Your Rally Point Podcast

Your Rally Point Podcast: Mallory Erickson — Fundraiser Readiness, Behavioral Science, and Practicing for the Moments That MatterIn this episode, James sits down with Mallory Erickson—fundraiser, executive coach, and creator of the first-ever Fundraiser Readiness Platform, Practivated.com, to explore why fundraising is as much about the nervous system and mindset of the fundraiser as it is about strategy and donors. Mallory shares how behavioral science, neuroscience, and coaching transformed her own fundraising career and led to the creation of a safe, supportive practice environment where fundraisers can build confidence, clarity, and connection before entering high-stakes donor conversations. What You’ll LearnWhy stress and fear cause fundraisers to become transactional instead of relationalHow practicing donor conversations builds “muscle memory” for real-world meetingsWhat personalization at scale means for fundraisers—not just donorsHow Practivated’s AI coach “Tivi” supports strategy, messaging, and donor preparationWhy role-play with feedback is more effective than scripts aloneHow managers can use leading indicators to better coach and support their teamsCommon use cases: onboarding, campaign readiness, stalled donor relationships, and transformational givingHow technology can heal “tech trauma” when it’s built by fundraisers for fundraisersResourcesLearn more about Practivated: practivated.comConnect with Mallory Erickson on LinkedIn and social platformsReferenced concepts: behavioral science, neuroscience, executive coaching, donor conversation role-playQuotables“Stress and fear can sound like loyalty, compassion, and strategy—but they keep us small.”“Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”“We lose transformational gifts when stress makes us transactional.”“This is about muscle memory, not scripts.”“Success as a service, not software as a service.”“My North Star has always been improving the lives of fundraisers.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 — Introduction + Mallory’s journey into fundraising and coaching02:00 — Why fundraisers struggle: stress, fear, and isolation04:20 — The origin story of Practivated06:40 — How stress shrinks big gifts into small asks08:15 — On-demand AI coaching with Tivi10:30 — Role-play scenarios and skill-based feedback12:25 — Manager dashboards and leading indicators14:20 — Why practice builds confidence and presence16:20 — Adoption challenges and culture change18:10 — Use cases: onboarding, campaigns, and stalled donor relationships21:30 — Healing tech trauma in the nonprofit sector24:55 — Closing reflections on success, partnership, and missionIf this episode sparked new ideas about how your team can prepare for stronger donor conversations, we invite you to learn more about how Rally Corp helps nonprofits engage supporters with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Connect with us to see how Rally’s tools and guidance can support your fundraising strategy and help you mobilize people for good.

In this episode, James sits down with Sam Wong, Development Director at ExtraFood.org, to unpack a fundraising journey that spans political campaigns, nonprofit development in China, corporate partnerships in the Bay Area, and major donor stewardship back in the nonprofit world. They discuss what changes (and what doesn’t) across contexts: relationship-building, trust, segmentation, and the discipline to keep making the ask—especially during peak season like GivingTuesday and year-end.What You’ll LearnWhy fundraising in China is structurally different—and what it teaches about trust and stewardshipHow “guanxi” (relationship currency) changes the pace and posture of donor cultivationWhy working in a larger org can accelerate skill-building (systems, scale, cross-team coordination)Practical corporate partnership tactics (cadence, clarity, and how decisions/budgets really work)GivingTuesday execution without fancy tools: phone calls, pledge tracking, and follow-up disciplineWhy handwritten notes still matter for many donor bases—and where they fit in your touch planHow to segment volunteers vs donors (and avoid burning goodwill)How curated volunteer experiences can deepen major donor commitment and upgradesResources Learn more about Extra Food: extrafood.orgCRM + operations referenced: Salesforce, HubSpot, Stewardship tactics discussed: donor segmentation, pledge tracking, handwritten notes, volunteer “mission touch” experiencesQuotables“Fundraising in USD versus RMB is a very different ball game.”“In China, relationship—guanxi—is like currency.”“Go to a larger org at some point so you can learn what it looks like to scale operations.”“Listen 80% of the time and speak 20%.”“At the very least, they get to listen to this voicemail—one more touch.”“You can’t be afraid to make the ask… or the ‘no’.”“Volunteers are donating their time—asking for money takes stewardship.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 — Intro + meeting on LinkedIn01:10 — How Sam got started (political fundraising in Chicago)01:49 — Fundraising in China: structural barriers + cross-border giving03:10 — Communication platforms abroad (WeChat vs U.S. norms)03:45 — Guanxi and why trust-building can take longer05:34 — Grants work: why it wasn’t the right long-term fit06:15 — Large nonprofit lessons: corporate portfolios + scaling coordination07:55 — Returning to major donors: what Sam enjoys most in development work10:15 — Corporate cadence + practical tactics (including the “calendar invite” move)12:10 — ExtraFood: wearing many hats + staying close to the mission14:55 — GivingTuesday playbook: phone calls, donor reports, and securing gifts17:20 — Handwritten notes and knowing your donor base20:10 — Corporate partners who want hands-on mission (volunteer days + bread pudding)24:15 — Workflow details: scripts, Salesforce logging, Give Lively, pledges26:05 — Volunteer stewardship + segmentation strategy28:55 — Curated volunteer experiences for major donors (and why it drives upgrades)32:05 — ClosingIf this conversation sparked new ideas for your fundraising and donor engagement strategy, we invite you to connect with us and learn more about how Rally Corp can help you turn relationships into real results. Share this episode with your team or network and join us as we continue helping nonprofits mobilize people for good.

