How Are You Saying Thank You?

Article by: Ted Fickes

"Thank You" in Turkish. 

Photo by Michael Silberman.

A simple thank you can go a long way towards making your day better, but that nicety can also translate into positive results in fundraising and mobilisation work.

Maybe we send a form letter. Or maybe we figure “they gave us time or money so they care and will stick around (or give again, make calls, come to the next action, etc.).”

Admit it, you’ve done this (or had it done to you). And you knew it didn’t feel right. But can you prove that a heartfelt thank you helps?

International Rescue Committee tests personal thank you calls and letters

We recently caught up with Alia McKee of Sea Change Strategies who shared with us a story about saying thanks in simple but powerful ways that (this is the good part) was tested and had a positive impact on fundraising and engagement.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) works, in part, to resettle refugees around the world. In the second half of 2010, the IRC tested thank you calls to donors that gave $100 to $149. They divided donors into three groups:

• The first, the control group, received no call.
• The second was called and thanked by a staff member.
• The third group was called by a refugee with whom the IRC worked to resettle.

By mid-2011, thank you calls made within six weeks of the donation had the greatest impact on increased giving. Those receiving calls from refugees increased donations 16%. Staff calls increased donations 5%.

A letter from an International Rescue Committee donor 

sent after being thanked by a refugee helped by the IRC.

A letter from an International Rescue Committee donor sent after being thanked by a refugee helped by the IRC.

Simply put, a personal thanks made the donor feel appreciated and more likely to give again and give more when they did give. In some cases, refugees have sent handwritten notes to donors when they couldn’t reach them by phone. Many donors have written back to refugees to let them know they appreciated hearing from them.

But we can’t write notes to everyone, can we?

It’s not likely that you’ll send handwritten notes to every donor. The IRC focused on those giving $100 to $149, a segment that typically gets little personal attention from organizations and can be hard to upgrade or keep at that level.

But there are ways to improve your thank you process. You can, for example, get creative with personalized fields in email thank you notes — and be sure to make them relevant to current events and the source of the donation.

We also heard a story from Rachel Weidinger at Upwell about giving thanks. Rachel told us about how Upwell wanted to acknowledge people that shared their content on social networks. Interns tracked down business contact information for these people and they were sent notes of thanks. This personal touch has been powerful as Upwell works to build a powerful group of advocates for oceans.

Fundraising is about relationships — as are mobilisation and organizing. Trust created through a relationship gives one confidence to act out, speak out, and take on leadership or other roles in a campaign. It may all start with a simple thank you.

We want to know: Maybe you’re at Greenpeace working with volunteers or at another organization running a social media campaign. Or maybe something totally different. How are you saying thanks? What would you like to test? Who needs more acknowledgment, and how can we get it done? Let us know in the comments area.

Mosquitoes Suck

Came across this PSA if you will and loved it.  I really applaud the creativity in getting their point across.  Looking forward to seeing more YouTube type "asks" in our future.

44 Ways to Turn You Participants into Fundraisers

Turning your everyday supporters into fundraising superstars isn’t easy. It requires the right combination of fundraising expertise, engaged staff members, and savvy technology.

When done well, the results are impressive. Supporters raise significant amounts of money and bring new donors to your organization. For example, The Ride For Roswell event has seen an increase from $330,000 to $2.8 million raised annually since 2004 by helping participants become fundraisers.

As Blackbaud's Steve MacLaughlin recently mentioned, health organizations that turn supporters into fundraisers continue to be leaders in online fundraising, and this growth is now an important contributor to their overall revenue.

So, how can you help supporters become fundraising superstars? Below are 44 tips I’ve learned, organized by topic and ordered from easiest to hardest to implement. 

