When we learned about Silverdocs – the AFI-Discovery Channel Documentary Festival – Avalon made a point to check out a screening at the AFI’s Silver Theater in Silver Spring, MD.

Target Analytics has just released its 2011 donorCentrics™ Internet and Multichannel Giving Benchmark Report … and I wonder how much traction it will get in the direct marketing community.  Integrated marketing, multi-channel giving, cross-channel communication … we all talk about it and assume that if we provide donors various options they will simply give in the way in which we ask.  But is this true?  Do Internet acquired donors prefer to always give online or will they jump readily to the direct mail piece waiting in the mailbox?  And what about our trusty direct mail acquired donors – will they promptly go online to renew or respond to a special appeal when asked?  And, most importantly … are their differences in retention vis-à-vis method of acquisition?

A lot of back and forth regarding social media, Facebook, and whether we should focus our time on it at all this month.  Will we ever come to a consensus on its impact?  Probably not – but what is forward-thinking is NFC (Near Field Communication) and its role in marketing.  And don’t miss MoveOn.org’s recent news …