The Best of LoyaltyClicks in 2010!
It has been a very busy and exciting year for us at LoyaltyClicks, and it is an even more exciting 2011 that we look forward to. As a yearend blog post, we wanted to showcase some of our major achievements in 2010. So, here’s a quick ‘Best of 2010’ list.
1. Successful launch of Shop To Give for Nonprofits
Our initial launch in May saw us onboard 3-4 charities for our ‘Shop To Give’ program, and during the first 3 months we started seeing some great numbers both in registrations as well as shopping. We continued adding more charities as the year drew along, and ended on a high note with our partnership with Rescue Ink. Given the large engagement levels that Rescue Ink has with their supporters, we found both the registration and shopping numbers increase drastically in just the first couple of weeks. We have great plans for Shop To Give in 2011 beginning with a new product name, and are very excited about partnering with more charities.
2. Whitepaper on Tech Trends for Nonprofits featured in NTEN
We conducted a survey for nonprofit workers in the last quarter of 2010 and built a report based on the results. The idea behind the report was to help nonprofits understand what the technology trends for 2011 are. An excerpt of our whitepaper was featured in the NTEN Newsletter in November, and in December as part of NTEN’s ‘Best of 2010’ list. In 2011 you can expect more such exciting studies from us.
3. Our first Lunch-n-Learn event
In November we worked on planning a networking event for non-profits in the Triangle, where they could learn about technology trends for nonprofits and discuss problems/solutions with their peers. We held our first in a series of such events in the beginning of December with a select group of nonprofit leaders. This was an incredible event with some great discussions, and we cannot wait to host more in the coming year!
4. We went Mobile
2010 was the year of mobile and at SmartOnline we have definitely gone mobile! Mobile technology has really caught on and is only going to continue to grow. We started developing an internal app for our employees which will soon be available for download in the app stores. And we are really excited about our mobile solution offerings for nonprofits and businesses in 2011. Look out for our brand new website with more information!
5. New branding starting 2011
In January 2011 we will be unveiling our new name and branding. This has been in the works for awhile now, and we cannot wait to show you what our wonderful team has created! For now, we can tell you that from 2011 LoyaltyClicks will no longer be operating under the LoyaltyClicks name, but under SmartOnline. Watch this space for more information.
What we are looking forward to in 2011:
- Our re-branding initiative being unveiled in January 2011
- Creating exciting mobile solutions for non-profits and businesses
- Working with great charities doing amazing work, and helping them support their cause!
This ain’t your mother’s rescue group! They fight abusers…in their own language
Shop To Give has a new partner charity – ‘Rescue Ink Foundation®’! You’ve never met a rescue group like Rescue Ink® ™ – an army of tattooed, motorcycle-riding street guys who have zero tolerance for animal abuse and neglect. They think abusers are losers, and have no problem “educating” them about the error of their ways. In tune with their innovative methods, they partnered with Smart Online® for their Shop To Give product, to raise funds and awareness, and increase their donor engagement levels through social media. “With a highly personalized product, Shop To Give stands worlds apart from similar products in the market”, says Tonia Zampieri, who heads up the Smart Online charity division. “This platform harnesses online shopping while offering supporter-focused social media integration. This allows users to easily share deals and invite friends through Facebook and other platforms, helping charities better leverage social media to further their engagement levels with supporters.”
Joe Panz wearing his tattoos and holding a rescued dog
With this recent partnership with Smart Online, Rescue Ink is poised to increase their fundraising and engagement levels with supporters. According to Joe Panz (in the picture on left wearing his tattoos and holding a rescued dog), “Shop To Give will allow our friends and fans an opportunity to help our mission while doing their shopping. We have partnered with Smart Online to give our supporters a way to shop and help us raise money for the foundation. Especially during the holiday season, make sure to use shop to give!”
According to one of Rescue Ink’s supporters, Melanie Kellett, “I found out about this through Rescue Ink, and ended up buying $160 worth of Christmas presents. I would not have purchased these items had it not been for this program. Walmart can thank Rescue Ink® and Shop to Give for my recent purchase, and I love that it’s helping my absolutely favorite charity!!! Will definitely use it again, very user-friendly, hardly knew I was even using it!”
Online shopping stats -'09-'10 holiday season comparison
And if you want some assurance about online shopping, look at the above statistics. Cyber Monday this year has created history, again! $1 billion was spent in online shopping just on this day – a 16% increase from the same time last year. It is also the first time that online shopping on one single day has exceeded the $1 billion mark. Look at the chart above for comparisons between 2009 and 2010.
