Robert Weiner

APRIL 2, 2011

My blog automatically scoops up anything I write on TechSoup's blog. TechSoup just launched a new blog and it messed up my automated scooper-upper. For those of you who noticed some strange posts here lately, please accept my apologies. I've been deleting the posts when they appear while trying to fix the problem.

Problem 126

Problem 126

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 10, 2012

The following comment (with a link to an unrelated web site) was left on my blog. Certainly like your blog on the other hand you have to check out the actual spelling on some of your content. Using fractured English to correct someone's (nonexistent) spelling errors struck me as a novel approach to SEO.

Spam 122

Spam Comment Site Content 122

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 24, 2012

So much lame spam, so little time to blog about it. Here's today's example. No graphics, all caps, the From address doesn't match the "write me at" address. Does it get any lamer? Sender: Tesfaye, Fanuel (f.tesfaye@unesco.org). Subject: HELLO. Text: BUSINESS FOR YOU, CONTACT ME THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL: sydneywalter58@yahoo.com.

Spam 122

Spam Contact email Business 122

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 11, 2012

I was struck by the language in this spammy blog comment. My first thought was that "boundless" online grant applications meant "endless", which would be horrifying. But maybe they mean "for unlimited amounts of money".

Application 122

Application Grant Spam Lecture 122

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 1, 2009

The findings include: 41% of US college and university admissions departments have blogs, compared to 13% of Fortune 500 companies. 63% of respondents stated that they are very familiar with social networking, and 44% reported they are very familiar with blogging. 40% of schools that were not yet blogging said they plan to add a blog.

Social Media 100

Social Media Media Social Massachusetts 100

Robert Weiner

APRIL 30, 2010

Andrew Heller discussed the risks of oversharing in his NTEN blog post Social Media and Privacy: Best Practices for Managing Your Personal and Professional Identities. His basic advice: "Be Prepared. Be mindful of your online presence. Think thrice before acting."

Social Media 122

Social Media Professional Personal Media 122

Robert Weiner

JUNE 16, 2009

Heather Carpenter’s Nonprofit Leadership 601 blog posted a list of resources for people who are new to the field of nonprofit technolology. This post lists books, reports, Web sites, blogs, and conferences that nonprofit techies — and not just those newbies — should know about.

Technology 100

Technology Nonprofit Photo Leadership 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 5, 2009

Other participating blogs include: • Judi Sohn www.momathome.com/. Michael Cervino beaconfire.com/blog/. Matt Wilson mcommons.com/blog/. NTEN www.nten.org/blog. NTEN www.nten.org/blog. Beth Kanter beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/. • Tad Druart www.connectioncafe.com. Jeff Brooks www.donorpowerblog.com/donor_power_blog.

Data 100

Data Database Laptop Convio 100

Robert Weiner

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

That discussion continued on my blog. One of the discussions during NTEN’s community call about Blackbaud’s purchase of Convio was whether the nonprofit community should band together and build its own donor management system rather than being dependent on for-profit vendors. I expect it will be strengthened by this move.

Blackbaud 171

Blackbaud Convio Database Statistics 171

Robert Weiner

JULY 29, 2009

NTEN's blog discusses the details of the break-in and lessons we should learn from it. You can also look at TechSoup's Security Corner for more tips, articles, blog posts, and resources on securing your information. . . The chief lesson: good passwords are key to good security. . Photo: Paul Linton.

Create 100

Create Doc Lesson NTEN 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 30, 2009

In early January, Convio asked a group of nonprofit technology bloggers to suggest New Year’s resolutions for nonprofits ( TechSoup Blog was one of the participants ). In addition, they asked people to post resolutions on Convio’s Connection Café blog.

Technology 100

Technology Convio Registration Blogger 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 1, 2011

I just wrote a guest blog post for NTEN on the topic of moving from an accidental techie role to a leadership role. Last July, Holly Ross wrote that it was time to retire the phrase "accidental techie". She said, "it's not very nice to call anyone an accidental anything.

Technology 143

Technology Roles Reflection Leadership 143

Robert Weiner

APRIL 11, 2009

Robyn also installed, or pointed me to, widgets that added new features, like the search box and a plug-in that pulls my blog posts from TechSoup into my site. 6) Over time I’ve added more features, like the blog. 6) Over time I’ve added more features, like the blog. I’ve had to ask Robyn for help a few times.

Site 100

Site Web WordPress Widget 100

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 9, 2011

This blog says the links download malware. I just love the subject line in this one. Wow, very creative syntax (though the misspelling of "declined" lessens the impact). I also got a second version, but the subject was much more prosaic. Version 1: Sender: Argelia Vogel (SterlingGroesbeck@myexcel.com).

Spam 112

Spam Studies Issue Impact 112

Robert Weiner

JULY 8, 2009

Arcadia Campaigns' Matt Howes, writing on Care2's Frogloop blog, described the testing process: To use [Google Optimizer], you create a web page and variations of that page that you'd like to test (for example, you might want to test if people respond better to a picture of a polar bear or a happy child on your donation page). read more.

