Tips for a successful badge

1. Build a Great Badge.

The best badges have a personal photo, a compelling and tangible reason to give, and a clear call to action. Use the limited space on the badge to make a strong, authentic appeal, and consider including your name in the text. Use the “my video” link to link to video or online slide shows if you have them.

2. Donate to Your Own Badge.

People like to feel they are part of a larger effort. It’s not inspiring to see zero donations on a badge, so donate to your own badge to get fundraising momentum started for your cause.

3. Post the Badge on Your Site, Blog(s) and Email Signature.

Put the badge on your website, blog or AIM Page. If you have a MySpace page, you can feature a link to the badge URL. You can also put a link to the badge URL in your email signature. Put a photo in the signature that is hyperlinked to the URL to grab more attention.


4. Send a Link to the Badge to People in Your Email Address Book.

Send the badge link to people in your email address book. Ask for donations and encourage these contacts to forward your email to others.

5. Ask Bloggers to Join Your Cause.

Go to technorati.com and search for blogs that are focused on your issue. Tell bloggers about your campaign and ask them to post on your efforts. They have a circle of active readers who are likely to care about your cause.

NOTE: you will need Flash Player in order to see the charity badge on a web page; if you or any of your supporters do not have this, you can use the 'link to your badge' option from the tab that says 'share'.