Let’s back up a sec. Before the fall of 2013, the extent of my nonprofit experience was administrative. I had a passion to do good, but didn’t quite know how to do it. I was shy, lacked confidence in my skills, and dreaded conversations with strangers (and even acquaintances!)

I had just enrolled in the course Strategic Marketing for Nonprofits at Seattle University, where I was fortunate enough to meet Erica Mills, the instructor of the course and the brains behind Claxon Marketing. In just a few classes, she turned my passion-without-direction into confidence-with-passion.

How? By stressing the importance of pitches for nonprofits, while at the same time showing that not only are the not scary; with the right amount of preparation they can be downright fun, a bit liberating, and incredibly important to your cause. (And by pushing me out of my comfort zone to make this video 🙂 ) Since then, my path as a nonprofit marketer has been set, and I’ve been perfecting pitches (and other nonprofit marketing materials) ever since.

Caption: Screenshot from my YouTube debut.

Why am I telling you all this? Because you’re about to have the same opportunity I did. On July 26, 2017 at 1 p.m. ET, Erica will take to the web to present a one-hour free webinar all about creating the perfect pithy pitches for your cause.

For a bit more background into why pitches are paramount, let me describe a generic interaction, but one you have probably experienced firsthand:

Say you’re at a networking event (or party, or fundraiser, or wherever you typically meet new people) and someone asks the inevitable question, “What do you do?”

You don’t know this person, or what their interests are. They have the potential to be your nonprofit’s next big donor, small monthly donor, or volunteer. Or even your next boss.

Will your response to their question spark their underlying interest in your cause, inviting them to ask more questions and get involved? Or will it make them pretend they need to refill their drink two minutes after your explanation of your work?

Good pitches are rare. Unless you take the time to fix them up.

In the upcoming, not-to-miss webinar, you’ll:

• Hear more examples of why pitches are so important
• Learn what a pitch really is (it’s not what you think)
• Find out why your pitch(es) are probably bad
• Get to know the five top “pitchfalls”
• Learn how to perfect your pitch, and in turn get people curious about your cause and start raising more money.

Don’t miss your chance to be transformed (like I was!). 

The post How Pitches Transformed My Nonprofit Marketing Career appeared first on Claxon Communication.

Mieko Van Kirk of Seattle, WA!

Mieko is operations manager at Sightline, a Seattle-based nonprofit that researches best public policy practices for the Northwest. Mieko says, “Thanks, Claxon! Looking forward to sharing what I learn from Pitchfalls with my colleagues here at Sightline Institute.”

Congratulations, Mieko!

For those of you that didn’t win, you can purchase a copy of Pitchfalls on Amazon, or in Seattle at The Elliott Bay Bookstore or Third Place Books.

The post Pitchfalls Winner Announced appeared first on Claxon Communication.

The second batch of Pitchfalls just arrived, and we want to show some appreciation. We’ll be giving away the very first copy of the second batch to one of our Facebook followers. If you’d like to be entered in the drawing, check out our Facebook page and press ‘like’. Now is the time – we’ll be choosing and announcing the winner tomorrow May 9^th. Thank you again to all of our supporters, and good luck! Remember, visit our Facebook page now and press ‘like’. We can’t wait to give you your copy of Pitchfalls.

The post We Want YOU to Win a Very Special Copy of Pitchfalls appeared first on Claxon Communication.