Nonprofit Workshop: Strategies for Building Buzz without Breaking the Bank

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 18, 2012 - WASHINGTON, DC—Shrita  Sterlin, chief executive and brand officer of Penn Strategies, will lead a presentation showing nonprofits how to develop and implement public relations strategies that capture media attention, raise their profiles, generate support and improve their social media performance during Maryland Nonprofit’s summer workshop series. The session, entitled “Low-Cost and No-Cost Strategies for Generating Publicity for Your Nonprofit,” will take place on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 2:00 PM in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“Publicity is vital to a nonprofit’s success,” said Shrita Sterlin, a public relations and marketing veteran who has worked with nonprofits for more than fifteen years. “But many nonprofits simply do not have the resources to hire an in-house public relations professional. In this interactive workshop, I will share some insider best practices that nonprofits can use to build buzz without breaking the bank.”

According to the latest report issued by Maryland Nonprofits, there are more than 30,000 nonprofit organizations in the state of Maryland, and the Council of Nonprofits estimates another 4,031 nonprofits in Washington, DC. With increased competition for resources, nonprofit organizations in Maryland—and around the country—must demonstrate their impact as well as their value in the marketplace in order to receive continued support to fulfill their missions.

The results of a poll by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change also indicated the importance of prioritizing “marketing, media relations, and public awareness to increase visibility and understanding of nonprofit issues.” Nonprofits that fail to break through the noise of today's relentless news cycle risk having to struggle to secure much-needed volunteers, financial support and public awareness.

“Low-Cost and No-Cost Strategies for Generating Publicity for Your Nonprofit” is specifically designed for nonprofit organizations that aim to promote their stories in the news, online and with their target communities. In this workshop, Shrita Sterlin will walk nonprofits nonprofits through do-it-yourself techniques for building buzz (i.e., word-of-mouth recommendations). Workshop attendees will learn also how to craft and pitch compelling stories that capture media interest; optimize press releases and media kits for maximum online exposure; build a strong thought leadership program to position nonprofit CEOs and managers as industry experts, and more.

“If the public is not aware about the good work your nonprofit is doing, then you are likely to fail in winning support your nonprofit’s efforts,” said Shrita Sterlin. “A strong public relations program is key to getting the word out—and the only way your nonprofit can really survive and thrive in today’s competitive nonprofit sector.”

For more information about the workshop and to register, visit Maryland Nonprofits' training calendar at http://www.marylandnonprofits.org/dnn/Educate/EducationPr....