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Newsletter, April 2007

By Karen Graham, Client Development Manager

Nonprofit Neighborhood

More New PowerMail Features

Over the past 6 months, we have been incrementally enhancing our PowerMail bulk email tool, which is the backbone of thedatabank's eMarketing Module. Here are a few of the most recent changes:

• Spam analysis - In the Test section of the PowerMail Publish page there's a new link. When clicked, it pops open a window with instructions for getting a free spam analysis of your PoweMail from a site called SiteSell.net. We asses this as a deliverability aid.
• "Bad email" identification - The Databank checks for bad email addresses when creating an electronic mailing.  This process is now more robust.  Additionally, for member records having more than one email address listed, as long as one is good the record won't be marked bad.
• The text message page on PowerMails has a new link that allows the user to import the text from their HTML message. The link does not appear if the user hasn't created an HTML message yet. If they click the link after they have already created a text message, they are asked to confirm this is what they want to do, because the imported text will overwrite existing text.
• The PoweMail sub-menu has been changed to list HTML before Text, since we train users to work thru the menus from left to right. This way they are more likely to have HTML created when they get to the Text page.
• The Issue list now includes both Sent Date and Change Date.  Sent Date shows the most recent date a batch was sent for that issue, and Change Date shows the most recent date any change was made (including moving the issue to a new folder).  Users can click on any column heading to sort by that column. 

These changes are already implemented as standard features in PowerMail.  Relevant features will be rolled out to our Advocacy Module next, for the Activist Message email.

Featured Client

Mississippi Center for Nonprofits - As the state's only nonprofit management resource center, the Center is the primary source of management training, technical information, advice, answers, coaching and connection to vital resources.  They will use their new Databank for membership management, fundraising, and communication.

Client Referral Honor Roll

A hearty thanks to the following who made referrals in the last few months:

• Kate Hoff - Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
• Kristi Anderson - St. Paul Area Council of Churches
• Sara Sommarstrom - Minnesota Justice Foundation
• Ken Kramer - Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club
• Dennis Kelly

Remember, clients who refer a friend can qualify for a special thank you gift!  You can start by forwarding this newsletter, using the link at the top of the email, or this one:

Tell A Friend

Tip du Jour

Raising Funds For Technology

This month we are featuring a guest article by Kwame Tsikata of the Progressive Technology Project .

Technology's mounting importance means raising funds for technology is crucial for the very survival and success of your organization. The good news is that appropriate technology will give you results. Results that will not only be satisfying for your mission and your constituency but for your funders too! In other words it's well worth it to spend time and resources to get appropriate technology because...( read the full article )

Karen's Blog

Beefing up at thedatabank

A few weeks ago thedatabank exhibited at the Association of Fundraising Professionals annual conference.  Besides introducing ourselves to some great potential clients and partners, the highlight for me was indulging in a lot of meat .  I don't have strong carnivorous tendencies, but hey, we were in Texas.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, my coworkers were beefing up the Databank.  Specifically, some changes have been made to PowerMail, resulting in an even more robust bulk email system (see article above).  I used the Spam Analysis feature to test this message, and got a few helpful hints about changes to make.

We also announced plans to develop new tools this year for Microtargeting, Advanced Communications, and Data Verification; all of which will empower our clients fundraising and grassroots organizing efforts.

Karen

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