Data and Video
by Lauren Bell, Extend Web Services Manager
The average internet user will spend nearly seven hours per week watching videos online and Millennials tend to hit 10-20 hours of video viewing each week.In 2022, 82% of internet traffic came from video streaming and downloads. (Shepherd, 2023) With all this video content being created, consumed, and shared, is your organization utilizing the opportunity to reach your target audience through video?
5 reasons to incorporate video into your outreach efforts:
- Videos are engaging: Whether your target audience is a young woman searching for help or a major donor looking to fund a project, videos will engage your viewer. Videos educate and inspire, but most importantly people will watch them.
- Videos invoke emotion: Videos make people feel. Emotions help you connect with your target audience quickly and effectively. It’s important to make an emotional connection quickly because you don’t have much time to reach someone on a digital platform. It’s not unusual for a woman to spend just a few seconds on a website before clicking away, but if you can connect with her through video in the first few seconds, you’ve increased your chances of building trust and prompting action.
- Videos prompt action: Once you’ve invoked emotion in your audience through video, people are more likely to act. This will boost your conversion rates considerably. Whether it’s to make an appointment or give a gift, nothing will spur that action quicker than a well-crafted video.
- Videos work on multiple platforms: One video can be a tool used across multiple platforms. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. A video used on your website can easily be uploaded to social media. Just be sure you are using the correct format and orientation when you share. Video is great for mobile phones and since the vast majority of internet traffic comes from mobile devices, video is a tool you want on your platforms.
- Videos increase your search result ranking: Simply put, Google loves videos, especially videos embedded on YouTube. Having at least one video embedded on your website will increase your chances of being ranked higher on search results. Be sure your video content is relevant to the content on your page.
At Extend Web Services, we offer a wide variety of digital marketing tools to help you reach women in need as quickly and affordably as possible – now including video!
With any marketing tool, it is important to test out what works best for your marketing plan and keep trying new ways to increase your reach online. We hope you’ll take advantage of the new videos offered by Extend as we continue to partner with you to reach and rescue lives each day.
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Shepherd, J. (2023, May 15). 30 vital video marketing statistics you need to know in 2023. The Social Shepherd. https://thesocialshepherd.com/blog/video-marketing-statistics
Donation Drive Details
(If you need help setting up your Amazon Baby Registry, click here for a how-to guide.)
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, the champion of Dobbs, has rallied other pro-life Attorneys General who are eager to celebrate you and your life-affirming work. And your state's AG said yes! So, together, we are collecting Amazon Baby Registries from pregnancy help organizations in your state and eight others for a virtual baby shower.
if you live in Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, or Utah, your Attorney General has said "yes!" to supporting this event! If your state's Attorney General is not listed in the form below, that means that they have not committed to participate in this year's donation drive event and therefore, you will not be listed on the main page with Her PLAN. We encourage you, still, to take this idea and create your own Amazon baby registry to share with your community. This is a great way to connect with your community and provide a tangible way for them to show support for your great work!
Simply complete the form below sending us a link to your Amazon Baby Registry by June 12, 2023. That's it! We want you to capitalize on this unique, multi-state opportunity!
Complete the form below by: June 12, 2023
Event dates: June 19-24, 2023
Location: Online
Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are happy to help!
Create an Amazon Baby Registry for Your Center!
Creating an Amazon baby registry is an easy and fun way to get the items you need for your center. You can register for exactly what you need, and items can be sent directly to your center! It also allows your donors to feel even more personally connected to the moms and babies you serve as they can pick out their gifts and see what their money is going towards.
Setting up the registry is a super simple process, and we will walk you through the steps below!
1. Go to https://www.amazon.com/registries. You can go back to this link anytime to view your registry, add gifts, and make changes.
2. Click “I’m welcoming a baby”
3. Then click “Create a Baby Registry”
4. Fill out the Baby Registry form
5. Add items! Search Amazon for any item you want and click "Add to Baby Registry"
6. Complete the Donation Drive Details form here!
Talking Points & Sample Letter for Pregnancy Centers in Response to the Proposed Rule on Strengthening TANF
Talking Points
- Threat to Crucial Support Services: The Proposed Rule by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poses a significant threat to women being denied pregnancy help through the targeting of pregnancy centers and alternatives to abortion programs.
