Sweibel Arts

10/29/2025

Ready to make a real impact? Texas Ballet Theater is seeking a visionary Director of Development to lead fundraising and donor engagement—a unique chance to shape the future of ballet in North Texas.

If you have a blend of strategic fundraising expertise and a genuine passion for the arts, this is your opportunity to champion both annual and major campaigns, helping elevate the entire region’s cultural landscape.

Check out the details and apply today: https://sweibelarts.com/open-positions/

Looking to strengthen your own executive search or fundraising plan? Connect with Sweibel Arts for tailored, proven strategies that drive results.

03/28/2025

Patience for the ticket purchase experience is wearing thin, notes blogger Joe Patti.

According to recent data, reported barriers related to the ticket purchasing experience have skyrocketed. Many more potential visitors are saying that it was just too hard, complicated, confusing, or inconvenient to purchase a ticket to make it worth the effort.

People don’t like to have to enter all their information in a number of boxes. If they have to hit next to go to a new page rather than fill everyone out on one screen that adds to the frustration. And if they have to fill out a marketing questionnaire as part of the ticket buying process, that can present a deterrent.

Many consumers are used to doing a one click purchase on Amazon which allows them to skip entering information into different fields…and leaves the customer feedback survey until after the transaction is complete.

There are other factors to consider, like pricing confusion that can be associated with packages, discount eligibility, and dynamic pricing; availability of payment types; digital ticketing; and purchasing interface on desktop vs mobile.

Read more:

Yesterday I received an email letting me know that Colleen Dilenschneider and her colleagues at IMPACTS Experience had released a new post titled

03/26/2025

The way people search for information online is changing—fast.

AI-powered search engines are reshaping how users find answers, reducing reliance on traditional keyword-based searches. With Gartner predicting a 25% decline in traditional search volume by 2026, businesses must rethink their approach to online visibility.

Unlike conventional search engines, AI search models summarize and generate responses based on user intent, surfacing content in new ways. To stay competitive, brands need to adapt their SEO and marketing strategies for this evolving landscape.

HubSpot has put together a guide that breaks down what AI search means for your business, introduces the key players in AI-powered search, and provides actionable steps to ensure your content is discoverable, valuable, and optimized for AI-driven platforms.

Download the guide: https://offers.hubspot.com/ai-search-guide [free registration required to read]

Search is evolving fast. AI-powered engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini are reshaping how content gets discovered—prioritizing direct, AI-generated answers over traditional search rankings. If your brand isn’t optimized for AI search, you’re already falling behind.

03/25/2025

Want to reach teens? Give them online content that is funny, happy, and escapist.

Teens are turning to movies like “Moana” and TV shows like “Friends” as comfort watches that help them escape from feeling like they’re stuck in a state of “permacrisis”.

According to new research from National Research Group and Young Storytellers in the US, kids ages six to 17 are very worried about the future, and they want to leave the real world behind when they have screen time.

Read more:

New research from NRG and Young Storytellers shows that Moana and Friends are go-to comfort watches for teens trying to cope with

03/24/2025

What can the arts learn about reducing audience churn from streaming services?

Streaming services are experiencing similar issues to the arts: Nearly the same share of viewers who say they plan to sign up for a streaming service (27%) also say they plan to cancel one (30%)—creating a doom loop of subscriber turnover and weak loyalty.

What streaming services are learning is the importance of a clear brand promise. Years ago, taglines like NBC’s “Must See TV” and HBO’s “It’s not TV. It’s HBO” defined a brand identity that transcended any one show.

Tubi's cheeky "Free for Everyone" campaign is a great example of how a modern streamer can do the same. The goal was to boost awareness that Tubi is, in fact, free—something most consumers didn’t know. Tubi now ranks higher in usage than Max, Peacock, and Paramount+.

A strong brand promise tells viewers what they can expect—not just what’s trending. It deepens loyalty, reduces churn, and builds long-term value.

Read more:

Max’s identity crisis highlights a growing industry problem: without a clear brand promise, even the best shows can’t stop subscriber churn.

