Resource Roundup 8/9

I'm running pretty behind on following the blogs, but I figured I'd at least clean out my queue before I head out for vacation next week...

Introducing Google Optimizer (Wild Apricot Blog)
In their continuing bid to provide a tool to do anything that anyone might want to do, Google introduces Google Optimizer: a free tool to rigorously test out options for sign-ups, donations or anything else on your site. The Wild Apricot Blog explains.

The Long, Long Tail of Facebook Causes (Frogloop)
Terrific summary of Facebook's potential to directly fundraise for your cause (with actual data!), with a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the Causes applications

An ROI Calculator for Social Network Campaigns (Frogloop)
Wow! Justin Perkins of Care2 gives us a exceedingly detailed ROI calculator for thinking through the costs and benefits of social networking campaigns using a site like Facebook or MySpace.

How Might a Nonprofit Use Google Apps? (NTEN)
A great rundown from Sonny Cloward about the practical applications (and limitations) of Google Apps for nonprofits

Modeling Engagement Strategy in Salesforce (gokubi.com)
If you're interested in Salesforce for nonprofits, you really need to be following the gokubi.com blog, written by Steve Andersen at ONE/ Northwest. He gets into the nitty gritty of how it all works, as he shows here in a screenshot walk-though of a campaign scenario.

A Tale of Three NPO Facebook Apps (Beaconfire Wire)
Great, detailed look at three nonprofit facebook applications.

Helping Nonprofits Build Databases (Certification Magazine)
An interview with Eric Leland about the differences in helping nonprofits with constituent databases compared to businesses

7 Things you should know about Twitter (EduCause)
Another in EduCause's great "7 Things" series - this one giving a rundown on Twitter with a focus on how it can be useful in educational environments