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Stellar Community Reflection

As our communities continue to grow and embrace new organizations, Stellar Blue would like to dedicate July to all our local and international nonprofit clients that we have had the privilege to work with. From custom websites to internet marketing consulting as well as providing hosting – we have had the opportunity to learn about various organizations and how they benefit our community.

These groups encompass some of the most dedicated and passionate individuals we have ever met and we would like to share them with you! In alphabetical order:

Appleton Medical Center Foundation – The foundation funds many of the numerous healthcare initiatives at Appleton Medical Center.

Appleton Northside Business Association  – The organization works to improve business & community activity of North Appleton.

Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin  – They provide services & programs that help people and families touched by disabilities & other behavioral challenges. 

Community Benefit Tree – Helps families going through a medical crisis by providing education, support, and financial assistance through individual fundraiser benefits.

Community Hospice Foundation – The organization is dedicated to providing financial assistance to improve the quality of life of patients.

COTS, Inc. – The organization is committed to ending homelessness in the Fox Valley for men, women and families.

Encircle Health – Provides an innovative and convenient healthcare experience for our local community.

Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin   – This human services agency, protects, heals and cares for the children and families of Northeast Wisconsin.

Gold Cross Ambulance – Provides CPR training, AED management programs, business safety training, and first aid training.

Green Bay Rotary   – Rotary is a worldwide organization comprised of professional , community, and business leaders.

Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce  – The chamber contributes to the economic success of our local communities through providing resources, courses and so on.

ICFAMINE.de  – The German based organization is part of the International Children’s Fund that works with impoverished African children.

New North, INC.  –  The New North brand unites the region both internally and externally, signifying the collective economic power behind our 18 counties.  

Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce  – Oshkosh’s chamber serves as an advocate for local businesses as well as a supporter of the community.
 
Upper Midwest PETS – Presidents-elect training seminar (PETS) is to develop and assist Rotary club presidents.

RYLA Conference – This three-day leadership conference, helps high school students become strong community leaders.

The History Museum at the Castle – The museum inspires appreciation for the rich history of the Fox River Valley.

ThedaClark Medical Center Foundation -- The foundation nurtures a strong community to provide charitable donations.

Volunteer center of East Central Wisconsin  – This is your connection to the volunteer opportunities throughout the area.

White Heron Chorale – A community vocal ensemble providing live choral music with seasonal concerts.

Wolf River Health Care Foundation  – The foundation supports the efforts and advancements by the New London Medical Center.

Stellar Blue works with all nonprofits with special deals, 33% reduced pricing as well as other discounts. It is our way to give back to organizations that give to our community. Contact us today at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com or (920) 905-0250 if you have any questions.

Stellar Blue Crew
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
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Great Inbound Marketing Strategy for Nonprofits

In one-way or another, each of us is involved with a nonprofit organization. Either we run one, participate in one, benefit from another or know someone close who devotes their time, the knowledge to help a nonprofit is worthwhile for all. With the rise of online marketing, it’s imperative that nonprofits take advantage of the new wave of inbound marketing. With budgets getting tighter it’s important to identify that inbound marketing is highly cost-effective because most of the strategies are free!

Below we highlight a great marketing strategy that we feel is a great way to add faces and stories to your organization. The human factor that we can all relate to, is, the marketing power of a nonprofit.

Video – The power of video is there. This is a topic we bring up with all clients so it’s only natural we stress this again. Video gives the viewer visual stimuli that can educate, entertain or motivate.

Also, People share video at a crazy rate. And the beauty of video today, is that people don’t mind the grassroots filming capabilities brought on my cell phone cameras or flip cameras. Meaning, it’s not a roadblock if you cannot afford a top-notch film production.

So we suggest that nonprofit seek to create a viral video campaign. Meaning you make a video intriguing, you share it across platforms (social media networks, websites, blogs, etc.) and you let the power of the Internet take over. People will share your video and a chain reaction will occur.

When developing a video, don’t focus on the end result of it going viral, focus on the content itself and your approach. You want to engage a viewer emotionally whether it’s through humor, a shocking fact or relatable story.

Here are two examples we found and would like to share with you (click on the images to watch):

This video from playingforchange.com as over 33,000,000 hits. Granted they were able to receive video from their affiliates all around the world, it is still simply and tastifully done.

This video might not have millions of views - yet - but it is powerful with this young man's self footage and travel photography edited together.

Contact Stellar Blue at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com or (920) 905-0250 to discuss your viral video campaign!

Amanda Betts - Marketing Director
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
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Jim's Going to Israel!

Through business connections, Stellar Blue became aware of the Young Entrepreneurs Program, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (YEP), which is organized by UW-Green Bay, over a year ago. YEP is a program developed to enrich and empower young entrepreneurs from Israel and Jordan. So when the opportunity arose for Stellar Blue to participate as a mentor, I jumped right in ready to explore, educate, and learn.

The program has two main parts:
•    Entrepreneurship training for the aspiring Israel and Jordan business individuals in the USA. They were each paired up with a business leader in the area to have a mentor/mentoree partnership.  This took place from March 20 – April 15, 2011. The group participated in networking opportunities, business development classes, and other insightful seminars. The young entrepreneurs were also given a taste of what our great state has to offer with trips to the symphony, to our state’s capital, and to the Milwaukee Art Museum. This portion of the program ended with a few days in Chicago with further education and entertainment.

•    The second half of this program is about to begin this month when the mentors are invited to Israel to spend a week learning of their social and economic development.  This is all in effort to continue to build sustainable relationships cross-culturally.

So in other words, I’m going to Israel!

Jay Harris, the program’s head organizer stated, “As you can imagine, a program bringing Jordanians and Israelis together from a volatile region is on the cutting edge of what is commonly called ‘public diplomacy’ at the government level. UW-Green Bay is honored to administer one of only three YEP grants awarded nationally. The program participants represent a diversity of religions, ethnic backgrounds, and professional interests. Some have a new business underway, some are currently employed but hoping to break free, and others have left jobs and have made some progress toward their dream (e.g. development of a prototype). All need to develop a comprehensive business plan and learn more about various aspects of doing business. Our goal is to help them accomplish those things before returning home.”

This program has been a great opportunity thus far. I look forward to furthering my mentorship role in Israel while also, in many ways, being a mentoree myself as I learn new ways of business and experiencing a new culture.

Feel free to email me at jim@stellarbluewebdesign.com if you have any questions!

Jim Dobinski - Managing Director
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
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