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In today's digital landscape, where social media, email campaigns, and online fundraising platforms dominate, one might dismiss direct mail fundraising as a relic of the past. However, contrary to popular belief, direct mail remains a powerful tool in the fundraising arsenal, and its future is brighter than ever. In this article, we'll explore why direct mail fundraising is relevant and poised for a renaissance in the digital age, supported by recent studies and industry trends, while also considering the preferences and behaviors of Millennials and Generation Z.

The Personal Touch:

Direct mail offers a personal touch that digital channels often struggle to replicate, which is particularly appealing to younger generations. Contrary to the stereotype of Millennials and Gen Z being exclusively digital natives, a study by the USPS found that 87% of Millennials enjoy receiving direct mail, and 90% consider direct mail reliable for obtaining information. Additionally, research by InfoTrends revealed that members of Gen Z are more likely than older generations to read, organize, and sort their mail.

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2. Targeted and Tailored Campaigns:

Younger generations value personalized experiences, making targeted and tailored direct mail campaigns highly effective. According to a study by Epsilon, 80% of Millennials are more likely to purchase when the brand offers personalized experiences. By leveraging data analytics and segmentation strategies, organizations can create direct mail pieces that resonate with Millennials and Gen Z, driving engagement and donations.

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3. Integration with Digital Channels:

Millennials and Gen Z still engage with traditional media, including direct mail, despite their digital fluency. However, they expect seamless integration with digital channels. A survey by Accenture found that 68% of Millennials demand an integrated, seamless experience regardless of the channel they are using. Direct mail can bridge offline and online engagement, driving recipients to online donation platforms or encouraging them to share their support on social media.

4. Navigating Privacy Concerns:

Younger generations are particularly sensitive to privacy concerns and data security. Direct mail provides security and control; recipients can physically hold and review the content without worrying about intrusive data practices. A study by Aimia found that 77% of Millennials have a more favorable impression of companies that send direct mail than email.

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5. Innovation and Creativity:

To capture the attention of Millennials and Gen Z, direct mail campaigns must be innovative and creative. Interactive mailers, augmented reality experiences, and personalized storytelling effectively engage younger audiences. According to research by RMI Direct Marketing, 92% of Millennials say they are more likely to be persuaded by a piece of direct mail if it looks interesting or unique rather than email.

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Every year on March 8th, people around the world come together to celebrate International Women's Day. It's a day dedicated to honoring the achievements of women in all aspects of life and advocating for gender equality. As we commemorate this occasion, it's essential to reflect on the progress made and the work that still lies ahead in empowering women and promoting inclusivity.

Empowerment through Education: Education serves as a powerful catalyst for empowering women and girls. When women have access to quality education, they are better equipped to pursue their dreams, secure economic independence, and contribute to their communities. However, despite significant strides in education, disparities still exist, particularly in marginalized communities and developing countries. On International Women's Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring equal access to education for all women, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Championing Gender Equality: Gender equality is not just a women's issue; it's a fundamental human right. International Women's Day provides an opportunity to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote gender equality in all aspects of life. This includes closing the gender pay gap, eliminating gender-based violence, and breaking down barriers to women's participation in decision-making roles. By championing gender equality, we create a more inclusive and equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Honoring Women's Leadership: Women's leadership is essential for driving positive change and shaping a more inclusive future. From political leaders and business executives to grassroots activists and community organizers, women play a vital role in every sector of society. International Women's Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women leaders and recognize their contributions to advancing gender equality. By elevating their voices and supporting their leadership, we can inspire future generations of women to pursue their goals and aspirations.

Intersectionality and Inclusivity: It's crucial to recognize that women's experiences are not monolithic and are shaped by intersecting factors such as race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and disability. International Women's Day underscores the importance of intersectionality and inclusivity in our efforts to advance gender equality. By embracing diversity and centering the voices of marginalized women, we ensure that our advocacy efforts are inclusive and representative of all women's experiences.

There is a misconception that executives know how to interview because they have been doing it for a long time. Quantity is not the same as quality and interviewers tend to get complacent and monotonous after interviewing person after person. The same could be said for interviewees who are jumping from interview to interview in hopes of obtaining that job or promotion offer.

Something that I never considered previously was to send a list of questions that I plan to ask in the interview ahead of time to the person I am interviewing. Much time is wasted during interviews to allow an interviewee time to think of a response and decreases the amount of time left over to truly get to know the applicant or allow them ample time to ask questions. By proving questions ahead of time, the applicant can prepare their answers which might open their minds to questions they want to ask of the company and allows for a more relaxed interview.