Episode SummaryMonthly giving isn’t just a fundraising tactic—it’s the foundation of sustainable nonprofit growth.In this episode of Your Rally Point Podcast, James Martin is joined by Dana Snyder, founder of Positive Equation and author of The Monthly Giving Mastermind, to break down why recurring donations outperform one-time gifts and how nonprofits can build monthly giving programs that actually work.Dana shares practical insights from nearly a decade of nonprofit and digital strategy work, explaining how the subscription economy has reshaped donor behavior—and why nonprofits must adapt. From treating monthly giving like a product to optimizing mobile donation paths, this conversation is packed with actionable advice for leaders who want predictable revenue and deeper donor relationships.What You’ll LearnWhy monthly donors retain at 80–90% while one-time donors often don’tHow the subscription economy has trained donors to say “yes” to recurring giftsWhy most monthly giving programs fail—and how to fix themHow to position monthly giving as a branded program, not a checkboxWho to ask for monthly gifts (and who not to)The role mobile optimization plays in recurring revenue growthHow monthly giving improves forecasting, planning, and board conversationsEpisode Timeline00:00 – Introduction to Dana Snyder and monthly giving05:30 – The shift from one-time fundraising to recurring revenue10:45 – The subscription economy and donor behavior16:30 – Why retention matters more than acquisition21:15 – Treating monthly giving like a product27:00 – Mobile optimization and donation friction32:45 – Identifying the right donors for monthly asks38:00 – Long-term sustainability and nonprofit resilience42:30 – Final advice for year-end and beyondQuotables“Monthly donors aren’t just supporters—they’re committed believers.”“If you ask for a one-time gift, that’s exactly what you’ll get.”“Monthly giving turns fundraising from survival mode into sustainability.”“The mistake isn’t lack of generosity—it’s lack of clear pathways.”“Retention is where nonprofit growth actually happens.”Learn MoreDana Snyder / Positive Equation: https://positiveequation.comSubscribe to Your Rally Point Podcast for more conversations on sustainable growthReady to build a mobile-first giving strategy? Book a demo at https://rallycorp.com/demo

In this episode, James Martin sits down with veteran digital strategist Sandi Fox to unpack what human-centered texting really looks like for nonprofits. They discuss permission-based engagement, why conversations matter more than blasts, which metrics actually indicate success, and how upcoming changes like RCS will impact mobile strategies—plus why “burn and churn” tactics hurt trust and results.___Connect with Sandi @ https://www.smartasafox.orgRally Corp @ https://rallycorp.com

Apple’s iOS 26 is about to change the game for text messaging—and a lot of nonprofits (and brands) are not prepared.In Episode 21 of Your Rally Point Podcast, James Martin and Jack Bobin explain what’s happening, why Apple is pushing more filtering to the device level, and what that means in practical terms: more legitimate messages getting routed into the Unknown Sender folder (what Jack calls the “penalty box”).They break down why this shift is inevitable (email went through the same lifecycle), how spam and fraud are forcing Apple’s hand, and what organizations must do now to protect their deliverability and click rates—especially heading into the year-end giving season.James walks through the “dominoes” that determine whether a message gets seen and trusted: carrier registration (10DLC/A2P), compliance toolkit, sender verification, branded short links, and VCards/contact cards that help supporters save your organization as a known sender. Miss one step and your best campaign may never reach the inbox.This episode is not doom-and-gloom—it’s a practical playbook. Text messaging is still the fastest way to reach supporters in the moment. The goal is simply to do it the right way: permission-based, human-centered, and trusted.What you’ll learn:What iOS 26 changes about text filtering and inbox placementWhy “Unknown Sender” routing can quietly crush campaign resultsHow carrier registration and compliance affect deliverabilityWhy branded links build trust (and reduce suspicious-link friction)How VCards/contact cards can protect sender recognition on iPhonesWhat to ask your current texting vendor—before iOS 26 rolls outSubscribe to Your Rally Point PodcastBook a demo: https://rallycorp.com/demo

Apple’s next iOS update is coming—and it will change how text messages are delivered, filtered, and trusted on iPhones.In this short, focused episode of Your Rally Point Podcast, James Martin and Jack Bobin break down what iOS 26 means for nonprofits, why legitimate messages may start landing in spam or “promotions,” and what organizations must do now to protect deliverability, trust, and ROI.They explain why this shift is inevitable (email already went through it), how Apple is moving filtering to the device level, and why permission, verification, and sender trust matter more than ever. You’ll also hear why many text vendors aren’t talking about this—and why ignoring it could quietly kill your click rates.James and Jack walk through the “dominoes” that determine whether a text actually gets seen: campaign registration, compliance, permission-based opt-ins, verified sending, trusted links, and saved contacts. Miss one step, and your message may never reach the inbox—no matter how good your copy is.If texting is part of your fundraising, communications, or engagement strategy, this episode will help you understand what’s changing and how to stay ahead of it.What you’ll learn:What Apple’s iOS 26 filtering means for text deliveryWhy spam controls are moving from networks to phonesHow permission-based texting protects deliverabilityWhy verified sending and trusted links matter more nowThe questions you should ask your text messaging vendorHow poor deliverability destroys ROI—even if everything else is done rightSubscribe for practical nonprofit growth insightsBook a demo: https://rallycorp.com/demo

Nonprofits don’t need more dashboards—they need results.In this episode of Your Rally Point Podcast, James Martin and Jack Bobin tackle one of the most common (and frustrating) questions in nonprofit marketing: How do you actually prove ROI from text messaging?Open rates are easy to quote. Vanity metrics are easy to celebrate. But neither helps you justify spend to your board.James and Jack break down why click-through rate is the first meaningful signal of engagement, how integrations with donor platforms finally make revenue attribution possible, and why automation dramatically improves results by following up with supporters who click but don’t convert.They also walk through a simple ROI model any nonprofit can understand—starting with a list of just 100 supporters—and explain why mobile messaging can outperform email and direct mail when measured correctly.If you’re already texting (or thinking about it) and want to move from “we think this works” to “we can prove this works,” this episode is for you.What you’ll learn:Why clicks matter more than opensHow to measure real dollar ROI from text campaignsThe role integrations play in attributionWhy donation page experience affects texting resultsA simple model to explain mobile ROI to leadershipSubscribe for more practical nonprofit growth insightsBook a demo: https://rallycorp.com/demo

