Comments on: What Small Businesses Can Learn from Non-Profits and Vice Versa http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html Exploring the trends driving small business Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:39:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Seth Godin on Non-Profit Marketing http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-620796 Seth Godin on Non-Profit Marketing Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:58:26 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-620796 Anita, Great posts. Brent mentioned ""One of the main things that small businesses can learn from non-profits is how to embrace new ideas and strategies for creating and enhancing relationships with those important to your cause." This is especially true with marketing. However, I've noticed that small non-profits tend to be more risk adverse than for-profits - and this can severly limit their marketing muscle. See my post on what Seth Godin had to say to non-profits: http://www.corporatedollar.org/2008/09/seth-godin-on-creating-a-non-profit-thats-remarkable/ John CorporateDollar.Org Anita,

Great posts. Brent mentioned “”One of the main things that small businesses can learn from non-profits is how to embrace new ideas and strategies for creating and enhancing relationships with those important to your cause.”

This is especially true with marketing. However, I’ve noticed that small non-profits tend to be more risk adverse than for-profits – and this can severly limit their marketing muscle. See my post on what Seth Godin had to say to non-profits:

http://www.corporatedollar.org/2008/09/seth-godin-on-creating-a-non-profit-thats-remarkable/

John
CorporateDollar.Org

]]> By: Mike Paunovich http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-328111 Mike Paunovich Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:34:09 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-328111 We have a great example of a religious organization using web tools designed for small businesses on our site. Members of St. Sava have been using a BizBlog to promote events and publish articles and photos from church-related gatherings. It's interesting to see how they are using a blog to organize their cultural history. Member love it. Some check it daily. It's been the most popular blog during private beta. Take a look: http://www.localbizblogs.com/stsava We have a great example of a religious organization using web tools designed for small businesses on our site. Members of St. Sava have been using a BizBlog to promote events and publish articles and photos from church-related gatherings. It’s interesting to see how they are using a blog to organize their cultural history. Member love it. Some check it daily. It’s been the most popular blog during private beta. Take a look:

http://www.localbizblogs.com/stsava

]]> By: Mike Volpe http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-323043 Mike Volpe Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:57:31 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-323043 I work in both the for-profit (marketing) and the non-profit (founder and board member) sectors, and I can confirm that non-profits also need similar ools to small businesses. in fact, most ood nonprofits rn hemselves like a usiness, but just easure "pfrfits" a little bit differenty. The one difference I think is in bugets - nonprofits often have many things donated or discounted. For my nonprofit, both our website and email newsletter (typical small busines tools) have been some of the most important tools/investments we have made. We generate more than half of our "leads" (people interested in becoming a vounteer mentor) online. http://www.bostonscholars.org I work in both the for-profit (marketing) and the non-profit (founder and board member) sectors, and I can confirm that non-profits also need similar ools to small businesses. in fact, most ood nonprofits rn hemselves like a usiness, but just easure “pfrfits” a little bit differenty. The one difference I think is in bugets – nonprofits often have many things donated or discounted.

For my nonprofit, both our website and email newsletter (typical small busines tools) have been some of the most important tools/investments we have made. We generate more than half of our “leads” (people interested in becoming a vounteer mentor) online.

http://www.bostonscholars.org

]]> By: EJMalyn http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-320546 EJMalyn Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:59:11 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-320546 Having worked with many charities I have to agree that there is a lot to be learned in doing so. The loyality and team work comes together. Cindy, love the "NEVER GIVE UP &NEVER SURRENDER" Having worked with many charities I have to agree that there is a lot to be learned in doing so. The loyality and team work comes together. Cindy, love the “NEVER GIVE UP &NEVER SURRENDER”