Another technique to maintain best practices is to record interview sessions. This allows for the interviewer to reflect back on the interview and analyze the experience further. This can lead to the interviewer sharpening their skills and fine-tuning what works and eliminate what is not working. Recording interview sessions are also beneficial for the applicant. While they may or may not receive the job or promotion in question, the recording would give them the tools needed to improve for their next interview.

Anheuser-Busch is facing the aftermath of a decision to promote a transgender social-media star. This caused a clash between the flagship brand Budweiser and its umbrella brand Bud Light. The Budweiser brand is known for its good ole boy reputation, so it did not go over well when its counterpart took a more progressive stance. Bud light wanted to take advantage of the popularity of social media to focus marketing strategies. The first female to run Bud Light’s marketing felt that to help overcome the company’s decline in sales, the brand needed to appeal to a different demographic. A lot of the aftermath anger came about due to how the company responded and the length of time it took to do so. Bud Light is now planning on focusing on omnichannel marketing again to increase sales and repair the damage. They originally scaled back from traditional marketing channels such as television, but they are leaning back in. The company also took a direct mail approach to reach out to wholesalers to repair its relationship. In light of the aftermath, Bud Light is shifting its marketing focus to highlight the military in order to save face.

  As a customer, I want brands to market to where I frequent. The idea that Bud Light was trying to move into the social media platform in order to appeal to a wider demographic reinforces that idea. Marketers should aim to combine the best of both words- the immediacy of online channels and the intimacy of offline channels. One of the major issues in the handling of the controversy was their response. Bud light used social media to market but did not take advantage of the immediate resolutions a social media platform has to offer. Digital marketing allows a brand to communicate and educate consumers. When problems arise, they can be addressed immediately. However, when companies such as Bud Light takes over two weeks to respond, it causes more harm than good and wasted easily accessible means.

A successful company understands the value in omnichannel marketing and has been continually increasing the efforts in a more digital landscape. As consumers grow and evolve, for a company to be successful it must adapt and evolve as well.

Jack Welch defines winning as “Growing Yourself, your organization, and your teams”. I would agree with this definition 100%. A successful leader focuses on developing those around them. Their success IS your success. An individual can succeed by concentrated on themselves, but a leader brings on success through others. As Elizabeth Lombardo once stated when describing a board breaking exercise, “when you focus on the board, your hand stops at the board”. A leader is only as good as it’s weakest link, so develop your people, help them obtain wins and you will win. As each member of the team grows, the team itself grows, which creates a winning environment for everyone. 

Allowing everyone to win is important to me as it defines what type of leader I am. Executive leadership notices which teams are struggling and which teams are thriving, and they will contribute this to the leader of the teams. When executive leaderships approach teams that are struggling, a manager will point fingers and assign blame. A leader will jump in and take ownership. It is ok to make mistakes, it is how a leader learns from their mistakes and moves forward that defines their success and produces wins. Mistakes are not failures; they produce data to learn. 

To support a winning mindset, as a leader, I value authenticity and credibility. It is important as a leader to never being fake. What you see is what you get. It is better to remove oneself from a situation than present yourself to be someone you’re not. My colleagues have often come to me as someone they can know they can trust. On the same token as being authentic, it’s always best to ensure that what you say and do are credible. If I do not know what I am saying or doing, then I will not present myself as such. People cannot trust you if you do not know what you are talking about. I am constantly learning and seeking out resources and tools to better myself and improve my knowledge. To learn more on this topic, I suggest watching Elizabeth Lombardo’s TedTalk, The Global Crisis No one is Talking About.

I came across an article in The Wall Street Journal titled “The New Benefits Employers Could Offer to Make You Stay”.  I chose this article because with the change in workplace environments due to the COVID19 pandemic, leaders are having to adapt in order to retain current employees and recruit quality applicants.

Many people claim that people don’t leave companies, they leave managers. Employees are more willing to stick with a job they don’t necessarily like if they enjoy the work environment and have good relationships with the people they work with.  Rule number one of Jack Welch’s Rules of Leadership states that “leaders relentlessly upgrade their team, using every encounter as an opportunity to evaluate, coach, and build self-Confidence”. We need these elements in our workplace to motivate us and make us successful. Employees want to feel appreciated and not dread coming to work each day. Dorie Clark mentions that “there needs to be a disproportionate emphasis placed on identifying managers who actually prioritize company culture and excel in making people feel part of a team”. The pandemic has opened a lot of doors for job seekers. With the growing number of remote job positions, people are no longer limited to a geographical location. If an employee doesn’t get what they need from a company and its leadership, they will look elsewhere. With fewer limitations, job seekers can easily find what suits their needs and what they look for in a company and those who lead it.

