We've all been hit hard by the economy lately, but one organization that always tears at my heartstrings is that of the nonprofit organizations. During economic downturns they always seem to be the first to be hit; it has been no different this time.

As with any organization it's important that nonprofit organization continue to market to draw in the donations and contributions that they need to sustain their foundations. It's important to use marketing methods that will be both efficient as well as low cost to meet the objectives that your organization has. If you pull your market efforts at this time, how will you make those who support your cause aware of the needs that you have? Marketing is essential in getting the word out.

Take this economic downturn as a time to get smart about your marketing, but don't give up on it. There are low-cost and no-cost ways that you can market that will help you get the word out there regarding your organization's need for donations and contributions. Take a few moments to review the resouces below and then get creative on how you can use those ways in your organization; others can't contribute if they don't know.

• 8 Ways that You  as a Nonprofit Can Market
• 5 Benefits Nonprofit Organizations Gain from Social Media Marketing

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I recently received a question about rebate marketing, and it reminded me that many companies still wonder if rebate marketing is a good method for attracting consumers.

Question: "Laura, do companies offer smaller rebates, knowing that people won't take time to fill out the forms as opposed to the larger rebates? Also, do you think that the smaller rebates are geared towards lower income consumers, as opposed to more wealthy consumers?" - Tim

In an article by US News I found what John Gourville, professor of marketing at Harvard Business School had to say very interesting...

"While redemption rates are typically kept under wraps by retailers and the fulfillment companies that handle rebates, Gourville estimates that even for pricey items with rebates worth $50, the redemption rate is below 50 percent."

Rebate marketing programs have existed for years, but is it a marketing method that you should consider? There are key components that can make a rebate program successful, but they are not for everyone. Learn how to determine whether a rebate program is right for your products and how to plan it so that it carries a marketing benefit to your company.

What do you think?  Are rebates and coupons still valuable marketing tools to businesses today?

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I do a lot of writing on branding from branding basics to the more advanced things like creating a brand persona. I am often surprised how many times people do not understand the importance of the brand that they represent online.

For example, I recently opened a marketing blog directory. I receive several submissions daily and I'm always amazed at how many people write their blogs on sites like Blogger, Wordpress and Typepad. Look I understand that these platforms provide easy ways to blog, but am I wrong to think that your brand and blog for that matter would stand out a lot more if it were on your own website domain?

Today alone I received two marketing blogs on the topic of branding. Both of these blogs were on the Wordpress domain. Honestly, I didn't add them, because my initial thought was " Do they really get branding?"

Is it too much to ask that branding experts at least brand their blogs appropriately? Perhaps I am being too hard on these companies.

Am I the only one that doesn't take a business serious when they don't have their own domain and use a free platform to create their online presence?

What are your thoughts?

Related: | What is Branding?| 5 Tips to Creating an Effective Blog | Video: Tips for Effective Personal Branding Online

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In a recent discussion with a friend she shared with me that her son was graduating college with a marketing degree, but had not done an internships or landed an entry-level job. She was concerned and I can understand why. In today's economy there are many experienced marketing professionals that have been laid off and are looking to reestablish their marketing career by re-entering the workforce.

This means that those looking for entry level jobs, internships or entry level jobs will face fierce competition and companies will have to make the decision on whether to hire someone who is experienced or someone who has recently graduated. Companies are also cutting back on internships, so they are not as available as they used to be.

What does this mean for college students and new graduates today? It means you are going to have step up your game. You will need a strategic plan in order to work towards landing the position that you desire. It's going to take some work as well as patience, but I'm here to share with you information  that can help.

• Five Tips for Landing a Marketing Internship or Entry Level Job
• Marketing Internships - How to Land the One You Want

Your turn: Are you a college student or recent graduate that has landed an entry level job or internships? If so, share your success story.

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