be ahead of the tech curve, not behind! 5 nonprofit tech trends for 2017

Be ahead of the tech curve, not behind!Nonprofit tech and web design trends for 2017

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Today’s agenda

• 5 tech and web design trends• Pulse check!• What is it?• Why is it important?• Steps and resources to move forward

• Bonus: Quick important tech updates• Next CASL deadline (July 1st, 2017)• New SEO penalty

• Q&A• Slides and recording will be available after the webinar

• Next webinar: How to manage remote teams, Feb 22nd

About us

Presenter: Joyce HsuCommunications Manager, TechSoup Canada

Host: Donna WonTech Systems Specialist, TechSoup Canada

This is not about the latest, greatest, cutting edge tech

trends in 2017

This is about trends that will impact day-to-day

nonprofits in 2017

Data visualization and automation

Tech Trend #1

How does your nonprofit use data?

Pulse check!

What is it?Dashboards (summary of data) that automatically updates and visualizes your data in meaningful ways. The emerging trend is to automate dashboards for internal and external use.

Why is it important?

Smarter decisionsMake smarter, more timely decisions informed by data

Digestible DataWe consume less data

than we can create (IDC*)

*https://www.emc.com/leadership/digital-universe/2014iview/executive-summary.htm

Save timeAutomation saves time

(and reduces human error)

impact

AccountabilityDemonstrate your impact to donors,

funders, board and supporters

Highly data-driven organizations are three times more likely to report significant improvement in decision-making … yet, 62% of executives still rely more on experience and advice than data to make decisions

From Insight to Action: How Data-Driven Marketing Is Supporting Big Decisionsthinkwithgoogle.com/articles/data-driven-marketing-decision-making.html

60%

What next?

Nurture a data informed culture“If data isn’t part of your

nonprofit culture, make that a big goal this year”*

Plan before you pull data

“Data without application is useless.”*

Continuing the data journey

Share, learn, tweak & repeat

*http://npengage.com/nonprofit-marketing/online-benchmark-reveals-key-insights-for-nonprofits-in-2017

Example: TechSoup Canada

We have recurring, weekly meetings to review data

(30 mins. max)

Resources

Static spreadsheet

Good starting point, or when you’re

trying something completely new

Built-in dashboard

Configure the dashboard tool that comes with your

platform: CRM, CMS, Email platform

Reporting/B.I./ dashboard tool

Connect your data source to an external

reporting tool

Zapier.comConnects web apps together so you can automate workflows

Resources for Spreadsheet Dashboards

chandoo.org/wp/excel-dashboards

Resources for Spreadsheet Dashboards

zapier.com/learn/google-sheets/google-sheets-dashboard-tutorial

Resources for Built-in Dashboardsanalytics.google.com (free)

Resources for Built-in Dashboardskb.mailchimp.com/accounts/billing/about-mailchimp-discounts (15% off)

Resources for Built-in Dashboards

salesforce.org/nonprofit (10 free licenses)

tableau.com (eligible orgs can also get it at techsoupcanada.ca/directory/423)

Resources for Reporting/ B.I. Tools


zoho.com/reports (free & paid plans)


powerbi.microsoft.com (free & paid plans)

Clear & cleanUser Interfaces (UI)

Tech Trend #2

Pulse check!

How do you feel about your nonprofit’swebsite?

What is it?User Interface (UI) describes the medium that people use to interact with computer applications (e.g., websites, programs etc.). The emerging trend is to favour clean, clear and accessible UI.

UI Elements


A user interface is like a joke. If you have to explain it, it’s not that good.Martin LeBlanc, Founder & CEO of Icon Finder

Guess the links!art.yale.edu


Increase conversion rates

Users’ attention span are getting shorter (8 secs in 2015*)

*statisticbrain.com/attention-span-statistics

Help create a positive & confident UX

Use consistent terms, signifiers and labels

Design for your users

(hint: you are not your user)

What next?

No signifiers. (Clickable?)

Weak signifiers. (Clickable?)

Strong signifiers. (Clickable?)

Strong signifiers. (Clickable?)

“Flat Design: Its Origins, Its Problems, and Why Flat 2.0 Is

Better for Users”

nngroup.com/articles/flat-design/

Google’s introduction to Material Design

google.com/design/spec/material-design

Resources

Playing nice: System integration

Tech Trend #3

Pulse check!

How many of your systems/databases are integrated?

What is it?

As more software solutions are being developed and released, it seems like there is a tool for nearly every task. The trend is to explore and adopt carefully – with integration in mind.


A step towards a (realistic) centralized system

Build rich supporter profiles/data

Easier workflow and data automation

Plan earlyNew tech solutions should

integrate with at least one other existing solution you’re using

What next?

Start with 1-way integration 1-way integrations are easier to implement

and more likely to succeed. These integrations are often enough

Resources

Zapier.comConnect web apps together for

workflow automations

Cloud SuitesNo time to plan? Look into cloud suites that can fulfill most of your functions

Nonprofit

Big and bold typography

Tech Trend #4

Pulse check!

How do you decide which fonts to use at your nonprofit?

What is it?With the growing focus on content marketing, more websites will feature typography and fonts that are just as big and bold as the mission itself.

FONTFACE: BEBAS NEUE REGULARTYPOGRAPHY

What is it?i.e. Trading neo-grotesque fonts (Helvetica, Roboto, Lato or Open Sans) for bolder geometric fonts, serif typefaces and monospaced (“typewriter”)

2010s 2017+


Stand out from the crowd.

Stand out from the crowd.

Reinforce your brandLet your content shine

femmeinternational.org plancanada.ca

Think large print Create strong contrast

What next?

resilientwebdesign.com

Determine your font pairings

Sans-Serif/Serif

/Sans-Serif

Serif/Serif

Resources

FontSquirrel.com Fonts.google.comFontPair.co

Tech Trend #5

Embracing hybrid cloud models

Pulse check!

How do you feel about cloud computing?

What is it?Storing sensitive information on private cloud (dedicated server or on Canadian data centre) and non-sensitive information on the public cloud.


Take advantage of cloud computing

benefits

Keep sensitive data in-house and in Canada

More services and products are moving

to the cloud

Resources

OwnCloud.org

“What is the hybrid cloud and how can it help my organization?”

techsoupcanada.ca/community/blog/what-is-a-hybrid-cloud-and-how-can-it-help-my-nonprofit-organization

Important tech updates

Bonus

Important tech updates

Next CASL date is July 1st, 2017Transition period ends and private rights of action are in force. Not sure if you’re prepared? Stay tuned

for March 22nd for a refresher on CASL! techsoupcanada.ca/webinar

Penalizing intrusive pop-upsGoogle has started to penalize intrusive pop-ups

(since Jan 10, 2017). https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2016/08/help

ing-users-easily-access-content-on.html

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