03/21/2025

11 tips to engage small-dollar donors:

• Home in on your “why.” The why is often drowned out in favor of the “how” about the organization’s needs.
• Thank donors at scale using personalized messages. AI can be used to customize thank you messages online for donors.
• Randomly call 10 everyday donors each month and ask them how they are, why they give to your organization, how they are made to feel as donors, and what kind of communication they want from your nonprofit in the future.
• In your annual fundraising plan, replace five solicitations with stories.
• Create [or join] giving circles of people who share an interest in supporting a cause or multiple causes.
• Focus on sustainers who give to your organization on a regular basis say, monthly.
• Personalize donor appeals by using predictive analytics built into AI-powered fundraising software.
• Optimize messaging and timing. AI-driven email marketing tools can analyze donor interaction patterns to determine the optimal times to send appeals.
• Use AI chatbots for donor engagement. These bots answer FAQs, assist with donations, and share personalized impact stories, freeing up staff time.
• Use predictive analytics to identify supporters at risk of lapsing.
• Spread out the work. A core group of donors who support your organization can be turned into ambassadors and fundraisers on your behalf. A core group of donors who support your organization can be turned into ambassadors and fundraisers on your behalf.

Read more: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/how-to-treat-every-donor-like-they-matter-and-keep-them [free registration required to view]

Here are tips to engage small-dollar donors beyond simply asking for gifts, including ways to use AI to make outreach feel more personal.

03/20/2025

For Gen Z, streaming TV is a full-time job, at least according to a new Harris poll.

Half of Gen Zers admitted to streaming TV while working from home – and nearly 48% admit to lying to their bosses about it.

Streaming has turned into a form of escapism for many audiences, with the majority (80%) of viewers saying they would rather spend their time watching a TV show or movie than scrolling on social media.

In fact, consumers are most likely to reach for streaming when they need a mental break (59%), followed by listening to music (50%) or scrolling social media (38%).

Read more:

New Tubi research gives insights on streamers

03/19/2025

Do you need interim marketing help? Sweibel Arts provides expert – and affordable – temporary staffing solutions that make a lasting impact.

We don’t just fill positions, we bring our collective expertise, elevate your team’s performance, and leave your organization stronger. Whether we’re with you for four or 24 months, we align strategy and tactics to add enduring value, and deliver actionable recommendations for your future success.

Our crew understands the organizational culture of nonprofit arts companies, because we’ve worked for many of them. And before our temporary assignments are done, we always prepare for the onboarding of new staff to make for smooth sailing ahead.

Learn more:

Temporary StaffingSweibel Arts provides expert – and affordable – temporary staffing solutions that make a lasting impact. We don’t just fill positions, we bring our collective expertise, elevate your team’s performance, and make your organization stronger. Whether we’re with you for four ...

03/18/2025

A/B testing is the gold standard for data-driven decision-making. Businesses use it to optimize websites, pricing, emails, and even offline strategies. But the true power of A/B testing isn’t just in improving metrics — it can challenge deeply held assumptions and change the direction of an entire business.

Key Elements of a Successful A/B Test
1. Define a Clear Hypothesis
2. Identify the Right Metric to Measure
3. Ensure a Large Enough Sample Size
4. Run the Test for an Optimal Duration
5. Analyze and Interpret the Results

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in A/B Testing
1. Testing too many changes at once
2. Stopping the test too early
3. Ignoring segment-specific insights
4. Not accounting for external factors

Read more:

Using Scientific Methods to Optimize Products, Marketing, and UX

03/17/2025

For organizations navigating rocky financial terrain, marketing isn’t just about selling tickets. It’s about telling a compelling story, forging deeper audience connections, and ensuring donors (and potential donors) understand why your organization matters. Here’s how arts organizations can use marketing to weather the shifting funding landscape:

1. Make It Clear That You’re a Nonprofit
2. Invest in Institutional Campaigns
3. Tell Your Story Through Video
4. Turn Audience Members Into Ambassadors

Read more from Capacity Interactive’s blog:

Learn how marketing can help arts and cultural organizations build stronger donor relationships, engage audiences, and navigate financial challenges.