SMXi Software blog

Middlesex University Scholarship and Awards 2016

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I had a great time at the Middlesex University Scholarship and Awards Event 2016. This was held in the Ricketts Quad – certainly a place to shock and awe. Systematic sponsors the First Year Challenge Award which is awarded to the winning team of first year computer science students who take part in a challenge […]

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LiveBase is 20!

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When we first developed LiveBase® back in the mists of the 1990’s it was to provide an easily managed  dynamic element for web sites that were, for the large part, static and updated via FTP. LiveBase was first  used to power the news and events sections of the National Trust website and it’s second use was for […]

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What’s in a name?

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Naming companies is a strange business. It was 25 years ago that we chose the name Systematic Marketing and it can’t be described as a very scientific process. Of course back then we didn’t have domain names to worry us and so I don’t think anyone had thought of combining a colour with an animal. […]

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10 Web design trends for 2015

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The Next Web has identified 10 web design trends we are likely to see over the next 12 months: Longer scrolling sites – as mobile devices become more important there is a switch to longer scrolling pages rather than lots of links Story telling and interaction – content has always been important but telling a […]

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Day 13: Grants & Funding

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The world of grant making is evolving.  Below are the best websites where you can access guidance on applying for grants plus advice on how to manage a relationship with a funder. These sites contain more sources, more commentary and more funding analysis than anywhere else. Subscribe online at the individual websites. Warning… these websites can […]

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Day 12: Check your materials

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It’s important to ensure you are sending a consistent message with every piece of material that’s posted online or sent to potential supporters.  This includes obvious things like your website and social media posts, and other items such as your email footer and Skype status.  Include a personal story: why you’re raising money, why it’s […]

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Day 11: Why do people give?

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For any charity trying to raise money, understanding what motivates people to give is pretty useful.  However, people’s motivations can be complex.  Here are a few of the most important reasons why people donate: They are affected personally by the cause (think heart disease or cancer) They are thankful that they aren’t affected by the […]

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Day 9: Apply for a Google Grant

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You may not have heard of it, but Google Ad Grants is the non-profit edition of AdWords, Google’s online advertising tool. As part of its nonprofit programme, Google gives eligible charities $10,000 (£5,800) a month to spend on AdWords, Google’s pay-per-click advertising system. Not only that, if you spend at least $9,500 (£5,545) in two months of the previous 12 […]

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Day 6: Make the most of social media

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Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn are just some of the tools that can help you promote your charity and send messages to volunteers about how they can help. It’s easy, quick, free and the message can be spread fast to different audiences. Social media is about building a long-term relationship with your supporters, and this […]

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