Teach Them to Fundraise and Provide Samples

1. Encourage them to use their social network. As Anthony Sicola’s recently mentioned, fundraisers who use who use social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube increase fundraising results by up to 40%.
2. Offer rewards for fundraising levels achieved. At this year’s SXSW conference, keynote speaker Seth Priebatsch predicted a shift from the “social layer” to the “game layer” over the next decade. Make fundraising a game by offering rewards for levels achieved (E.g. $50 gift card for $5,000 raised).
3. Encourage them to start a team of fundraisers. Not only do teams raise more money for your organization, they add camaraderie and competition to fundraising.
4. Hold contests. After the initial excitement wears off, your fundraisers may need motivation. Create contests that reward fundraising activity. (E.g. Highest fundraiser in June receives 4 movie passes).
5. Provide samples of everything. Don’t let your fundraisers get stuck on something you could have easily provided. Supply sample fundraising emails, Facebook posts, tweets, phone scripts, thank you notes, approved logos, etc.
6. Provide fundraising success stories. Tell them how to raise money, challenges they’ll likely face and the impact their donations will have on your mission.
7. Provide fundraising tips so they know how to get started. Not every method of fundraising will be for everyone. Provide numerous ideas, but do emphasize the most efficient methods such as sending email through a tool like Friend Asking Friends.
8. Tell them how to approach their business contacts. Contacting a vendor or customer is different from asking their neighbor for support. Provide tips on fundraising with the corporate world.
9. But…let them know your key corporate relationships. You probably already receive support from many local companies. Avoid embarrassment and disappointment for everyone involved by disclosing who already generously supports your cause.
10. Offer tips for approaching the media. Your fundraisers may be fearless in promoting your cause. This is good. When approaching the media, though, they may need help. Offer tips and advice to receive coverage of their efforts.
11. Explain which types of fundraising events are most efficient. Recommend focusing on events that raise the most money for the least amount of work. For example, happy hours generally outperform bake sales.
12. Hold fundraising lunches/seminars/receptions to teach them how to fundraise. While success stories may have provided ideas, these sessions will let fundraisers “ask the experts” and get their questions answered.
13. Create an online community for your fundraisers to interact and share their ideas. Other fundraisers may have great tips or advice. Provide a way to collaborate and share.

Connect Them to Your Cause

1. Allow your fundraisers to raise restricted money. They may have been moved by one aspect of your cause and will want to fundraise for it.
2. Invite your top fundraisers to join your volunteer committee. This will make fundraisers feel closer to your organization and responsible for its success. Doing this will also inject some new enthusiasm and ideas into your committees.
3. Offer a tour of your hospital/school/office to further connect them to your cause. Meeting the people who will be helped and seeing the places that will be impacted by their efforts will give your fundraisers extra motivation.
4. Keep them updated on how donations will be used. Let them know the outcome of their hard work. If it’s an annual event or program, you want these fundraisers back each year.
5. Celebrate their accomplishments annually with a thank you party/dinner/reception/etc. It’s an extra opportunity to say thanks, connect them to your mission and encourage future participation.

Treat Fundraisers Like VIPs

1. When someone creates a fundraising page, call to say thanks and answer questions. Let them know you’re there to help. Not sure you have time to offer this type of assistance? What if you knew they’d raise $20,000?
2. Check-in occasionally. At some point, most fundraisers will feel discouraged, intimidated or confused about fundraising. Offer your expertise (and encouragement).
3. Ask them what you can do better. Your fundraisers likely could have used additional support or resources at some point. Learn what else would’ve helped, and provide this for future fundraisers.
4. Implement their good ideas. It will help them take ownership of the program and feel responsible for its success.  If you don’t implement an idea, tell them why not.
5. Find out what motivates your fundraiser. They are likely fundraising because of your cause, to be part of a team or receive an incentive (it’s true). Find out what motivates them and tailor communications accordingly.
6. Celebrate their milestones. Your fundraisers will likely be really excited when they reach their goal. Capitalize on this opportunity to thank them. Tools like Friends Asking Friends will even send automated messages when 50% or 100% of the goal is reached.
7. Respond quickly to fundraiser questions and complaints. Problems + slow response times = frustrated fundraisers. They may stop fundraising altogether until they hear back from you. The longer that takes, the less fundraising momentum they’ll have.
8. Offer your fundraisers any “extras” you have. Have extra tickets to the game? An extra seat at your gala? Call your top fundraisers first. Treat them like VIPs.
9. Arrange meet-and-greets with celebrities at events. Regardless of whether it’s meeting a professional athlete or a radio station DJ, give your fundraiser the VIP treatment whenever possible. It may keep them motivated.