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems help nonprofits build relationships with supporters. Your Rally Point podcasts hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin talk about how data is the crucial foundation for connection. Data offers the context of a relationship—donation, event attendance, volunteer record, and more; the required legal compliance—no texting them after they unsubscribed; and the ongoing conversation that builds a relationship. Integrations make connecting data easy. It saves you time and amplifies your ability to connect.What You’ll LearnCRM systems are essential for managing donor relationships.You need to understand how donors want to be communicated with.Relationships require permission, preference, and persistence.You have to be persistent with donors, but not too persistent.Data allows for context, compliance, and conversation.Nonprofits need a single source of truth—one place to go for donor data.Integrations connect data, saving you time and effort.ResourcesSave Time With IntegrationsQuotables“It's a process and it's a learning and you adapt and you learn and you try again.”“It really comes down to the right purpose, the right people, the right promotion, and then a clear path for participation.”“I do not want you ignored. You may choose to obfuscate yourself and make it easy to ignore you, but that's on you. And don't boohoo when you're missing the goal.”“Can't have a relationship without communication.”“You want to be able to personalize the message. It's ‘Hey Jack’ and or ‘Hi Jack,’ not just ‘Hi friend.’”“My team is overworked. They don't have time to upload spreadsheets and manipulate data. Come on, just connect and let it come over, right?”“It's moving people forward without a whole lot of head space.”“Once it's set up, it works. These integrations today are solid and no more running around wasting time.”“The world runs on integrations.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Crabbing Adventures and Independence Day Traditions05:43 - The Importance of Communication in Nonprofits11:27 - Building Relationships Through CRM17:07 - Data Management and Personalization in CRM18:04 - Building Relationships Through Context20:00 - Challenges of Disparate Systems20:51 - Leveraging CRM for Donor Engagement22:41 - Automation and Integration Simplified24:27 - Real-World Examples of Integration27:28 - The Role of Integrations in Everyday Life29:26 - Creating a Unified Communication System31:22 - The Takeaway: Consistency in CommunicationSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Nonprofits need quick wins. You’re already overworked and overwhelmed, you don’t have time to wait six months for results. So let’s take something you’re already doing and make it better. Your Rally Point podcasts hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin talk about how to improve. It starts with data. What gets measured gets managed, so start tracking a meaningful metric. Then you can find ways to improve, whether it’s honing in on the right audience, tweaking your message to focus on what works, or simply changing suggested donation amounts.What You’ll LearnActionable metrics are crucial for measuring success.Engagement metrics should focus on meaningful interactions, not just likes.Data can reveal ways to improve your campaigns.When picking suggested donation amounts, look at your average donations.Start measuring one thing to track progress effectively.Demographics matter more than numbers—are you talking to the right people?Use link shorteners to track clicks.Commit to measuring something to drive results.ResourcesLink Shorteners: Why, How, Huh?Quotables“How do we take something they're already doing and make it better in 30 days?”“Time—that's the one resource that's not renewable.”“What gets measured gets managed, right? So the surest way to improve anything in an organization or even in your personal life is you just pick one thing to measure.”“We all love to post on LinkedIn and have 200 likes and all these smiley faces, but is that really success?”“Let's just pick one thing to measure. What does success look like for you?”“Just please, for the love of God, make sure that we're at least measuring clicks.”“Facts and data set you free.”“If you don't have the data, you're lost. You're on a map with no compass.”“So the goal for everyone after they see this podcast is find something to measure that matters, and then start measuring it.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Scene02:00 - The Importance of Mobile Engagement03:52 - Measuring Success in Nonprofits07:47 - The Role of Metrics in Social Media11:33 - Understanding Engagement Beyond Likes15:21 - Navigating Email Metrics and Challenges16:20 - Understanding Audience Engagement19:16 - Optimizing Donation Campaigns22:25 - Measuring Success in Digital Outreach27:04 - Leveraging Data for Better Insights29:56 - The Importance of Targeted CommunicationSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

There are so many channels and tools for nonprofit fundraising, but it’s all about one cohesive strategy: Push people to action, now. Your Rally Point podcasts hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin talk about the evolving digital world, where it takes serious discipline to be productive. They talk about what the big tech companies are so good at optimizing—that hit of dopamine that keeps people on their sites. So how can nonprofits make that work for good? They talk about QR codes, near field communication (NFC) tags, text, email, and more. But no matter the channel, it’s about a cohesive strategy and taking action now.What You’ll LearnDigital discipline is essential for productivity.Keeping phones away can help maintain focus.Big tech knows dopamine boosts engagement—how do nonprofits make that work for good?QR codes can create curiosity and interaction.Capturing attention is the first step in engagement. Immediate tactile feedback is crucial for donor engagement.Email communication is often passive and less effective.It’s not about a new channel or tool, it’s about a strategy that brings everything you do together.Immediate action can lead to quick results for nonprofits.ResourcesTap to Go: Rally’s NFC TagQuotables“People are going to take out their phone and do something during your gala, whether you like it or not. The question is are they consuming your content? Are they interacting with your material?”“Can you imagine one of the big semi trucks with a four foot by four foot QR code on the back door and nothing else?”“The key here is not one modality or one method—it’s to tie it into this broader strategy of what you are attempting to do.”“The biggest thing is people are being ignored. They feel like they spin their wheels.”“Tie in all the pieces together, because some people prefer email. So give them email. And some people prefer text, give them text. And some people prefer a phone call. You drop a voicemail. Don't make it hard.”“What happens to your nonprofit if nothing changes?”“It's not the mechanics of the deal that gets them hung up. It's ‘Do I have the capacity tomorrow to do this thing?’”“Let’s build on action.”“When they're looking at technology, they don't need more tools. [Instead, it’s] how do we bring these channels into one cohesive strategy?”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction and Digital Discipline02:53 - The Impact of Mobile Communication06:03 - The Psychology of Engagement and Dopamine09:01 - Innovative Uses of Technology in Nonprofits11:59 - QR Codes and Community Engagement14:59 - Engaging Donors with Immediate Feedback17:07 - The Passive Nature of Email Communication19:52 - Multi-Channel Engagement Strategies22:11 - The Importance of Immediate Action25:34 - Creating Tangible Results for Nonprofits28:57 - Building Trust and Reducing Barriers31:34 - Embracing Action and FlexibilitySubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Sales gets a bad reputation and nonprofits often struggle with the concept. But the reality is everybody is in sales—even nonprofits. We’ve talked about sales before, but now Your Rally Point podcasts hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin explore sales for nonprofits. They talk about creating value for donors, that it’s about giving them the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves. They also explore different tones that can help you connect and explore what a potential donor is looking for.What You’ll LearnNonprofits often struggle with the concept of sales.Sales is about solving problems for customers or donors.The mindset should shift from taking money to creating value.Tone and personal connection are crucial in fundraising.Handwritten notes can enhance personal outreach.Using a curious tone can enhance donor communication.Three tones can help you connect: curious, confused, concerned.Leadership in fundraising is a learned skill.Personalized communication is more effective than mass emails.Pick up the phone and talk to someone—you’ll never know unless you ask.ResourcesEpisode 13: Everybody Is in SalesQuotables“Speak the language that your client speaks, your donor speaks, your supporters speak, your volunteers speak.”"Personal outreach feels way better."“Good salesmanship is a craft of helping people solve problems—it’s actually not separating them from their money, but it's creating more value for them.”“Great fundraising programs start from a human perspective.”“You want to create automation but not make it feel automated.”"A curious tone conveys genuine interest in understanding your donors.”“The confused tone is a strategic tool used to clarify or expand on a point.”“The concern tone demonstrates empathy and care for your donor’s struggles.”“How do I know unless I have a conversation?”"It's not rocket science, it's just being human.”“I would encourage your nonprofits to just carry into their next conversation, the mindset that they're not separating me from my money. They're giving me an opportunity and a path to be human and participate in something that otherwise I'd not be able to. That's philanthropy.”“Our heart here is to make you better at what you do so you can make the world better.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction and Feedback on Sales Episode01:52 - Sales in Nonprofits: Understanding the Concept05:46 - The Mindset Shift: From Selling to Creating Value10:05 - The Importance of Tone and Personal Connection13:59 - Building Trust and Accountability in Donor Relationships16:58 - Creating Opportunities for Connection and Humanity18:03 - The Power of Collective Impact19:00 - Understanding Communication Tones27:07 - Empathy in Donor Relations31:27 - Taking Ownership in Fundraising36:34 - Leveraging Technology for EngagementSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