Web 100

Web Test Instruction Instructional 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 19, 2012

I'd never heard of Pandora Beads before, and this spam, posted as a comment on my blog, didn't make me want to have anything to do with them. But I do like the concept of "charm beans" and bottoms that can be interchanged.

Spam 100

Spam Comment System Group 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 30, 2009

Jay Frost of ContactReporter.com (formerly of WealthID) has started a new blog that will track large individual gifts to all types of charities in the US and abroad: www.BigGifts.wordpress.com.

Gift 100

Gift Charity Research Track 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 3, 2009

NetworkforGood’s Katya Andresen’s blog, Nonprofit Marketing, offers nonprofits 5 suggestions for surviving the economic downturn. She advises organizations to: Give donors what they want: To feel good. To hear from people they know. Tangibility.

Advice 100

Advice Tag Marketing Donor 100

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 7, 2008

Managing a blog, I wind up reviewing and deleting lots of spam comments. One of the most unusual had the text “commit suicide on Xanax.&# Googling that phrase yields 353,000 hits. Is this a selling point?

Spam 100

Spam Review Google Comment 100

Robert Weiner

JULY 17, 2009

This time their guest will be social media guru Beth Kanter (you may know Beth from her eponymous Beth's Blog — and if you don't, you should). . The Chronicle of Philanthropy is holding another in its series of free online discussions on social networking. What: What's the Payoff? When: Tuesday, July 21, at 12 noon, U.S.

Social Network 100

Social Network Network Measure Social 100

Robert Weiner

APRIL 30, 2009

You can download the guide here and also check out the GreenTech-tagged posts on this blog and a full collection of resources on the subject in the GreenTech Initiative section of our site.

Green 100

Green Analysis Map Guide 100

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 9, 2009

You are rewarded with valuable points whenever you post photos, videos, blogs, comments. Today I received spam from a site called Frens Zone that will allow me to make money off my social network. earn instant cash by just referring your friends. The more you referred, the more you earn. This just feels smarmy.

Social Network 100

Social Network Network Social Spam 100

Robert Weiner

APRIL 28, 2009

Jana Byington-Smith did a great job of capturing the discussion for the conference’s live blog. You can read all of the conference blogs at [link]. I moderated a panel with the above title yesterday at NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference. I’m reposting her summary below. The list of links she mentions is at [link].

Consultant 100

Consultant NTEN Conference Skills 100

Robert Weiner

FEBRUARY 17, 2009

Following up on Elliot’s blog post, How Important Is Mobile Giving? , and the subsequent TechSoup discussion , I’m posting an analysis conducted by Sarah Grosvenor , the Assistant Director of Annual Giving at Willamette University , on the potential for mobile fundraising at the University.

Raise 100

Raise United States Analysis University 100

Robert Weiner

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

And here's a blog post from Andy Shandlain at Cal Tech about the subject: [link]. FYI, here's an article on using LinkedIn for alumni groups: [link]. Some of the key points are: What are your goals for the group? How will you measure them? How will you market the group?

Social Media 112

Social Media Community Online Media 112

Robert Weiner

JANUARY 22, 2010

In his blog post on evaluating fundraising programs, Measuring Success The Buffett Way , Jason McNeil asks What measures might Warren Buffett use to evaluate development effectiveness? Among other things, TARP found that: Twice as many people are told about a bad experience as are told about a good one.

Service 183

Service Retention Evaluation System 183

Robert Weiner

JULY 17, 2009

Build your list of references and qualifications, even if that requires doing pro bono or heavily discounted work. When projects end, ask clients to write testimonials and agree to serve as references. Figure out how you will market your work. Options include. writing articles. publishing a newsletter. public speaking. business cards.

Consultant 100

Consultant Advice Listserv Associations 100

Robert Weiner

APRIL 28, 2009

Jana Byington-Smith blogged it again, and here’s what she recorded. Today was the second session of my 2-part workshop for consultants and wanna-be consultants. We started by listing everyone’s burning issues, then discussed as many as we could in-depth. Presenters: Robert L. John Kenyon, John Kenyon Technology Consulting.

Consultant 100

Consultant Structure NTEN Skills 100

Robert Weiner

MAY 10, 2013

Most of the comments that spammers have been trying to post on my blog these days have been beyond lame: a single word or lines of gibberish. It''s sad that this junk gets through on so many sites. That just encourages the spammers. Today''s spam is lame and charming, though it''s probably less charming in the original language.

Spam 122

Spam Language Site Comment 122

Robert Weiner

AUGUST 24, 2009

You can read more about the redesign at [link] , whick includes links to co-CEO Marnie Webb's blog and an FAQ page. For example, while the home page and the search results page have been redesigned, the articles and forums have not yet been updated. Congratulations to TechSoup. Here's to Phase 2.

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Site Design Phase FAQ 148

Robert Weiner

DECEMBER 31, 2008

Richard Rothwell posted a blog entry on Portable Data Security , several list members recommended using TrueCrypt , and Carlos Thomas posted a TrueCrypt tutorial. Last month I posted a list of best practices for managing a database and discussed, among other things, protecting data on USB drives and laptops.

Laptop 100

Laptop Tutorial Database Files 100