Comments on: Targeting audiences: A few thoughts to consider http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/2009/11/targeting-audiences-a-few-thoughts-to-consider/ Thoughts on business and marketing from the Other Side Group.... Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:53:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Andy Shaindlin http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/2009/11/targeting-audiences-a-few-thoughts-to-consider/comment-page-1/#comment-770 Andy Shaindlin Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:37:41 +0000 http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/?p=1095#comment-770 Thanks for mentioning my post about Twitter. There are certainly some complimentary and positive comments on Twitter that people make regarding their alma mater. And there are (believe it or not) people who want to get a call from a student and who will donate over the phone. But as you suggest, even those people should be asked: "Is there some other way you would prefer us to communicate with you?" or some similar question.<br><br>By the way, if you want your alumni association to offer activities other than the three (unappealing) ones you mentioned, I recommend that you volunteer to organize something YOU would like to do. It's another way to send the message about relevance back to your school. (Of course, I would say that - I'm an alumni director!) Thanks for mentioning my post about Twitter. There are certainly some complimentary and positive comments on Twitter that people make regarding their alma mater. And there are (believe it or not) people who want to get a call from a student and who will donate over the phone. But as you suggest, even those people should be asked: “Is there some other way you would prefer us to communicate with you?” or some similar question.

By the way, if you want your alumni association to offer activities other than the three (unappealing) ones you mentioned, I recommend that you volunteer to organize something YOU would like to do. It's another way to send the message about relevance back to your school. (Of course, I would say that – I'm an alumni director!)

]]> By: Tweets that mention Targeting audiences: A few thoughts to consider | Ad Your Comment Here -- Topsy.com http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/2009/11/targeting-audiences-a-few-thoughts-to-consider/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Tweets that mention Targeting audiences: A few thoughts to consider | Ad Your Comment Here -- Topsy.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:23:07 +0000 http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/?p=1095#comment-748 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Other Side Group, Anya Woods. Anya Woods said: Thoughts on target audiences and how delivery of the message is just as important as the msg itself http://bit.ly/7KbJC1 [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Other Side Group, Anya Woods. Anya Woods said: Thoughts on target audiences and how delivery of the message is just as important as the msg itself http://bit.ly/7KbJC1 [...]

]]> By: rickahardy http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/2009/11/targeting-audiences-a-few-thoughts-to-consider/comment-page-1/#comment-749 rickahardy Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:25:25 +0000 http://www.othersidegroup.com/adcomments/?p=1095#comment-749 Anya, well said. Your point of view is important. Tactics such as telethons tend to be used across generations. It's no wonder that for many institutions, the results are poor to mediocre. Institutions tend to think that alumni care about their alma mater, enough to give back. But the reality is that most alumni are frozen in time with their alma mater and really only care about their memories and former classmates. Institutions have to figure out ways to connect yesterday with today. But in order to have a shot at doing that, institutions have to do something rather simple, as you've stated: just think of the audience, what they care about, and how to communicate with them. Anya, well said. Your point of view is important. Tactics such as telethons tend to be used across generations. It's no wonder that for many institutions, the results are poor to mediocre. Institutions tend to think that alumni care about their alma mater, enough to give back. But the reality is that most alumni are frozen in time with their alma mater and really only care about their memories and former classmates. Institutions have to figure out ways to connect yesterday with today. But in order to have a shot at doing that, institutions have to do something rather simple, as you've stated: just think of the audience, what they care about, and how to communicate with them.

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