- Undermining TANF Flexibility: The Proposed Rule undermines the flexibility granted to states under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. States, designed to have autonomy in addressing the root causes of poverty, may face politically motivated decisions that contradict the original intent of TANF reforms.
- Bias Against Pro-Life Mission: The regulatory changes introduced by HHS disproportionately target pregnancy centers without presenting evidence of any misuse of federal funds. This bias against their pro-life mission raises concerns about the administration's impartiality and adherence to Congress' design for TANF.
- Lack of Comprehensive Impact Analysis: The Proposed Rule lacks a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact on federal and state expenditures, as well as the harm that withdrawing TANF funding would cause to individuals served by pregnancy centers. This oversight undermines the credibility of the proposed changes.
- Urgent Call for Withdrawal: Given the potential harm to pregnant women and their unborn babies, we urgently call for the withdrawal of the Proposed Rule. It is essential to maintain the ongoing support provided by pregnancy centers and alternatives to abortion programs, aligning with the core principles and purposes of the TANF program.
Sample Letter
Subject: Urgent Request for Withdrawal of Proposed Rule on TANF Funding for Pregnancy Centers
Dear Secretary Becerra:
We write to express our deep concern about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed rule, “Strengthening Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as a Safety Net and Work Program,” published on October 2, 2023. The Proposed Rule targets pregnancy centers and alternatives to abortion programs, jeopardizing their funding and, consequently, the crucial assistance they provide to pregnant women in need.
TANF, established in 1996, aims to address poverty's root causes and reduce dependency on government by promoting work and marriage. Pregnancy centers, with over 2,700 across the country, play a vital role in providing support to women facing difficult pregnancies, offering services like counseling, ultrasounds, and material assistance at virtually no cost. These centers, often staffed by volunteers, saved taxpayers an estimated $266 million in 2019.
The Proposed Rule raises significant concerns as it targets pregnancy centers and alternatives to abortion programs, potentially stripping them of TANF funding. This move, seemingly aligned with the Biden administration's pro-abortion agenda, is inconsistent with Congress' intent to grant states flexibility in implementing TANF reforms.
HHS's regulatory changes allow the Secretary to question the legitimacy of TANF expenditures, creating a risk of politically motivated decisions that could undermine the autonomy of states. The Proposed Rule singles out pregnancy centers without providing evidence of misuse of federal funds, revealing a bias against their pro-life mission.
Moreover, HHS fails to address the potential impact on federal and state expenditures or the harm to individuals served by pregnancy centers if TANF funding is withdrawn. The lack of comprehensive analysis undermines the credibility of the Proposed Rule.
In conclusion, we urge the immediate withdrawal of the Proposed Rule. Pregnant women and their unborn babies deserve continued support from pregnancy centers and alternatives to abortion programs. The Proposed Rule jeopardizes this support and undermines the integrity of the TANF program.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Organization]
[Contact Information]
Resources
- Read the HHS Proposed Rule Change
- Heartbeat's Life Trends
- Lozier Institute's Pregnancy Center fact sheet
Please be aware that the HHS does not cite any evidence that pregnancy centers are unlawfully using Federal funds for non-TANF purposes. (Read the Proposed Rule Change and see for yourself.)
With Every Woman, For Every Child
Heartbeat International has teamed up with the March for Life Education and Defense Fund to organize a nationwide donation drive for pregnancy centers and maternity homes! You are the backbone of what it means to build a culture of Life. We are better together in this movement, so when they proposed we partner to bless pregnancy help organizations with donations, we eagerly agreed. We are, and have always been, "with every woman, for every child."
As our thanks to you, the March for Life called on marchers and the entire pro-life community to contribute to a pregnancy help organization like yours. Watch their March for Life featured commercial below where they tout the good work of pregnancy help!
We were able to fill the March for Life website with more than 500 pregnancy centers and maternity homes nationwide so people can provide practical support in their local communities.
Feel free to share this video and the Donation Drive with your supporters and highlight the partnerships within the movement to amplify the message of hope offered through your efforts.
March for Life Nationwide Donation Drive: https://marchforlife.org/pregnancyhelp/
Option Line: Find 24/7 Pregnancy Help
Bilingual pregnancy help, plus real-time connections to nurses for telehealth consultations and to Heartbeat’s 3,500+ pregnancy help organizations worldwide.