Highlight Fundraisers Online and Create User-Friendly Forms

1. Make it easy to find a fundraiser’s page on your website. The more website visitors have to search for pages, the less likely they’ll donate. The Ride For Roswell does a nice job placing “Donate to a Rider” above the fold on their home page.
2. Make donation forms concise and compelling. Help your fundraisers by creating donation forms that are concise, compelling, and easy to complete. Family Legacy has one of the simplest forms I’ve seen.
3. Spotlight a new fundraiser on your website each month. It provides recognition and encourages others to start fundraising.
4. Ensure the registration form is concise and easy to complete. This makes it simple for anyone to get started and prevents frustration during the initial steps.
5. List top fundraisers on your website. Recognition and competition are two powerful motivators that may inspire some fundraisers to send out another batch of emails. Check out how YWCA Calgary does it in their Walk A Mile event.

Help Them Follow Personal Fundraising Page Best Practices

1. Allow supporters to create a fundraising page whenever they want to.
2. Give supporters the ability to set up a fundraising page for any occasion. Maybe they want people to donate on their behalf instead of having them buy presents for their birthday. Or maybe they’d like to help you get that new facility quicker. Whatever the cause, make it simple for them to get started and flexible enough to support their efforts. Here’s a cool example by Lustgarten.
3. Add a great default photo to fundraising pages. According to the Blackbaud and the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Consumer Survey, only 45% of fundraisers personalize their fundraising page. Your photo may inspire others to donate.
4. Make your default “My Story” compelling on fundraising pages. Not all fundraisers will change the “My Story” area. Your default story may inspire others to donate.
5. Add page sharing tools to the fundraising page. Free tools like Add This allow the page to easily be shared via email and social media.
6. Let them create a Friendly URL for their page. It’s much easier for fundraisers to tell potential supporters to visit a specific page, instead of your home page.
7. List the names and amounts of each donor on fundraising pages. Peer pressure has a funny way of inspiring larger gifts. Show gift names and amounts on a donor wall, like North Shore Medical Center’s Cancer Walk/Run.
8. Allow them to change their goal at any time. Once they reach their goal, it’s less compelling for friends to support them. Let them up their goal at any time, with tools like Friends Asking Friends.
9. Allow them to import email contacts into their fundraising dashboard. Once imported, fundraisers can keep track of which contacts who have donated, not opened the email , forwarded the email, etc.
10. Allow fundraising pages to be shared on Facebook and Twitter from their fundraising dashboard. Every extra click you eliminate saves your fundraisers time. Remember, social media can have an incredible impact on peer-to-peer fundraising effectiveness.
11. Allow fundraisers to upload either photos or videos to their page. A video can tell a more powerful story than a photo. Give fundraisers the option to upload a video, like Diabetes Research Institute does.
12. Create short education videos for every step of the way. Show them how to register, setup a page, import contacts, email family and friends, and other important fundraising activities.

OK, there’s my 44. So, what tips do you have for us?

This blog post originally appeared on Blackbaud's NetWitsThinkTank.com.  The author Mike Snusz brings over eight years of nonprofit experience to his role as a Senior Internet Marketing Consultant for Blackbaud, where he develops strategic marketing services to help nonprofits build constituent relationships, deliver compelling messages and maximize giving opportunities. He previously managed the turnaround of the Ride For Roswell, including the event’s growth from $330,000 to $870,000 over a two-year period. With sound online fundraising, email and marketing practices in place, the event now raises over $2 million annually. Mikes holds a B.A. in Marketing and M.S. in Organizational Leadership from Mercyhurst College. He also volunteers for Compass, providing pro bono strategic consulting to strengthen the sustainability of Greater Washington DC nonprofits.

Social Media Post Ideas

Are you stuck on what to post on social media today?  Network for Good has a great mini-guide on the topic here (free with registration).  Check out our tips for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more.  And while you’re downloading the document, here are ten quick ideas if your creative well is dry.  Thanks to my colleague and guide author Caryn Stein for these pointers.  And don’t forget - you can always highlight someone else’s great content when you don’t know what to say yourself.  That works well in the social media gift economy. And on this blog!

1. Offer a sneak peek of an upcoming newsletter, event or program.
2. Show what goes on behind the scenes at your office.
3. Introduce a member of your staff.
4. Report from the scene of your work or event.
5. Share photos of your volunteers in action.
6. Connect your work to a news story, trend or meme.
7. Ask a trivia question related to your cause.
8. Share a testimonial from a beneficiary or supporter.
9. Choose a “fan of the day” and give them a shout out.
10. Celebrate a success story.