The next big thing is rich communication services (RCS). It’s basically putting a website into a text message. Why? Because it creates a complete user experience where you can go from message to donation in a singular, contained moment. No breaking out to a website or another experience—which is where it’s easy to lose people. In the latest episode of Your Rally Point podcast, hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin dive into RCS and why it matters. It’s the same reason you want to test your donation form and make sure it’s stupid simple. Any complication or hindrance can derail people and you’re missing out on donations.What You’ll LearnText messaging is the most intimate form of communication with donors.RCS offers enhanced user experiences compared to traditional SMS and MMS.RCS allows for richer content, including images and buttons, in messages.Rich business messaging (RBM) is another term for the same thing.Your messages need clear identification and branding to build trust.Rich messaging can significantly improve click and response rates.The user experience in the donation processes is often overlooked.RCS technology can streamline the donation experience by keeping people in the message.If RCS sounds like more work, templates will be a way to make it easy.ResourcesEpisode 9: RCS Explained: New Mobile Feature and What It Means for NonprofitsQuotables“Texting is where our personal lives happen on our devices.”"We went from SMS to MMS to RCS."“Fancy smart glasses that are probably the next fight for real estate on our bodies.”“I sent an emoji one time to my 20-year-old daughter. … She goes, ‘Dad, don't ever use that emoji. You don't know what it means.’”“With RCS, the entire process from end to end, from engagement to donation, should be contained in a single message. And there's no other platform that does that today.”“My reputation's on the line if you send a text message to thousands of people pointing to a really crappy website”“You're combining multiple experiences that we have today into one. And that's really the future with RCS”“I'm not saying here's a tool, good luck. I'm actually going to show up and help you swing the hammer, show you how to use it.”“Success as a service, not software as a service. I don't care about the software, care about the success.”“Make sure you see mobile as a means or a method. It is not the end. It is a machine or a tool to further your message and help you meet people in the middle and move them to act.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Journey03:05 - The Importance of Mobile Engagement05:50 - Understanding RCS and Its Impact12:10 - The Evolution of Messaging: From SMS to RCS15:05 - Why Nonprofits Should Care About RCS17:19 - Understanding Effective Messaging in Nonprofits19:05 - The Importance of Rich Messaging22:14 - The User Experience in Donation Processes25:50 - The Future of RCS Messaging29:51 - Creating Immersive Experiences for NonprofitsSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Sales isn’t limited to certain job titles or departments. Everybody is in sales. But it’s not a sleazy, transactional process, it’s about problem solving. The latest episode of Your Rally Point podcast is all about sales. Hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin open up about sales. They explore the need for discipline, the importance of knowing your customer, and the unique challenges of nonprofit sales. They’re honest about Rally customers and who gets what Rally is selling and finds success and who doesn’t.What You’ll LearnSales is about solving problems, not closing a deal.One third of our customers are crushing it, one third are doing OK, and one third just don’t get it.What makes that one third so successful? Only thing we found is that they don’t rely on grants.That third that don’t get it? We point them to our competitors.Part of sales is having an outgoing personality, but the key differentiator is discipline.Knowing your customer is key.Everyone is involved in sales in some capacity.Sales is about solving problems, and if someone isn’t ready to solve their problem, you have to move on.Nonprofit sales is hard. It requires empathy and resilience. It’s constantly changing.Quotables“There's no better feeling than having a client say, ‘I wish I’d done this sooner.’”“It's discipline that'll help you get through it.”“We could all waste a lot of time spinning our wheels as salespeople when we're just selling to anybody.”“Everybody is in sales.”“Really, I'm just a master facilitator of problem solving, and if I do that well, the market will reward me for it.”“There's no better time to be a salesperson because of the tools at your disposal.”“Smooth seas don't make for skilled sailors.”“The nonprofit industry is one of the few places where this idea of spending money to make money just doesn't exist.”“I'm going to put my energy into people I can help.”“What I love about nonprofits is they're really good people and they're trying very hard and they're doing it with limited resources.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - The Art of Sales: A Journey of Problem Solving03:00 - Sales Maturity: Embracing Rejection and Moving Forward06:03 - The Discipline of Sales: Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Goals08:59 - Sales as a Universal Skill: Everyone is in Sales11:58 - Sales Methodologies: Finding Your Ideal Client Profile14:57 - Navigating Challenges in Nonprofit Sales17:50 - The Reality of Selling to Nonprofits: A Unique Challenge18:50 - Navigating Sales Challenges in Nonprofits21:08 - The Craft of Selling: Methodology and Adaptation22:57 - Understanding Nonprofit Mindsets and Financial Constraints24:44 - Customer Engagement: The Spectrum of Success28:03 - Hope Island: The Challenge of Unresponsive Clients30:07 - Empathy in Sales: The Heart of Nonprofit Work33:54 - The Unique Landscape of Nonprofit Sales36:01 - Building Resilience: Lessons from Nonprofit SalesSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Consumer-focused businesses are making the most of text messaging. Why aren’t nonprofits? The latest episode of Your Rally Point podcast explores how consumer businesses leverage text messaging and how nonprofits can do it too. Hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin talk about how business marketing works and explain that nonprofits need to pay attention to donor acquisition cost and donor lifetime value. It makes financial sense to follow up on potential donors and incomplete donor forms. Some simple strategies can boost your fundraising. It’s basic economics.What You’ll LearnText messaging remains a powerful yet misunderstood tool for engagement.Nonprofits often lag behind consumer brands in adopting technology for communication.Understanding consumer behavior can help nonprofits improve their engagement strategies.Donor lifetime value is a key metric for nonprofits to consider in their marketing efforts.Nonprofits should simplify the process for donors to engage and contribute.Donors shouldn’t have to come to you to learn what you’re doing.Let’s take these consumer-facing strategies and redeem them.Consumer companies spent billions of dollars figuring this out, and nonprofits can learn from that.ResourcesWhat is RCS? Rich communication services explained.Quotables"Texting hasn't changed in 20 years, and it's the most misunderstood technology."“How do we move 20 million people to donate a billion dollars on behalf of churches and charities? That's really the only thing I care about.”“I like helping people.”“Nonprofits, love y'all, but we're always pulling them forward into technology.”“These consumer brands are leveraging text messaging. I think the key for us is how do we do it gently? Because nonprofits are different.”“Your message is different. But the technology is the same.”“It's time for nonprofits to come to their donors.”“Texting is a way to move yourself in front of your donors.”“What is your donor lifetime value? What is your donor acquisition cost? And then can we look at ways to drive engagement, click through, and conversion?”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Welcome Back and Personal Updates02:45 - The Importance of Connecting with People05:24 - Consumer Engagement in Nonprofits09:53 - Consulting Insights on Text Messaging11:51 - The Value of Text Messaging for Nonprofits15:25 - Understanding Consumer Behavior20:22 - Leveraging Technology for Nonprofits22:17 - The Need for Nonprofits to Communicate Effectively30:30 - Final Thoughts on Nonprofit EngagementSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