I have been with the same company since 2012. However, the department I was in was limited in regard to growth and before COVID, I did not have many options that suited my need to work remotely. At that time, my department was the only department in the company that was working remotely. However, even though the pandemic is nothing to be taken lightly, it was a blessing for me and my career. All other departments in my company moved to remote work and became very successful in doing it. I got a glimpse of how each department was run by its leadership and was able to find the perfect position where I enjoyed the people I worked with and felt appreciated. With this new motivation and career path, I was able to get promoted twice in a short period of time.

In a world where large companies are thriving and small businesses continue to fold, it is refreshing to see strong, independent women making it happen. I am very excited to be able to help support my sorority sister, Detesha, in her journey to make a name for herself and her company. As women, we should always do what we can to build each other up and celebrate each other’s successes.

Detesha Knight CEO started her business, Bubble Bo Dacious LLC in June 2020 out of her home. Detesha is a United States Navy veteran, who served 11 years, wife, and mom from Texas who is also currently going to school to get her degree. She is also a member of the first sorority line that crossed with the first online sorority, Sigma Chi Psi. Sigma Chi Psi broke down many roadblocks not only being the first recognized online sorority, but it was founded by two strong, black women. They may be the first, but they will not be the last.

I have had the pleasure of receiving a bundle of Cherrylicious from Bubble Bo Dacious LLC. The Bodacious Lips lip gloss smelled delicious and leaves my lips feeling extremely soft. The jar of lotion goes such a long way, all you need is a dab from your finger. The moment you open the lid, you are welcomed with an addicting fragrance that is not overwhelming. I open the jar just to smell the lotion at times. The heart shaped soap is a perfect addition to your washrooms. I have one at every sink and the look gives my sinks the perfect touch. The soap itself cleans hands thoroughly while leaving your hands moisturized. The heart shape stays intact. If you want smooth skin and amazing smells, then the shower gel and bubble bath are right down your ally as well. It’s nice that the bubbles are not excessive. They are just enough to give the right combination of product.

Some of the scents in the BoDacious Lab are Cherrylicious, Voluptuous Vanilla, Cotton Candy, Paradise Peppermint, Pina Colada, Apple Explosion, Raspberry Rush, Twisted Pineapple, Strawnilla, and Poppin Peach.

The website is currently under construction but for orders or if you have any questions, you can send an email to [email protected] .

“If you’re not a leader on the bench, don’t call yourself a leader on the field. You’re either a leader everywhere or nowhere. Leadership is taking care of yourself and empowering others to do the same”. -Abby Wambach

As women in the business industry, empowering one another is crucial. Surrounding yourself with other strong women, or a squad, will help you move in the direction you want to go in and have like minded women around you to push and motivate you to success. Your squad should celebrate your wins and help pick you up from your losses.

Finding the right squad can make the difference. Each person does not have to be the same type of person either. Diverse backgrounds and interests will provide you with a wider range of thoughts and ideas. Each person will approach different situations differently. Celebrate those differences and surround yourself a rainbow of women. 

My squad currently incorporates many different people from different walks of life. One member is a younger version of myself that I can always count on being positive and helps motivate me every step of the way. Another member is one I consider a mentor. She understands how to succeed in an industry controlled by men and provides me with insight. Another is a leadership coach that can pinpoint who am I and what I can do to get where I want to be, to where I deserve. Each member is 100% unique but are all vital parts of my squad. 

“All major decisions about your career will be made when you are not in the room. How do you want people to describe you when you aren’t in the room?”-Carla Harris

Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, Carla Harris, is spot on. We have all wondered at some point what is being said about us in meetings while we wait to hear about a promotion or raise. It’s a guessing game, but it shouldn’t be. How people see you is reflective on how you see yourself.

I am a woman who is determined, hardworking, and passionate. Whether some of those adjectives could be considered a fault or a attribute, I know that is who I am. I set goals and work hard to accomplish them. I am passionate about my work and success. When men say that women are too emotional for positions of power, that speaks directly to me. It’s not about being upset or angered too easily, it’s about being passionate about what you believe and where you stand. As women, we must not shy away from our passion, but embrace it. 