By: Katya Andresen

The Rise of the Slacktivist

If too small, see the original here.

Which Social Network Should I Use?

(View the original here).

How Do You Stack Up?

Become an Experience Curator

Now Is the Time to Rethink Event Production and Become an Experience Curator

Social media and technology have had a profound impact on how we interact every day. We’ve certainly seen changes in event fundraising — people have migrated from emailing fundraising letters, to leveraging CRM systems like Blackbaud and Convio to benefitting from social networking and other integrated online fundraising platforms like StayClassy. As the fundraising side of our work is changing, so too are the expectations for the actual event.

Direct outgrowth of social networking is a big reason why more people are craving in-person contact, which makes a live event even more desirable. Social sites and an influx of portable gadgets have contributed to a loss of human interaction. As a result, we are finding that people want to maximize their face-to-face experiences and don’t want to deal with small inconveniences that distract from the event. JWT Intelligence’s “10 Trends for 2012” forecasts that to “balance out our increasing immersion in the digital world, people will embrace face-to-face gatherings and digital downtime.”

This trend impacts the most basic interactions we have with participants, like how to collect donations at an event, which is a simple transaction. People are now used to “anywhere, anyway shopping.” The best example is the Apple Store. Apple makes everything seamless from being greeted, to direct interaction with the products (touching computers and gadgets is encouraged) to a sales person checking you out anywhere in the store. Those of us in event fundraising need to learn lessons from such experiences and maximize the point of sale on event – making things quick and easy certainly helps. (See JWT Intelligence’s “2012 and Beyond” for more examples.)

Participants don’t want to spend their time waiting in line when they’d rather be out interacting with people and doing the activity. Ideally, registration should happen online before a participant arrives on site (for some of our events we allow participants to navigate registration self-serve online and even print their own credential to bring to the event). In cases when you offer check-in and registration on-site, that experience has to be unobtrusive. Kiosk or iPad systems allow us to make the process an easy self-serve task, registering a higher number of participants more quickly and efficiently.

I believe our future is going to be less about event production and more focused on being experience curators. What’s the difference? Event production is more of a one-way street: “We build it, they show up.” But experience curating is social: “We build it together, we participate together, and we communicate about it together.” Events will be about providing a venue with multiple experiences where people can move through focus points that we design. There will be a major emphasis on being able to meet with others to discuss what’s happening or just be social in various spaces, a focus on human interaction. Think Burning Man and South by Southwest (SXSW) — models for the next generation of events.

Socializing through Twitter and Facebook can start relationships that lead to positive in-person connections. So when people shut down the computer and show up at your event, be sure there are ways to grab their interest and make connections to grow. In this cluttered Attention Economy, events will need to provide more than one focus and plentiful peer-to-peer opportunities. Participants now expect to contribute to building the experience. Events need to be immersive and multi-faceted with elements of surprise. People need to walk away feeling like they learned something about themselves, a cause or others. And they want to get online and talk about your event and post photos and feedback via Instagram and Twitter. This combination of online and live buzz provides memorable experiences for event-goers, and also makes others feel they missed something big if they did not attend – they’ll be sure to get involved next time. Offer sharable content and never underestimate the power of a good photo opportunity.

As we adjust to “Event 2.0” as an industry and strive to be experience curators, the opportunities are endless since our participants will want to help us build the experience.