If you are a charity and want to participate in this program, call Jeremy at 919 237 4173. And if you shop online, don’t forget to go through one of our charity malls and benefit their cause. Shop the usual, pay the usual, do the unusual!
Going Mobile in the Nonprofit World
Did you know that there will be 5.3 billion mobile phone connections worldwide by the end of 2010? (Global mobile statistics 2010) Did you also know that by 2013 mobile phones will take over PC’s as the most common web access device according to Gartner Research? Yes, mobile is definitely growing, and fast!
Global Mobile vs Desktop User Projection (2007-2015)
Nearly 250,000 new smartphones are sold every day. More and more people are using their phones for more than just calling and texting. People are downloading smartphone applications for just about everything from games and utilities, to finances and shopping. Users access the mobile web to do everything that they do on a regular computer at home, from emails and social networking to paying bills, on the go. We all know how big social networking is, given that 22% of internet time is spent on social networking. But, did you know that almost 50% of that is through mobile devices? (What Americans Do Online, August 2010)
Nonprofits just like any other organization are “very interested (in mobile apps) and there’s a lot of experimentation — but it’s still in the baby steps mode,” according to Marcia Stepanek, new media adviser at New York University‘s Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising. Says David Lieberman of USA Today, “Charities are torn. They know that the next generation of volunteers and contributors organize their lives around wireless devices and social networks. But many are still struggling to figure out how they can fit into this new communications ecosystem.” There has been a significant increase in mobile giving over the last year especially considering the Haiti Text-to-Give campaign which raised more than $30 million for the American Red Cross. Even ‘American Idol’ used Text-to-Give for its ‘Idol Gives Back’ campaign. But, mobile technology is a growing trend, and will be more than just Text-to-Give in the coming years.
Technologies nonprofits want to invest in next year (Source - Smart Online, Inc.)
At Smart Online we have been closely following this emerging technology and employing resources in relating mobile trends to nonprofits. We are very excited about helping nonprofits grow with mobile, the technology of 2011 and beyond. This past quarter, we surveyed a significant number of nonprofits to understand how they are reacting to mobile. We will be continuing these activities to understand mobile not just from a nonprofit perspective but from a user perspective – how will users interact with mobile applications for nonprofits? The March of Dimes is developing an iPhone and iPad application for early 2011 tied to its annual March for Babies campaign. Patrice Goldman, Chief Markting officer for the March of Dimes says “I haven’t seen great apps written by charities themselves, but we know they’re going to come. Mobile is going to be an enormous force for our future.” Don’t get left behind! For starters, understand what your organization needs from a mobile solution with Smart Online’s questionnaire.
Technology Trends for Nonprofits in 2011 – Whitepaper
We recently concluded our survey on ‘Technology Trends for Nonprofits’ in 2011. Thanks to all those who participated in it. We appreciate the time you took to take our survey! The results have been published in the form of a Whitepaper which is available on our website.
An excerpt of the article has also been published on NTEN. This article has already started receiving a lot of mentions in the social media world. Definitely check it out to learn more about the technology trends for nonprofits in 2011.
Here’s a preview to what the report contains.
Did you know that mobile web use increased by 230% between 2008 and 2009? And not just that, according to Gartner Research, by 2013 mobile phones will take over PC’s as the most common web access device. Also, 41% of mobile internet time is spent on email.
Making your existing content accessible to mobile users is the simplest thing you can do. But you can also develop innovative content and/or applications that specifically target mobile users.
Visit our website for the full report and do share this with folks you think this will benefit.
Promotional Videos: Our Added Value Experience
The LoyaltyClicks team!
When the LoyaltyClicks team decided that we wanted to make a video to demonstrate the features and benefits of Shop To Give, we expected that it would be relatively quick, easy, and fun! I mean, how hard can it be to make a 90-second video? We knew it would take some time and effort, but we didn’t know that we should have packed our knapsacks for the adventure-comedy we were in store for.
Though the planning process didn’t make us run for the hills, taking over 1000 pictures became a bit tedious. Countless times you would hear “oh no, I think I bumped the tripod!” or “*groan* I just leaned against the whiteboard; is it lined up ok?” — shooting and re-shooting in a small spare office that experiences wild temperature swings depending on factors that we still haven’t quite figured out. By the end of the shooting process, several things had happened: Anusha had perfected her ability to hold a pole lamp in just the right way to optimize the lighting for the picture, Claire’s hand had cramped from writing and drawing, Jeremy finally figured out where to aim the remote shudder for the camera, the entire office had begun hassling us for pre-previews, and we had lots of pictures of us making funny faces.