As grants disappear, nonprofits need to do more fundraising. Your Rally Point podcast hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin talk about the classic marketing funnel and the process of moving people from initial contact to conversion with that much needed donation. It’s going to be a multi-channel process. And you’re busy, so automation is your friend. Find multiple ways to connect and engage. Experiment to find out what works best. Reduce barriers for action and make it as easy as possible. It’s time for nonprofits to get moving and we’re here to help.What You’ll LearnGrants are drying up and nonprofits are forced to ramp up fundraising.Depending on grants can make nonprofits inefficient and neglect fundraising.You need multi-channel engagement strategies.You need people to take that next step: Social media to email to event to donation.Incorporating technology like near field communication (NFC) can enhance marketing efforts.Experimentation is key to finding effective strategies.Curiosity can drive engagement with potential supporters.Reducing barriers for action is essential in marketing.ResourcesThe Thank You Time Machine is a way to reengage donors with a thank you..NFCs: Tap to go is a new technology that allows quick and easy connection.Quotables“The big elephant in the room is the loss of funding.”“This whole thing isn't all that complicated. I lost some funding, I got to close the gap, and how do I do that?”“Grants can obfuscate, they can hide your other problems.”“Automation addresses the fact that nonprofits are constantly resource challenged.”“This is where I see a lot of organizations get it wrong—they get email and permission to communicate with them, but then they're dependent on email, which is great, but that's one channel, one method.”“The idea is to move people to that logical next step in that funnel and to move them down closer and closer and closer to a decision.”“What we're talking about here is providing people with the opportunity to engage with your nonprofit in a non-pushy way.”“Good marketing, good messaging really comes down to just making sure the message is relevant and that you're trying multiple things to get people to act in the moment.”“Texting or mobile is for the moment, right? You're in the moment. How do I reduce the barrier for you to act?”“If you're a nonprofit out there and you're watching this, let's go. Let's go. No more sitting around. Come on. We're here to help you. Let's go.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction and Earthquake Experiences03:00 - The Current State of Nonprofits and Funding Challenges06:04 - The Importance of Mobile Solutions for Fundraising09:03 - Inefficiencies in Nonprofit Funding and Grant Management11:59 - Understanding Donor Acquisition Costs15:05 - Multi-Channel Engagement Strategies for Nonprofits19:21 - Innovative Marketing Strategies23:13 - Leveraging Technology for Engagement28:00 - Building Relationships with Donors31:58 - The Triple Cs of Nonprofit Success34:46 - Future Directions and Support for NonprofitsSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