Article by Patrick Riley and Sarah Coniglio, Event 360

Relationships

4 ways marketing is entering the relationship era My colleague, the avid reader Kate Olsen sent me a fascinating AdAge article by Doug Levy and Bob Garfield on the future of marketing, and I think it’s worth reflection. Here is my take on the ideas that grabbed me in the article, “The Dawn of the Relationship Era,” along with what I think they mean to nonprofits: 1. Manipulation backfires.  You shouldn’t be going for the quick sale (or donation) - you should be going for trusted, sustainable relationships.  Don’t send an appeal and skip the stewardship.  That will make you the Comcast of nonprofits. 2. The network effect is enormous.  The old funnel has been flipped, and it’s not about what we say but what consumers say about us to each other.  The people who love your cause are your greatest asset.  Think of them not as fawning fans but as powerful champions. 3. Core values can’t be faked.  You have to walk your talk.  Companies with a true purpose trump companies who use cause affiliations as a cosmetic ploy to cover up their lack of caring.  Keep that in mind when you choose your partners. 4. Everything you do is the new media department.  Social media isn’t about your tweets—the masses play out who you are online.  Remember that in all aspects of your operations.  How you treat others is how you will be portrayed in social media! 5. To do this all well, look inside and be honest.  As the article notes: “In the words of that Danish marketing guru, Polonius: ‘To thine own self be true.’ Counterintuitive as it may seem, a pillar of the Relationship Era is that it is better to look inward than define your business as the accumulation of your public’s often fickle, shortsighted tastes.”  For nonprofits, this is even more important.  Know why you matter, and make it matter to others.  That is the great, messy, thoroughly human essence of marketing. Post by: Katya Andresen, Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog

The Power of Social Media

Over the past five years peer-to-peer fundraising (aka social fundraising, event fundraising or friendraising) revenue has more than doubled online – reaching close to the billion-dollar mark.

It’s been amazing to watch.

With the continued growth of Internet usage, the rise of social media, and the smart phone revolution it’s likely that social fundraising will continue to play a significant roll for non-profit organizations (or start to play a growing roll for those organizations who don’t already participate in this type of fundraising).

Check out the below social fundraising INFOGRAPHIC. You’ll learn a bit about the industry’s growth, what drives the fundraising success and the power of Friends Asking Friends.

Become a Member

Another quality e-campaign from Operation Smile.  They are now asking individuals to join their team.  After making a gift of $20, $60, or whatever you are able to give, you will be emailed your very own certificate that you can download and print off.  Below it lists off two things they are hoping to do this year with your continued support.

Is being a member anything special?  No, not really.  In fact, is it really just a marketing ploy to get you to make a donation?  Yes.  But, they are continually finding unique ways to make people feel special... and apart of the team.  Very well done in my opinion - it grabs your attention and makes you want to be included.  It's got to be more effective than your everyday "Donate Now" email.  Props to Operation Smile for changing things up and trying new things.

Also, please notice their constant integration with social media and sharing.

Tell a friend

Katie, save children's lives.Join the Operation Smile Team today. Become an Operation Smile team member today and print out this personalized certificate. Please join the Operation Smile team today and help save lives and provide more smiles in the new year! So many boys and girls born with clefts are depending on us. They are lonely. Hurting. Some may even die from abandonment or malnourishment. All because their parents can't afford the surgery they need. Join the Operation Smile Team now with a gift of $20, $60 or whatever you can give. Commit to change a child's life this year. With your support, this is what you can help make possible in 2012. 160 medical missions. 20,000 surgeries. As a member of our team during 2012, you'll help provide 20,000 corrective facial surgeries for children in Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India and other countries worldwide. Join now. Life-saving care all year long. With your continued support we'll open more Comprehensive Care Centers this year. We'll also train hundreds of doctors and nurses in our partner countries so they can help children in their own communities all year long.

Please help now. A child is waiting.

4 Marketing Facts for 2012

4 marketing facts for 2012

ClickZ has some excellent marketing trends to share.  The whole story is here, but if you don’t have time to read it, I offer these highlights:

1. Email is still the best way to reach most people, so focus on building your lists in 2012.

2. Consumers are “device indifferent,” meaning they are using many forms of technology.  You need to think about how to reach them wherever they are - and that means coordinated outreach across different types of technology, including mobile (phones and tablets).



3. Social media has come of age and it requires the same approach - integrated with other forms of outreach.



4. Content remains king.  If you want people to care, give them great information, stories and pictures. Outreach in any form is ineffective if it’s not engaging!

Four Marketing Facts for 2012
By: Katya Andresen, Katya's Non-Profit Marketing Blog

Social Contagion

Four ways to inject social contagion into your outreach in 2012

A recent review of more than 20 academic papers on social contagion, published in the book Consumer Insights: Findings From Behavioral Research, shows that consumers are heavily influenced not only by word of mouth - which we all know by now—but also by merely observing the behaviors of others, even if no communication takes place.

