Yes, there really are some people, and some agencies, who truly understand s ocial media. There are an even larger number who don't but pretend they do. Those are the ones to watch out for. Social media is the only marketing strategy you need." We have an experienced social media team." Don't be dazzled by grandiose promises. MORE >>

Today: a brief synopsis of airline flights, breakfast cereals, scalpers, non-profits, and how business intelligence is, of course, the answer. Pricing.  We are confronted with pricing all the time — making a series of value judgments on the relative worth of the item or service in question. This has begun to change for a variety of reasons. Interestingly, MORE >>

Right now Clif Bar invites you to give up your car for your daily commute and ride a bike instead in a promotion called the 2Mile Challenge. When you do so, and log your bike miles online or by smartphone, Clif enters you in a drawing for a $100,000 donation to be split among three charities dedicated to bike advocacy and/or climate change. MORE >>

One of my favorite lessons to come out of the Direct Mail for Small Nonprofits e-clinic last week was when Tom Ahern passed on this Hemingway line and applied it to nonprofit direct mail: Write Drunk. Edit Sober. It’s all about letting your creativity flow, and letting go of the “supposed to&# and worrying about what others might think. MORE >>

Google has unveiled its social networking platform, Google+, and it is definitely worth a close look if you're lucky enough to be among those select individuals invited to test it out. I wasn't, but I managed to get in by the back door.) The reviews so far have been enthusiastic - here is a typical one from fundraising consultant Marc Pittman. MORE >>