What do you value and what risks are you willing to take is something we should always ask ourselves. Weigh the risk versus the reward. Make sure what you are risking is in line with what you value. 

“I have been at probably every powerful table that you can think of, I have worked at nonprofits, I have been at foundations, I have worked in corporations, served on corporate boards, I have been at G-summits, I have sat in at the U.N.: They are not that smart.”- Michelle Obama

As women, we have the impression that are not pretty enough, no smart enough, not good enough. We underestimate ourselves and overestimate others. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. We are so scared of failing that it prevents us from going after what we deserve. 

As women in the business industry, or any industry for that matter, we must claim our confidence.

Realize the results you want. My goal is to make a name for myself in the nonprofit world. I do not want the grunt who does the work that is viewed by industry leaders are “entry level”, I want to be the one that makes things happen. Growing my knowledge and my reputation is important to me. When people see my name, I want them to think of me as an industry leader whose thoughts and opinions are greatly valued.

Evaluate the actions you need to take. Knowing what you want is only half the battle. You must come up with a plan to MAKE it happen. Obstacles might attempt to stand in your way, but you can break through those with confidence. You have the power to succeed.

Understand where your energy and feelings come from. Don’t let your thoughts and actions be driven by fear. Find your motivation and inspiration and make that the push you need to move forward. 

What can you do to help you boost your confidence when going in to a high-stakes or stressful situation?  Realize your high value thought or confidence mantra. Some people listen to songs to pump them up before starting the day or going in to a meeting. However, a simple phrase that you repeat to yourself before entering situations can provide the confidence boost you need to go in there and kick butt! 

“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, RBG, is someone I admire due to her ability to advocate. While she might have passed away, she still lives on through the impact she had on many women throughout her years and will continue to do so long after she has passed. 

RBG had such a calm demeanor that what she said sparked thoughts. Conversations did not end with what she advocated for, they began. She had a strong value system and she did not falter with what she stood for and her name continues to stand for. As a woman, I will continue her values and leading other women to advocate and stand up for what they believe in. It’s not as simple as having strong beliefs, it’s about opening doors for future women to lead. Just as Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not try to stand in the way of other women’s success, she created opportunities to allow us to build one other up. One women’s success is a success for all women. 

That’s how I want to live my life. I want to build other women up and help inspire other women to go after their dreams or goals. We should never try to tear each other down, rather, lift each other up. I want my daughters to see what I am able to accomplish and know that it’s possible for them as well. 

“Make sure you continue to trust what you know now about yourself and stay true to what you believe in.” -Melinda Gates

As a woman in the business industry, there seems to be a higher level of stress when it comes to success. We copy other successful people and have the desire to make everyone happy. Even during an interview, there are times where we hide a side of ourselves to in hopes to conform to an industry’s view of a leader. We need to stop trying to please others and focus on being the “real” us.

The idea should be confidence over conformity.

What unique skills do you bring to the table? I pride myself in my strong work ethic. No matter what task I am given, I will not settle for mediocracy. I am a fighter that will not give up easily. Those are skills that I feel are very useful in the business world. We can not back down from the obstacle of being female. We can show management that we can stand toe-to-toe with everyone else. My moto is that if you don’t try, you will never get.

What comes easy to you? As a person who has had to overcome many obstacles my entire life, I feel the one things that comes easy to me is my drive. I am always aiming for something. To me, one should never be satisfied with what we have, there should always be a goal to aim for. I am like Alexander Hamilton in that perspective. Hopefully, I do not meet the same fate. I haven’t met my Aaron Burr as of yet, so I am safe at the moment. 

What won’t you settle for? I for one will never settle for mediocracy. You don’t have to best the best at something, but you should always give it your best. Put your heart and soul into everything you do and you will get to where you need to be.

Leadership and Career Coach Kelli Thompson shared some inspiring words today for women leaders. In the words on Leslie Odom Jr. in Hamilton “I want to be in the room where it happens”. Women not only have the right to be involved in decisions, but they deserve it. The biggest hurdle is that since women tend to get pushed aside or looked over, some women in leadership lack the confidence to allow themselves to succeed. It can be frustrating at times getting passed over for different positions for a male counterpart. Throughout my career, I have experienced that same issue on numerous occasions. There is a time where we need to say ENOUGH. It’s time for women leaders to MAKE it happen.