When’s the best time to send a text message? Your Rally Point podcast hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin explore SMS timing, from the best day of the week to the best time (spoiler alert: “Catch me after lunch!”). But perfect is the enemy of good. Don’t belabor your timing, make sure you’re actually hitting send. Authentic, human messages connect at any time of the day. And people want them! Nonprofits give people a chance to be involved and participate in the greater good. But you have to hit send.What You’ll LearnStart with a proper ratio of messages—they can’t all be donation requests.Optimal send time: Thursday at 1:03 p.m.Be aware of timezones, especially for national or international campaigns.Three rules: 1. Always a good time to say thanks. 2. Be aware of timezones. 3. Hit send.Perfecting a message can lead to inaction; it's better to send imperfect messages than none at all.Be real: Authenticity resonates more than polished content.Day-to-day timing accounts for a 2-3% difference; just send it.Engage people now. Don’t trickle out content over six months because you’re worried about offending them.Never had a client who was sending too much; you’re not sending enough.If you’re sending high-volume text messages, there are limits around timing and we can work with you to ensure deliverability.ResourcesNever Lose a Customer Again: Turn Any Sale into Lifelong Loyalty in 100 Days by Joey ColemanYour Rally Point Episode 5: The Four Types of Text MessagingQuotables“I don't care what time of day you send a message, if they're all asks, you're going to get ignored.”“It's text messaging. It's not like a formal invite to a grand ballroom somewhere. I'm a big fan of this phrase: Perfect is the enemy of good.”“Knowing comes in the doing. We can sit back and hyperanalyze everything all day long. Do I do this? Do I not? And have analysis paralysis.”“Facts and data shall set you free.” “At the end of the day, it's just about getting the message out there. It needs to be relevant, of course, and encouraging and helpful. But at the end of the day, not having a message go out is not going to get you any results.”“I'm rapidly getting tired of this fake stuff. So if you're a nonprofit, just be real.”“If you have people watching or reading your blog posts or binging, it's way more valuable than me trickling out a message over the next six months because I'm afraid I might offend you. It's going to take you six months to get a point across. Say it now, say it fast, say it loud.”“I cannot think of a single time when I told a client or customer, you're doing too much. You're usually not doing enough.”“You're actually doing us a favor by asking us to be involved. You're creating an outlet and a path to participate in a greater good.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to Timing and Outreach02:57 - Understanding Optimal Send Times10:24 - The Importance of Action Over Perfection18:22 - The Power of Human Connection24:45 - Navigating Regulations and Vendor LimitationsSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Rich communication services (RCS) are poised to turn text messaging on its head. What is it? It’s a new technology that brings the functionality of apps and websites into the text messaging app. So people could make donations directly from a text. In this episode of Your Rally Point podcast, James Martin and Jack Bobin dive in to all things RCS and what it means for nonprofits. They’ll talk about why you should care, what it might look like, and when it’s coming. Don’t worry—Rally figures these things out so you can focus on the work you do and still win with cool new tech.What You’ll LearnRCS stands for rich communication services, enhancing text messaging.RCS allows for richer interactions, like an app or website in a text message.The transition to RCS will not eliminate SMS and MMS; all will coexist.RCS can reduce barriers to donations and increase engagement.The future of RCS looks promising, and it’s likely coming next year.The industry is complicated, so challenges remain.We’re testing RCS and exploring how nonprofits might use it.Quotables“RCS means rich communication services—and of course it's complicated.”“It kind of turns your text messaging app into [what] feels like a little mini browser.”“It's going to be interesting because I don't think we'll ever leave our text text messaging application.”“Now, could you have done it on a website? Yeah, of course… but it's very interactive, kind of the swiping mindset that we're already used to.”“It's going to be a new way of interacting with information from a business or nonprofit.”“Here's my prediction. I think it's going to be probably 12 months before it's meaningful for a company like Rally and our customers and the nonprofit organizations. So hang in there.”“You've got enough to worry about. You just love on people and let these tech heads deal with the rest of it.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to RCS and Its Importance02:54 - Understanding RCS: The Basics06:04 - RCS vs. Traditional Messaging: A New Era09:03 - RCS for Nonprofits: Enhancing Engagement12:00 - The Future of RCS: Predictions and Expectations14:59 - Challenges and Opportunities in RCS Adoption18:04 - Conclusion and Encouragement for NonprofitsSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

In this episode of the Rally Point podcast, James Martin and Jack Bobin talk widgets. They explore how people engage content. Your nonprofit might have multiple channels—email, social, texting, etc.—but people just surf content. You need to have a multi-channel approach, but realize that people are all over the place. Widgets are a good way to capture attention in multiple ways. You can tap, text, scan, link, and more. More options means more connection. And Rally is here to help you do it.What You’ll LearnHow widgets can help you build subscriber lists.Time is a non-renewable resource; use it wisely.People use multiple channels, but they focus on content, not channels.You want multiple ways for people to opt in.It’s all about capturing consent so you can reach people.You’re leasing space on social media, but you own a subscriber list.We built all these widgets to make it easy for you.You’re not alone. We’ll work through it with you and find a solution together.Quotables“How do you get more people poured into your database that say, ‘You know what, text me, please.”“I don't want people to go away with the impression that we're making things way more complex. We're not.”“All we wanna do is lower the barrier to people getting to you.”“I don't want to get too salesy here. But when you're a Rally customer, the widgets are no cost for you. … There's a lot of nickel and diming that goes on, $5 for this and $25 for that. And we just keep it simple and human centered.”“It is noisy out there, right? … We wanna surround them with the tools that work for them to become a text follower.”“It takes time. It's not an overnight thing, but it's not as hard as people think.”“I'm proud of our work that we do to have new people come and use Rally, but also the work we do over time to make them more successful.”"We like to test things. Why not?"Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to Widgets and Text Messaging02:40 - Building Your List by Converting Social Followers06:06 - Engagement Strategies for Nonprofits09:00 - The Importance of Multi-Channel Communication12:01 - Simplifying the Process with Widgets14:55 - Innovative Ways to Capture Attention17:50 - The Role of Consent in Text Messaging21:00 - Success Stories and Closing ThoughtsSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Let’s talk how to do text message donations. Hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin explain the difference between text to give and text to donate. The terms can be interchangeable these days, but technically text to give is a donation process directly through the carrier that’s deducted from a donor’s cell phone bill, while text to donate sends a link to your donation form via text message and the donor completes the donation on your website. They explore the history, why it’s changed (security!), and how using your existing donation form is ultimately better for your nonprofits—higher donation amounts, data for follow up, and more.What You’ll LearnThe difference between text to give and text to donate.The actual text-to-give process, which is rare, can be expensive and limiting.Most nonprofits use text to donate, which goes through your online donation form.That online donation process is more secure.Using an existing donation process also means nonprofits get donor data.Reducing barriers to donation increases overall contributions.QR codes are great for live events, until WiFi doesn’t work—then texting is critical.ResourcesText-to-Give vs. Text-to-Donate$600+ Average DonationQuotables“People are realizing that we got to pick up our base foundational fundraising.”“A foster care place… they told me they have 13 kids in their office, sleeping in the conference room because they didn't have foster homes for these kids. And so our hope is that they can use our tools to go find and discover new volunteers and people that would gladly be foster parents. We talk business here and we talk about technology, but at the end of the day, that's what we're doing here and that's what we love.”“We're taking technology—ones and zeros—and meeting people in the moment who are doing the work. Our customers and those who are listening, we're helping them really create this perfect intersection between what wasn't and what now is. And if that results in kids getting into homes and food shelters being full, folks off the streets, people in rehab, the needy being cared for—man, I tell you what, that's a fantastic place to be.”“Everybody has a donation page.”“I'll meet with somebody and I'll go create a text program for them to show them what text to donate looks like. I do it myself and it takes me less than 10 minutes because you know what I do? I simply copy their call to action and their web address.”“When you reduce the barriers to someone donating to your nonprofit, your donations go up.”“Here's my promise to folks—it's not complicated. We're talking one more path to your donation form.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to Text to Give and Text to Donate05:28 - Understanding Text to Give13:11 - The Evolution of Text to Donate22:32 - Text to Pledge and Thermometers26:53 - Future of Donation TechnologiesSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Let’s talk about the most effective text messages. Hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin summarize what works: Personalize your texts with a first name, write like a human, use emojis and/or images to pull people in, actually inform people, tell cohesive stories, and make a direct ask when it’s time with a clear call to action. Segmenting can be a way to zero in on the people who actually respond—it’s not all about the blast. Texts are unswipeable, so long messages can be a way to hook people with an in-depth story. Your history of texts can also show a cohesive story—you’ve got relational equity right there.What You’ll LearnText messaging can be a powerful tool for nonprofits.Craft messages that are personal and to the point.Repurpose existing content to save time and effort.Then compare content across platforms to gauge effectiveness.Engage donors through storytelling and updates.Long text messages can work by hooking people in. Segment to hit your biggest supporters, and save money by skipping those who don’t respond.Unlike email, multiple texts can build on each other like a continuing conversation.Texting can be simple and approachable. ResourcesMultimedia messaging service (MMS) guide to dimensions and sizesQuotables“Be to the point, express your need, and give me the ‘where do I go from here’.”“We took their newsletter and I ran it through AI … write me three text messages that are ideas so I can get some inspiration.”"Just grab that same content and repurpose it.”“We tout texting, but it ends up being an extension of what you’re doing anyway. It doesn’t require any more resources.”“You don’t ever want a donor to go, gosh, I wish I knew that. I wish I had more information.”“The longer messages is really where it’s at—unswipeable.”“It’s no longer a blast life, right?”“I just gave a donation two weeks ago and now you're asking me again. We're better than that, nonprofits, you're all better than that.”“If you bring up your text message history on your phone right now, you have a story in this narrative.”“We're talking about these simple things, but these simple things roll up to big things for nonprofits.”"Make texting more habitual."Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to Text Messaging Best Practices00:45 - Types of Text Messages02:19 - How to Write Your Text Messages06:02 - Repurposing Content for Text Messaging08:20 - Personalizing Your SMS Content11:04 - Engaging Donors Through Storytelling15:00 - Segmentation and Personalization in Messaging18:05 - Overcoming Texting Concerns for Nonprofits23:45 - Conclusion: Trying to Make Texting ApproachableSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

