced.
As a custom screen printer, I think the best value from Hanes is the #5280. It is a medium weight all cotton T-Shirt that comes in a stack of colors. It wears well -- the lighter medium weight shirts have replaced the heavy weights in overall popularity.

Of course, Hanes call it a heavy weight. but it's listed as a 5.2 ounce cotton T-shirt, and any screen printer will tell you, that means medium weight, baby!
The 5280 is priced about the same as the Gildan Heavyweight T, and a bit more than the Gildan medium weight T. It may have a slightly softer feel than the Gildan.
As ever, drop me an email if you would like to price out your custom screen printing job on the Hanes 5280.
Steve Lafler
Manx Media