Having a confident and determined mindset is a must. There are 5 valuable mindsets will help women leaders move forward. You can remember them as the 5 A’s.

Abundance: You must believe that there are no limits. You are not a victim of someone else’s success.

Advocacy: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want or need. Stand for something, align  your goals and values.

Action: Do not stall for clarity. Take the risks. Go after it!

Alignment: Set boundaries. Determine what is right for you and what is a distraction.

Authority: Remember, you ARE already qualified.  Tell yourself that you belong here. There is no luck. Do not underestimate yourself. Give yourself credit.

Knock down those walls, build those bridges, and go after the success that you deserve. You are worth it!

Join Kelli Thompson for a 5 day women's leadership series so you can BREAK THROUGH your doubt, glass ceilings and what’s holding you back from making your unique impact in the rooms that matter. 

Do you need a little inspiration or motivation to get you going before you attack your day? Here are 21 songs that I feel does the trick. 

You can check all of them out through this YouTube playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZQzai-ZGVtCtlY6Mu0YkoiegM_9J29EQ

1. Carrie Underwood- The Champion

2. Demi Lovato- Confident

3. Jordan Sparks- I Am Woman

4. Destiny’s Child- Independent Women, Pt. 1

5. Christina Aguilera- Can’t Hold Us Down

6. Alicia Keys- Girl On Fire

7. Britney Spears- Stronger

8. Sara Bareilles- Brave

9. Kelly Clarkson- Stronger

10. Destiny’s Child- Survivor

11. Taylor Swift- The Man

12. Meghan Trainor- Me Too

13. Lizzo- Good As Hell

14. Selena Gomez- Who Says

15. P!nk- So What

16. Pat Benatar- Hit Me With Your Best Shot

17. Shakira- Try Everything

18. Gloria Gaynor- I Will Survive

19. Christina Aguilera- Fighter

20. Aretha Franklin- Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves

Selena Gomez is a young, female entrepreneur. She grew up in the public eye through acting in popular shows such as Barney and Wizards of Waverly Place. Selena also has a lucrative singing career. As she grew up, she pursued different paths such as producing, cooking, and developing her own makeup line, Rare Beauty. Being in the public eye her whole life has been a struggle for Selena being that she has Lupus and mental health issues. However, she does not use those as excuses rather than an opportunity to use her celebrity platform to bring awareness. She is the spokesperson and face of Rare Beauty, which is a cosmetic line that celebrates everyone’s individuality. As Selena herself proclaims, “Being rare is about being comfortable with yourself. I’ve stopped trying to be perfect. I just want to be me”.

Twitter has become a popular social media platform for celebrities and companies to expand their reach and market to their consumers. While you may come across some negative or hateful tweets, there is a lot of good information you can find. You can learn a lot about a celebrity or business by what they post on social media. Visual stimuli are used to produce intentional learning, enticing consumers to want to learn more.

On Selena Gomez’s Twitter page, she influences comprehension by being likable. Her tweets are positive and relatable. Her goal is not to be the most famous person in the world, she just enjoys what she does and wants to spread positivity. The pictures and videos that she posts are visually pleasing and not over-the-top. Selena does an amazing job choosing soft colors to not overwhelm consumer’s senses but to promote a calm and welcoming atmosphere. Her cosmetic line is meant to allow you to feel attractive while using natural tones and encourages women to be themselves. Uniqueness is beauty and that is what she promotes. Selena is not only the face of Rare Beauty, but she is a consumer as well. She proves her knowledge by using the products, making videos about how to apply the makeup, and has a team of industry leaders in her corner for support. She does not shy away from posting personal videos of herself. She also loves cooking and makes it a point to make videos showing that she doesn’t shy away from getting her hands dirty and sharing her knowledge and experience with the world. When you can tell that a spokesperson actually uses the products that they promote, consumers tend to trust the products more. She is very honest in her tweets about what products she likes best, how they feel, and more.

https://twitter.com/selenagomez

https://twitter.com/rarebeauty

A major issue with technology and doing things virtually is that you can’t always pick up on the tone of the sender or even the exact intent of the message. Technology should not replace human interaction or be used as an avoidance tool in the professional world. While email can be a quick and efficient way to communicate information, the true meaning behind the message can be lost in translation. I am sure everyone at some point in their lives has received an email or text that confused them or that seems to be “taken the wrong way”. You cannot control how someone feels. Proper netiquette must be used when communicating virtually. One must also consider whether the tool they are using is the best possible outlet for what one is trying to convey.