Use the zip code locator at OptionLine.org to identify local pregnancy help locations.
Maternity Housing Coalition
Find housing availability nationwide for women. Plus, stay up-to-date on the 40+ new maternity housing programs launching in the coming year through the Heartbeat network.
Prenatal Diagnosis
Help families experiencing pressure to abort following an adverse prenatal diagnosis find life-affirming medical help 24/7 and personal support through local parent care coordinators.
Abortion Pill Rescue® Network
Direct those considering or who regret starting a chemical abortion to immediate medical help for Abortion Pill Reversal worldwide.
PregnancyHelpNews.com
Follow the latest news of global pregnancy help and stories of hope.
PregnancyHelpPodcast.com
Subscribe for updating and equipping in your pregnancy help work.
To stay connected with the life-affirming pregnancy help community, follow Heartbeat International on:
More...
November 11-15, 2024
What is Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week?
Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week was designed by Heartbeat International to honor those working within the pregnancy help movement. Through their work, women and men receive the compassionate support they need when facing a life-changing decision. They walk alongside families throughout the pregnancy and beyond, blessing them with pregnancy tests, emotional support, ultrasounds, parenting classes, and so much more at no cost.
From volunteers to executive directors, nurses to receptionists, each person working in a pregnancy help organization has been gifted with the passion to advance the culture of LIFE! And for that, we thank you!
How you can thank a Pregnancy Help Foot Soldier:
- Pray. The emotional energy given by those who work in the pregnancy help movement is extreme. They give of themselves daily. Pray for spiritual refreshment for those who go into the center today.
- Volunteer. Connect with your local pregnancy help organization and see what their needs are. You may have just the right skills to fill a need.
- Donate items. Call your local pregnancy help organization and ask them what items they need to bless a new mother (such as diapers or maternity clothes) and start collecting. Not only will you bless a center, you will bless multiple families as well.
- Give. Without the generous donations of those within the community, pregnancy centers would not be able to provide their services for free.
- Share the love. Share the good work of the pregnancy help community with your social networks. Don't know what to post? Like Heartbeat International on Facebook and/or Instagram and you'll find plenty to share!
If you haven't heard of Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week before, you should expect special deals, thank-you messages, and extra prayers this week.
Plus! We'll be holding a drawing at the end of the week where one lucky winner will get a fun gift basket from us at Heartbeat!
Click on each image to view the full-sized version. Then, save it to your device and share it on Facebook, Instagram, or post on X to show your love for the pregnancy help movement using the hashtag #ThankAPregnancyCenter
All deals are BACK! Click the 'Friday' tab above!
All deals are BACK! Click the 'Friday' tab above!
All deals are BACK! Click the 'Friday' tab above!
All deals are BACK! Click the 'Friday' tab above!
All deals are BACK until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. ET!
Heartbeat Trainings
In-Person | Online | In Print
Heartbeat International is committed to providing top-level training to the pregnancy help movement through our printed materials, on-site trainings and conferences, and online academy resources. We believe that all pregnancy help organizations should have access to quality training at all times.
In-Person
Heartbeat International is proud to offer several different in-person experiences for training and support. Our Annual Conference brings over 1,000 pregnancy help people together every spring, and in the summer we host our Pregnancy Help Institute with a variety of track options available for pregnancy help leaders. Our quarterly LOVE Approach Ultrasound Clinic championed a new form of training that connects the technical needs and the spiritual needs for medical professionals working in pregnancy help.
In addition to these excellent opportunities, organizations can schedule an on-site, in-depth consultations on a variety of topics including volunteer training, Board training, strategic planning, and more. Learn more about your options by clicking here!
Online
The Heartbeat International Academy provides life-affirming leaders, staff, and supporters with access to online workshops, forums, and courses on timely pregnancy help topics such as the abortion-minded client and how to identify victims of human trafficking. Between more than 250 live and recorded webinars, work at your pace courses, and private customized courses, there's always something at Heartbeat Academy for your team. In addition, live interactive classes are hosted regularly like ConCERT, our advanced distance learning course to take your staff to the next level in pregnancy help.