]]> By: cindy@staged4more http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-320476 cindy@staged4more Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:15:19 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-320476 Having worked in the non-profit industry and now owning my own small business in the real estate industry (I am a real estate stager), a lot of my non profit experiences really translated into running my own small business: *Making limited budget & resources work *Developing champions who will speak about your cause (in small business world: converting customers into your own marketing army who will talk about you all time) *Scientifically track your stats to understand the pulse of your business *Networking and meeting new people for your cause *Planning -- marketing plan, prospecting plan *NEVER GIVE UP & NEVER SURRENDER! Having worked in the non-profit industry and now owning my own small business in the real estate industry (I am a real estate stager), a lot of my non profit experiences really translated into running my own small business:

*Making limited budget & resources work
*Developing champions who will speak about your cause (in small business world: converting customers into your own marketing army who will talk about you all time)
*Scientifically track your stats to understand the pulse of your business
*Networking and meeting new people for your cause
*Planning — marketing plan, prospecting plan
*NEVER GIVE UP & NEVER SURRENDER!

]]> By: Chris http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-320409 Chris Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:32:15 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-320409 I agree with Brent: "One of the main things that small businesses can learn from non-profits is how to embrace new ideas and strategies for creating and enhancing relationships with those important to your cause." Loyalty is important to survival and joining others with similar causes can only grow and extend your relationships and contacts. I agree with Brent: “One of the main things that small businesses can learn from non-profits is how to embrace new ideas and strategies for creating and enhancing relationships with those important to your cause.”

Loyalty is important to survival and joining others with similar causes can only grow and extend your relationships and contacts.

]]> By: Steve King http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-319915 Steve King Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:41:43 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-319915 While it is hard to find accurate data, the number of small non-profits has clearly grown substantially over the last decade. This has been driven by many of the same factors driving small business growth in general (tech, demographics, etc.) We think this will continue because all the major demographic groups (boomers in particular) are expressing a strong interest in social entrepreneurship - both in terms of working for/starting and in terms of funding small non-profits. In addition to the growing interest in starting/working for non-profits, the funding environment has changed quite a bit in the last decade. Donors are much more focused on outcomes and results, and less willing to give money to non-profits who are not well run. I once heard this called "the Gates Foundation effect" because of the focus on results that the large number of philanthropic ex-Microsoft employees and Gates Foundation has. This means to attract funding non-profits have to be run with a stronger focus on results - which makes them look very much like small businesses. While it is hard to find accurate data, the number of small non-profits has clearly grown substantially over the last decade. This has been driven by many of the same factors driving small business growth in general (tech, demographics, etc.) We think this will continue because all the major demographic groups (boomers in particular) are expressing a strong interest in social entrepreneurship – both in terms of working for/starting and in terms of funding small non-profits.

In addition to the growing interest in starting/working for non-profits, the funding environment has changed quite a bit in the last decade. Donors are much more focused on outcomes and results, and less willing to give money to non-profits who are not well run. I once heard this called “the Gates Foundation effect” because of the focus on results that the large number of philanthropic ex-Microsoft employees and Gates Foundation has. This means to attract funding non-profits have to be run with a stronger focus on results – which makes them look very much like small businesses.

]]> By: Why Do So Many Non-Profits Think They're Different? http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-319894 Why Do So Many Non-Profits Think They're Different? Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:31:20 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-319894 [...] food for thought on how non-profits have the same needs as small business, including a follow-up on how non-profits can learn from business and vice versa. It's worth reading. In some ways, non-profits have lagged in terms of innovation because [...] [...] food for thought on how non-profits have the same needs as small business, including a follow-up on how non-profits can learn from business and vice versa. It's worth reading. In some ways, non-profits have lagged in terms of innovation because [...]

]]> By: Non-Profits Have Needs of Small Businesses » Small Business Trends http://smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-319735 Non-Profits Have Needs of Small Businesses » Small Business Trends Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:35:37 +0000 http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2007/08/what-small-businesses-can-learn-from-non-profits-and-vice-versa.html#comment-319735 [...] After listening to Siamak’s points, I decided to poll some others and see how they saw the needs of non-profits and small businesses stacking up. [...] After listening to Siamak’s points, I decided to poll some others and see how they saw the needs of non-profits and small businesses stacking up.

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