What text messages should your nonprofit send? You know what a good message feels like. It’s personal. Hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin break down the four types of text messages and what you should send. Jack starts with an inspiring nonprofit story. Then they talk about sending more than just donation requests. Texting is a powerful way to mobilize volunteers. You can make your text messages conversational—even at scale—and really connect with your supporters for long-term impact. People want to help, but you have to meet them in the moment and activate them.What You’ll LearnFour types of messages: solicitational, transactional, informational, conversational.Good text messages resonate with the recipient and feel personal.Text messaging is good for more than just fundraising.Engaging volunteers through text can boost participation.Personify the message so it comes from an individual. Humanize the message to include a name. Hi James instead of Hi friend.Volunteers want to help, but often your ask gets overlooked.ResourcesFree playbook with 300 templates broken down by type of message.Learn more about the four types of text messages.Some emojis can impact the length and potentially cost of your text message. Quotables"You know what a good text message feels like."“There's a lot of concern right now that grant money might dry up, that government funding might dry up. So more and more organizations will need to become self-sufficient and reach the masses and do that in a human-centered way.”“If all you do is ask for money, what do you think will happen? You'll get frustrated people. It's like that neighbor that always comes over to borrow your tools.”“We could actually have a text group for volunteers. And then people would actually show up to help you.”“When someone shows up for you, that guy that says, ‘I'll help you unload the truck.’ It’s so meaningful for the staff that are constantly burdened.”“People tend to not opt out of informational messages.”“So a conversational [text message] … makes the recipient feel like it's coming from someone, not from some robot.”“Nonprofits don't want to offend people. But hey, you're helping starving people. You're packing backpacks for kids who have no food for the weekend. So it is personal and it's OK. And people want to help you.”"Humans want to help other humans."“I'm not going to make a decision for a volunteer or donor. I'm going to let them decide. I'm just going to put myself out there.”“100 years from now, nothing will matter except for the love and the lives that we've touched.”“Meet people in the moment and then activate them.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to Nonprofit Text Messaging01:26 - Encouraging Example: Nonprofit Providing Tech05:05 - Types of Text Messages for Nonprofits: Solicitations10:06 - Rallying Volunteers With Text Messages15:21 - Informational and Transactional Text Messages17:18 - The Sweet Spot: Conversational Text Messages24:05 - You’re Doing Good and People Want to Hear About It29:52 - Closing Thoughts and Future TopicsSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

You need permission to text people. That opt-in consent is important. James Martin and Jack Bobin talk about the different types of texting and what the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) requires. But at the end of the day, it’s about people. So do what’s right. Jack calls it the red face test. They cover application-to-person (A2P) texting vs. peer-to-peer (P2P) texting and how political campaigns have their own rules (which explains a lot!). They talk about what to do with an old list and how building engagement is a long on-ramp.What You’ll Learn Organizations need a reason to exist. If you can’t connect people, then it’s all for naught. The TCPA provides guidelines for messaging practices. If you’ve engaged with someone in the last 12 months, you can reach out. How peer-to-peer (P2P) texting works and why political orgs can do it. Why consent matters. It’s a long on-ramp to engaging people to the point they’ll want texts. Don’t be impulsive. Exclusivity is a great incentive. Here’s a resource with 20 more effective incentives.Quotables "Organizations need a reason to exist." “It’s the foundation of how to reach out to people in the right way.” “40% of my time is spent talking about what we call acquisition or acquiring consent.” “I have this old list of people, can I text them? We call it the red face test. Super technical, right? … That simply means if you sent them a text message, would they be put off by that?” “We follow the rules… we’ll kick you off our platform. Just to be clear, we’ve booted many people off.” "We’re in this business for results.” “We meet people where they are on a device that's in their pocket on a medium that's not easy to ignore.” “If you haven't talked to your friend for six months and you send them a text saying, ‘Join me Saturday. I'm buying pizza. Help me move.’ What are the chances?” “The message isn't, we need your donation today. The message is, thank you for being a supporter for all these years.” “People just get tired of the emotion.” “You’re already doing it anyway, we’re just allowing you to do it in an easier way.” “If you haven't been getting clear consent in the last 12, 24 months and you don't act today, you will not have consent in the next 24, 12 months.” "Texting doesn't have to be complicated."Skip to What You Want to Hear 00:00 - The Importance of Purpose in Organizations 02:47 - Connecting People and Organizations 05:36 - Understanding Text Messaging Types 11:08 - The Law: Telephone Consumer Protection Act 13:30 - Engagement and Consent in Nonprofit Messaging 16:16 - Offering Both P2P and A2P While Following the Rules 18:55 - Building Relationships Through Permission-Based Marketing 20:47 - Strategies for Opt-In Engagement 22:35 - What Works 25:44 - Integrating Text Messaging With Existing Platforms 29:52 - Navigating Regulations and Ensuring Compliance 32:29 - Reactivating Old Contacts and Future StrategiesSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