In Print
Heartbeat has a library of printed resources available for you to have at your fingertips for building an effective and healthy organization. Whether you are starting from scratch, needing some fundraising ideas, hoping to go medical, or simply training your staff, Board, and volunteers, you'll find the tool you need over at our online store.
Annual Conference
Recordings from the 2024 Conference can be purchased here.
. . . . .
Plan now to attend our Annual Conference in
Birmingham, AL | April 30 - May 2, 2025
. . . . .
Who Should Attend the Heartbeat International Annual Conference?
Heartbeat’s Annual Conference is designed for ministry leaders, staff, board members, and volunteers of life-affirming pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, maternity homes, and non-profit adoption agencies, as well as professionals in the areas of medicine, counseling, social work, and education.
Our conference offers the most dynamic training to equip ministers and empower ministries worldwide in the pregnancy help community through the largest international Pregnancy Help Conference, this year both in-person and online!
There will be plenty to learn in person with the following trainings available:
- Unique, Professional Keynote Sessions
- Distinctive, Full-Day In-Depth Training Sessions
- Workshop Presentations from Ministry Experts
- And much more!
In-Person Schedule At-A-Glance
MONDAY
Pre-Conference In-Depth Day Check-In
TUESDAY
In-Depth Day Check-In
In-Depth Day training
Lunch & Keynote
Conference Check-In
Conference Check-In
Exhibit Hall OPEN
Opening Lunch & Keynote
Workshop Session A
Workshop Session B
Dinner & Parade of Nations
THURSDAY
Workshop Session C
Worship & Keynote
Afternoon Break, Receptions & Prayer Ministry
FRIDAY
Morning Worship & Keynote
Workshop Session D
Lunch & Keynote
Workshop Session E
Workshop Session F
Closing Banquet & Keynote
Conference Check-in begins:
The Exhibit Hall will open on:
The official Conference begins on:
Virtual Schedule At-A-Glance
WEDNESDAYOpening Session
Workshop Session 1
Workshop Session 2
Workshop Session 3
Workshop Session 4
Closing Session
THURSDAY
Opening Session
Workshop Session 5
Workshop Session 6
Workshop Session 7
Workshop Session 8
Closing Session
FRIDAY
Opening Session
Workshop Session 9
Workshop Session 10
Workshop Session 11
Workshop Session 12
Closing Session
Conference Location
Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC)
2101 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N,
Birmingham, AL 35203
Hotel Information (Group code will be in your Conference Registration Confirmation)
Pregnancy Help Institute
Not your Typical Ministry. Not your Typical Training.
The Pregnancy Help Institute has provided thousands of pregnancy help leaders with professional training. Over time, this training has added key elements vital to the pregnancy help movement as services expand.
This year is no different. Our 2025 Pregnancy Help Institute will be July 21-25 in Columbus, OH. Start planning now! Watch for registration to open in early May!
The Pregnancy Help Institute dives deep into core topics useful both in the pregnancy help movement and in life. Organized under four intensive tracks (New Director, Development, Media, and Leadership), the Pregnancy Help Institute integrates executive-level instruction in a small-group environment, where you'll have the unparalleled opportunity to process information and strategies with experts and fellow front-line pregnancy help leaders. (Looking for ultrasound training? Click here!)
The New Director Track - for Directors with less than 3 years of experience
"I cannot imagine a more fitting training to kick off this new position. I left challenged, inspired, feeling connected to others in the movement. I am humbled and blessed."
If you have less than three years of experience in directing a life-affirming pregnancy center, medical clinic, maternity home, or nonprofit adoption agency, the New Director training is perfect for you. When you combine the wisdom gained from this training with your calling from the Lord, you are truly prepared to navigate effectively, avoid pitfalls, and increase your effectiveness as a leader. Facilitated by Heartbeat International staff with years of experience in pregnancy help leadership, you'll be in good hands.
Designed for Directors with less than 3 years of experience leading a pregnancy help organization.
Topics include:
- Keys to a Healthy Organization
- Strategic Planning
- Board Governance
- Volunteer Recruitment, Retention, & Training
- Core Client Programs
- Development — Raising Friends and Funds
- Staff Growth & Development
- Energizing Tips to Maintain Focus
The Development Track - for Fundraisers
"I am new to this field and have come away feeling equipped to make suggestions and push back on old systems and events that are less effective. I am excited to foster relationships with our supporters and to see where these relationships take us."