After some diligent editing by Jeremy and Anusha, we ended up with a sequence of photos that formed our basic storyboard. Throw in a few Camtasia sequences and a sprinkling of LoyaltyClicks cameos, and we had a visual that we liked. Now comes the part that we have lovingly dubbed the “voice-over debacle”. Mad props to all of you who can make GarageBand dance like a puppet, because its quirks were enough to push us all to the brink. First of all, we had seemingly endless trials getting voices to save properly, so we each ended up recording our voices more than once. Finding background music that was interesting yet subdued was another task that led to much hilarity (anyone interested in a soundtrack for a prescription medicine commercial, we’ve got several tracks that may interest you — side effects may include excessive popularity and cool points). Lastly, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the “cartoon falsetto” setting for any voice tracks, just don’t use it for any final products.
Through all of the laughs, frustrations, and learning experiences, we ended up with a finished video that we think is pretty neat. Go ahead and take a look!
Shop To Give – How It Works SD from Smart Online on Vimeo.
At least now, if we get the whimsy to make another video by ourselves, we know a lot of the tips and shortcuts! Also, now that we’ve gone through the process and seen its positive impacts for us and our brand, it is safe to say that it was definitely worth taking the time to create a promotional video. Not only does it provide a face for us (yes, those are real LoyaltyClicks team members pictured in the video!), it also highlights our quirky creativity and pulls us out of the stereotype of a still corporate business. I would recommend to any charity that making a quick video to promote not only the services that are offered but also the culture of the organization is well worth the time!
My ‘Ah-ha!’ moment on the power of Social Media in Fundraising
As a business and nonprofit professional who’s stayed on top of technology and the emerging presence of social media, I have always been a true believer that when used properly, it could create much needed awareness for important causes. Sure, I’d seen many mentions of the Facebook Causes App that encourages one’s Facebook friends to give via the site to a cause posted within the social network giant’s interface. But until I had the opportunity to do some fundraising for the MS Society and their Bike MS Event – I had never really witnessed the social media fundraising phenomenon myself. Let me explain and you’ll understand my exuberance!
I registered online using Convio’s powerful TeamRaiser product for individual fundraising. From there I created a simple page of my own and added a dozen or so emails asking friends, family and colleagues for support. Since I’d used a system like this before, I wasn’t surprised by the ease of use to create my own page and easily ask friends via email…but what was different this time was the Facebook Application mention. Curious to see how it worked, I downloaded the app onto my individual Facebook page.
At first I was unimpressed. After I downloaded it, all it did was add a tab along the top next to my ‘Info’ tab. This was a surprise to me as I’d seen Causes and other apps along the left hand navigation dynamically appearing right below my picture, for all my ‘friends’ to see. However, apparently Facebook took away that ability. I thought, ‘Well this isn’t going to amount to much.’
It wasn’t until I’d gotten a couple of online gifts that I realized what the Facebook App actually did. Every time someone donated on my page, a message automatically populated in my Facebook news feed with a picture and link to my page, showing the donation. I thought, ‘well that’s kinda cool, I didn’t have to do anything and there is an update!’ However, the coolest part happened a few days later – I was still over $50 from my goal and wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it. I made one final email ask, of which I got a gift. The donation, picture and link appeared in my feed for all of my 480 friends to see…very few of which I’d asked. To my sheer surprise – not 1 but TWO Facebook friends, people I had only met in the recent past and I didn’t consider close enough to ask to support me directly, DONATED to MS on my behalf simply because they saw what I was doing through the Facebook feed. I was not only touched but completely dumbstruck. THIS is how social media is supposed to work! It connects us all to what we are doing – and perhaps we don’t know who might be touched by our actions and how they may try to make a difference – but the fact of the matter is – it happens.
I think back to only 10 short years ago when I did my first actual fundraising event. I joined Team in Training Leukemia Society- a pioneer in the competitive sports for charity realm. Their solution to raising funds? Hand written letters. I had a personal connection to the cause, losing a distant cousin in her mid-20′s to the disease. While it worked and I did raise a hefty amount, I remember how cumbersome it was to gather mailing addresses, hand write every letter, and spend money on stamps! Technology and Social Media have certainly helped fundraising for important causes become easier for the participant – and at the same time a more efficient process for the charity itself.
I’m curious to hear from others who have done more traditional event fundraising vs. online and social media tools – especially if you have seen a surprise gift as a result!
~Tonia
Technology for 2011 – where is your nonprofit?
We had a great couple of days at the Nonprofits in a New Reality Conference hosted by the NC Center for Nonprofits on September 29 and 30. For those of you who visited us at the LoyaltyClicks booth and filled out our survey ‘Technology for 2011 – where is your nonprofit?’ – Thank you! The survey is still open, and we will be compiling and publishing results on Technology Trends for Nonprofits soon.