In your outreach in 2012, make sure that you keep this in mind.  Here are some ideas on how to apply these findings:
1. Include social sharing links in all of your outreach to encourage word of mouth
2. Include a quote from a donor about why they support you on your home page
3. Have beneficiaries write your acknowledgements to encourage work of mouth
4. Have donors or volunteers write your next appeal, with details on why they support you

Remember, you are rarely as effective a messenger as your supporters are.

Post by: Katya Andresen, Network for Good

Use Social Media to Recruit, Retrain, & Recognize Volunteers

Social media tools have tremendous potential for building community around a project among participating volunteers. Once you get volunteers to your project the first time, online community building can help keep them coming back.

Using Social Media for Volunteer Recruitment

Start a Facebook fanpage and invite volunteers to “like” it.  Set up your project as a calendar event on Facebook and invite your volunteers to sign up – and to invite their friends as well. Remember to send a personal message to each volunteer that signs up through Facebook to introduce yourself, confirm their attendance and let them know you’re counting on them showing up.

Create a Twitter account for the project and ask volunteers to “follow” the account. Use Twitter to share #volunteer opportunities. (Using the #volunteer hashtag in the text of your tweet will launch your tweet into Twitter’s volunteer conversation.) You can also share last-minute project updates like changes in driving directions through Twitter. During the project, upload and tweet photos for those who couldn’t join that day to show them what they’re missing.

Create a video that makes a compelling case about why the project is important and asks people to get involved. Share the video through the project’s Facebook page and share it via Twitter.

Using Social Media for Volunteer Retention

Creating a blog can be a great way to build community around your volunteer project. A blog post is a great format for storytelling and can be a place for you to share stories such as: sharing the founding story of the agency or neighborhood partner; sharing stories of the kind of impact you’re having because the project exists; or recognizing a stellar volunteer by telling his or her story.

Invite your volunteers to contribute stories to your blog or to post stories on their own blogs – ask them to reflect on their participation, the difference it makes and why it matters.

(If you don’t have the time to maintain a traditional blog, consider using a microblogging platform like Tumblr where you and all your volunteers can share anything from photos, to stories, to short updates.)

Post project photos to the project’s Facebook page for your volunteers to enjoy and share. Invite volunteers to post their own – on your Facebook page or theirs.

Engage volunteers between volunteer projects by holding a photo or video contest.  Ask volunteers to post their best photo or video footage of the project on your Flickr group page or on your YouTube channel and ask your community of volunteers to vote for the best one.

Crowdsource ways to improve the project by asking volunteers connected to your project’s Facebook page to share their input and ideas. For example, each week after the project, consider posting questions on the project’s Facebook page like:

• What went well at this week’s project?
• What do you think could have been improved / what would you suggest we do differently?
• What ideas do you have for…?”

Experiment with what kinds of content engages your volunteers most.  Do they want to engage online with content that is mostly positive and celebratory or would they rather grapple with ways to address the root causes of your community’s social challenges?

Using Social Media for Volunteer Recognition

Tell a phenomenal volunteer’s story through a blog post.

Enter your project on Foursquare and encourage your volunteers to “check in” when they attend.  Offer some kind of small reward to the volunteer who is the reigning “Mayor” of your project.

Interview your nonprofit partner or a beneficiary of the service project about why it matters to them and share the video with your volunteers online as a thank you message.

Post statistics about the impact your volunteers are making on your Facebook page.

Write a note of thanks on a volunteer’s Facebook wall.

Invite volunteers to help support your social media efforts. Volunteers can manage all of the ideas listed here – and more – as part of their volunteer commitment to your organization.

These are just a few of our starter ideas. What ideas do you have?

Today's post is by Jessica Kirkwood, VP of Interactive Strategy at Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network. It first appeared on VolunteerSpot’s Summer of Service blog series and has also appeared on the HandsOn blog.

Social Media for Nonprofits Ignite!

Taken from: Beth's Blog: Social Media for Social Good

In true “Ignite” style, each presenter had five minutes to present 20 slides about their nonprofit programs, initiatives and the ways they’ve seen nonprofits from around the world use social media to make a difference. You’ll hear from the below folks in this hour long session …

• Matthew Mahan, vice president of impact at Causes
• Noah Everett, founder of TwitPic
• Claire Williams Diaz who works on social innovation at Twitter
• Brian Dresher, director of business development at Mashable
• Geoff Livingston, co-founder & chief marketing officer at Zoetica