Text messaging is so effective because it’s personal. People do more texting than calling, and they see those texts almost immediately. You can make it personal by reaching out at the right time. Jack Bobin talks about a nonprofit he’s given to for a decade that does a mediocre job saying thank you and talks about simple ways they could up their game. James Martin explains how a simple donation thank you can significantly increase recurring donations. Then they explore stats and the value of click-throughs to measure action. Finally, James closes with an offer to help nonprofits get started with texting.What You’ll Learn Reducing barriers to taking action is key. It’s vital to understand the prominence of texting. Personal engagement at the right time can be huge. A prompt thank you is crucial for donor retention. Engagement is all about know, like, and trust. Segment your audience for a personal touch. When you have a split second to grab their imagination, video works. Validate your list so your stats tell the full story. Click-through is the key stat because it points to who took action. Forget all the technical jargon, it’s about helping people.Quotables“The technology of texting has strangely stayed relatively unchanged, but that’s the beautiful part of it.”“Text became the number one preferred form of communication on mobile devices—it surpassed phone calls.”“If I make a donation today and I don't hear from you at all, ever, that's a problem, right?”“We are not anti-email. I use email just as much, if not more than text messaging. There's a time and place for both tools.”“You've got to allow people to choose how they want to hear from you.”“I got to be honest with you—I’m always rethinking my gift.”“If they click that link in your text message, boy, that really means something.”“The most important from my vantage point as a strategist is click-through because that tells me how many eyeballs saw not only the message, but took action on the message.”“If you can't figure it out in eight months, then it's nice knowing you. Like, let's just be friends.”“At the end of the day, we are passionate about helping organizations take action.”“While we get all technical here, we're coming from a spot of really helping others.”“People like being appreciated.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Rallying Around a Cause02:46 - The Evolution of Text Messaging06:01 - Text Is Personal09:21 - When the Time is Right11:54 - The Power of a Timely Thank You15:04 - Value of a Follow-Up18:24 - How to Upgrade a Consistent Donor24:12 - The Immediate Impact of Text26:49 - Honing in on Engaged Subscribers29:01 - Why Click-Through Rates Matter32:15 - 15% Click-Through Offer35:14 - Don’t Get Bogged Down in JargonSubscribeReady to mobilize better and grow smarter? Subscribe to Your Rally Point and listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’re here to help. For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 or learn more about our weekly coaching tips delivered via text message.

The latest episode of the Your Rally Point podcast tries to demystify text messaging. It’s not witchcraft! A lot of people don’t understand text messaging, and that leads to problems. You can’t set up a Giving Tuesday campaign on Monday and expect everything to work. There’s a lot of good legal compliance to follow, but more than the letter of the law, you want to follow the spirit of the law. Host James Martin admits how scary it can be to hit send. But it doesn’t have to be scary. Ultimately, Rally is here to help clear up the confusion.What You’ll Learn+ You’re not alone in not understanding text messaging technology.+ Regulations are crucial, but it’s about ethics not just legality.+ It can be scary to hit send, but it doesn’t need to be.+ We demystify texting so it’s useful and doesn’t feel like witchcraft.+ Regulation means you can’t set up a Giving Tuesday campaign on Monday.Like any marketing, it’s about the right message to the right people at the right time.Quotables+ “I hear this a lot: ‘We knock it out of the park with all these other things, but we just can't understand text.’”+ “As a company, it wasn't just the letter of the law. I wanted the spirit of the law. … Not just what can I do, but what should I do?”+ “I wish someone would have explained to me that it's not as scary as it seemed.”+ “It's scary to hit send. … Full disclosure, we were four years as a startup before we started texting lists of people in our own company. Isn't that crazy?”+ “I think email is still very viable … [but] it’s easy to ignore.”+ “Send the right message to the right people at the right time. … When you do that the right way, things work out.”+ “If you're interested in text messaging, the people that you use should be open about what they're doing, should be answering your questions, consulting with you, and really being a source of truth for you—not a source of confusion.”+ “This is a long play. We're not interested in get-rich-quick schemes.”Skip to What You Want to Hear00:00 - Introduction to Mobile Messaging Strategies03:04 - Understanding Text Messaging Basics—It’s Not Witchcraft05:49 - Demystifying Regulations: Follow the Spirit of the Law08:56 - Hitting Send Can Be Scary14:58 - The Shift from Broadcast to Targeted Messaging17:58 - Building Effective Messaging Strategies21:09 - Closing Thoughts and ResourcesReady to mobilize better and grow smarter?Subscribe to⁠ Your Rally Point⁠ and listen⁠ wherever you enjoy podcasts⁠. We’re here to help.For more tips and insights, text COACH to 24365 orlearn more about our⁠ weekly coaching tips⁠ delivered via text message.

‍In the inaugural episode of the Rally Point podcast, hosts James Martin and Jack Bobin explore the significance of organizational messaging and the power of text messaging as a communication tool. They discuss the concept of 'rallying' in both military and organizational contexts, emphasizing the need for effective messaging strategies to engage and mobilize people. Jack shares his journey in the text messaging industry, highlighting the evolution of text communication and its growing importance in various sectors.The episode concludes with a vision for the future of text messaging, focusing on a human-centered approach to technology.Takeaways+ Rallying is about coming together for a purpose.+ Organizations need effective messaging to connect with people.+ Text messaging is the most immediate form of communication.+ The evolution of text messaging has transformed how we communicate.+ Human-centered approaches are essential in technology.+ Understanding the history of text messaging helps in its effective use.+ Text messaging can mobilize people for causes and events.+ The podcast aims to demystify text messaging technologies.+ Engagement through text messaging is crucial for nonprofits.+ The future of messaging will focus on humanizing technology.‍Chapters00:00 Welcome to Rally Point Podcast02:57 Understanding the Concept of Rallying05:56 The Power of Text Messaging08:54 Jack Bobin's Journey and Background14:51 The Evolution of Text Messaging21:04 The Future of Text Messaging and Its ImpactWant more?Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and Text COACH to 24365 or follow this link here to get weekly coaching tips sent to your phone.We'll see you next week!