What are your organization’s technology challenges? Where do you think technology for nonprofits is heading in 2011 – is mobile the way to go!? Help us compile useful information on technology trends for nonprofits by filling out this short 2 minute survey. If you work with a nonprofit or know anyone who does, fill out our survey or forward this on.
We will send you results from you and your peers to help in defining your technology strategies for 2011! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be up-to-date with LoyaltyClicks’ technology solutions for nonprofits. Have a wonderful weekend!
LoyaltyClicks to be highlighted on BlogTalkRadio.com
So I”m pretty excited about my ‘guest’ appearance next Monday on Basil Magazine’s BlogTalkRadio show. Chef Jennifer Booker will be interviewing me at about 6:45 pm Eastern Time on September 27th. You can access the interview during that time and hear the recorded version here.
Basil Magazine - Give Section
Apparently she heard about one of the new programs we recently launched with New York based Street Soccer USA called Shop for Social Change. The program enables anyone who shops online at one of hundreds of online stores (iTunes, Target.com, Toys ‘R Us, etc) to help end homelessness on the streets through sport. With the economy down, giving is WAY down. Yet online shopping is up, by nearly 12% year over year, according to comScore, Inc. And mobile online shopping is predicted to double by the end of 2010.
Our custom online shopping malls (and soon to be mobile shopping sites), such as Shop To Give Pretty In Pink Foundation, offer our nonprofit clients an additional stream of revenue. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, supporters will be able to register and shop at any of nearly 400 online retail merchants and raise funds for PIPF, which in turn support’s Breast Cancer programs in North Carolina for those who can’t afford it.
Besides our Shop To Give product, I”ll also be highlighting LoyaltyClick’s current charity mobile application, Tap-n-Give , as well as our plans to offer integrated mobile websites and mobile applications to the nonprofit sector later this year. For all the latest information on these and other LoyaltyClicks projects, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. And don’t forget to tune in on Monday at 6:45 PM!
Groupon, meet Shop To Give
There’s no doubt that the future is social, and many companies are vying for handholds in this space. Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter may be the best known, but the up-and-coming trend stems from the current economic stresses and everyone’s desire to cut back on spending: coupons and discounts for local stores and activities. 
Groupon is the most dominant player in this space, sending subscribers daily emails with deals and specials for area stores, and has become one of the fastest-growing modern businesses, joining an elite group of web 2.0 start-ups that are worth more than $1 billion.
Traditionally, Groupon has featured local stores for its deals in order to bolster local small businesses (in one day, a Groupon deal brought in more than 30% of the total customers that one small business owner had seen in the 25 years his business had been open!), however, the deals giant has begun partnering with national chains such as Gap, increasing the social influence of the service.
What has really made Groupon such a success is the social aspect of banding users together in order to activate bulk deals. And now, Groupon has added a location-based feature that activates exclusive deals once enough people have checked in at a certain venue, and everyone who is checked in reaps the rewards of this swarm effect.
LoyaltyClicks has partnered with Groupon, so now you can take advantage of the fantastic daily deals, and if you purchase through Shop To Give, you will also be giving back to your charity of choice, whether it be the APS of Durham, SPCA of Wake County, or NMSS of Eastern NC. The first time you purchase a deal, you can give up to 10% of your purchase price back!
Have you heard of Groupon? If so, have you used it? Share some stories of great deals you got – and be sure you share with everyone you know – it’s a great way to get a deal – and now a great way to give back to your favorite cause!
New “Guest” feature lets new users explore Charity’s Shop To Give
The first of several enhancements for our LoyaltyClicks online charity shopping mall, Shop To Give, has been released. It includes the much-anticipated Guest feature, enabling new users to explore the online shopping site before they register. This function allows supporters of the SPCA of Wake County (and our other partner charities) to have a better understanding of the Shop To Give concept, including the 350+ participating stores.
This feature can be accessed from any Shop To Give landing page by clicking on the link next to “How It Works”. Viewers will be taken inside the site where they can watch a brief slide show, navigate through the site, viewing available stores and deals - all without having to register. If users see a store or deal they’d like to actually shop for, they’ll be prompted to fill out a brief registration form, then sent right to that store or deal.
This feature is designed to allow for complete transparency for users, who are now able to see exactly how the entire process works, what stores give what % back to the charity, and more. Ready to try it out? Visit SPCA of Wake County – look for this adorable puppy – and go Shop to Give – the homeless pets of Wake County will thank you!
Are you a charity ready to find out more? Check out our site and shoot us an email. You can also ‘like us on Facebook . Happy Shopping!
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