Advancing development through a more robust understanding of the nature and ministry of development is at the heart of this track. Anyone with responsibility for donor development or a part of the development plan will benefit from this advanced training. Seasoned pregnancy help leaders will join Cindi Boston-Bilotta, Leanna Baumer, Terri Barnhart, and Frances Lacson from Heartbeat's Mission Advancement team to provide a comprehensive view of a healthy development planning, follow-through, and steps for funding your mighty mission.
Designed for those whose role includes donor development within a pregnancy help organization.
Topics include:
- Biblical Foundations for Fundraising
- Setting Goals and Targets
- Funding Your Mission - Starting and Building
- Creating & Maintaining Monthly Support
- Developing Church Relationships
- Building Major Gift Relationships
- Writing Effective Grants
- Communicating with Financial Partners
- Creating Effective Direct Appeals
The Media Track - for Leaders
"I am new to this field and have come away feeling equipped to make suggestions and push back on old systems and events that are less effective. I am excited to foster relationships with our supporters and to see where these relationships take us."
The Pregnancy Help Institute's Media Training will take you on a transformative journey! Join us in empowering your team to navigate media interactions with finesse, foster positive relationships with reporters, and uphold ethical standards, ensuring your message resonates authentically with the world. In this track, we will delve into media landscapes as they relate to pregnancy help, empowering staff with a deeper understanding of various media types and trends. Through interactive sessions, we will unpack the impact of effective communication on public perception, while equipping participants with practical tools to create compelling messaging tailored to diverse audiences and platforms. We will also prioritize personal development by providing public speaking tips, immersive mock interviews, and on-camera practice to bolster confidence. Sessions will include media protocols, interview techniques, relationship building, crisis communication, and continuous improvement. Designed for leaders who want to refine their interview skills.
Designed for leaders within a pregnancy help organization.
Topics include:
- Media protocols
- Interview techniques
- Crisis communications
- Mock interviews
The Leadership Track - for Seasoned Leaders
"The leadership track went beyond expectations. For the first time in a long time, I was challenged in the area of strategic thinking, and I learned a lot that I will carry with me through life as a ministry leader, mother, and wife."
Created for seasoned leaders, the Leadership track contains concepts developed by Built to Lead, an executive coaching program that has trained CEOs, presidents, and ministry leaders nationwide. Here, you will learn proven techniques on how to lead effectively both at work and in your personal life and practice those methods throughout the week. Alumni are welcome to return for this track at any point for more training and refreshment!
Designed for seasoned leaders who want to invest in their ministry through leadership development.
Topics include:
- Personal Leadership Development
- Goal Setting
- Team Building
- Leadership Growth (Leading Leaders)
All Training Tracks will have prerequisite work that must be completed before attending the Pregnancy Help Institute. The list of prerequisites will be included in your registration confirmation
Hotel Information
Check back for 2025 hotel information!
5 reasons you need to come to Pregnancy Help Institute
- It’s corporate training at a non-profit cost.
Businesses nationwide use Built to Lead to train CEOs, Presidents, and Boards in Leadership Training. We have partnered with these executive coaches to bring you business training at a price you can afford. - It’s far more dynamic and personal than a conference.
Conferences, specifically the big annual ones, are incredible. There are so many people to meet and so much to learn, but sometimes you need more personalized in-depth training. Pregnancy Help Institute is intentionally sized for an intimate learning environment. Pregnancy Help Institute provides individual interaction and personal feedback to help you grow in your role and increase your effectiveness. - It’s vital to invest in yourself.
"We must all learn to lead ourselves with excellence before we can lead a team towards excellence. In other words, we believe that excellence achieved individually will spread organizationally." - Built to Lead’s Belief - A burst of training can take you a long way.
One week can literally revolutionize your personal leadership as well as grow your knowledge and understanding. Working with trainers and fellow participants over an extended time yields an exponential return on your investment of time. - The relationships you build will be powerful.
There's nothing more powerful than realizing you're not alone, and at Pregnancy Help Institute, you are surrounded by people not only who share your values, but also are close to you on the same journey.
Pregnancy Help Institute training qualifies for the Life Affirming Specialist (LAS) designation.