If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it enough - Albert Einstein

These days it is really easy to get advice on what to do for marketing, fundraising, and website look and content. Guidance on how to choose sincere and authentic language, clever marketing hooks and compelling causes is in abundance all over the Internets. Urging the use of ?meaningful ?content, whatever that is, recommendations on the many things you can do to find, retain and increase the giving of your donors are every place.

How can you tell what will work and what may not?

One Thing that FOR SURE Works

You are clever and wholly committed to your cause; your passion is evident in everything you do. What is the best way to convey that passion to others?

Make your message and the ability to give DEAD SIMPLE. Make it so clear and obvious there can be no question about who you are and what you do and where you are. Create your messaging so that it is obvious, whether it is on a website, tablet or a small phone screen.

Put it all right out there

  • Don?t make me click three times to find your location, contact, or donation option.

Lots of things need to be complicated:

  • Don?t make visiting your website one of them. If I need details, show me how to find them easily
  • Don?t make me create an account with some complicated password requirement
  • Don?t ask me for a survey of my experience

Simple Isn?t Easy

But simple is smart. Regardless of your audience, everyone is too busy and distracted to have to hunt around for information. Visit your site as a stranger, with no preconceived notions of what you have to say and what you want.

Look at other sites that you enjoy, what about that makes life easier for you to do what you want? What are they doing right, or wrong?

Anticipate questions and provide those answers right up front, easy to find, and easy to read.

Everyone loves easy: making learning and giving about you a pleasurable experience, make it easy by making it simple.

If you’d like help getting rid of the complexity get in touch by email here or by voice on 310 828 6979.

Cindy Lauren - Lauren Associates - non profit consulting

Cindy Lauren is the Principal of

Lauren Associates – non profit consulting

As well as advising Executives and Boards on all aspects of nonprofit management, the firm specializes in developing fundraising solutions for all sizes of organizations.  Connect with Cindy: Twitter, Linkedin, Quora