I learned of the devastation from Nashville flooding via social media. The flood, however, happened a couple days ago. The flooding in Tennessee is no longer the top news story. The news has moved on. Thankfully, due to social media, the stories are there for us to follow.

I saw the pictures, cried.

My immediate thoughts were of my friends at Raven Tools in Nashville, TN. Fortunately, Alison Groves posted, “Nashville, Our City.”

Nashville, Our City by Alison Groves of Raven Tools

Unfortunately, a couple of the Ravens were left temporarily homeless, and the office suffered as well.

Nashville suffered from flooding that destroyed huge parts of a beautiful city … homes, memories and historical landmarks. I learned via Twitter that Memphis and part of Arkansas and our US Navy base was also flooded.

Where does one start when trying to help out such wide-spread devastation?

Give to a local nonprofit.

Nashville Flood Relief

I chose to give to a local Nashville organization that doesn’t have a large administrative overhead, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, per Alison’s recommendation on the Raven blog.

Give a little extra to cover the cost of processing. They did a nice job explaining that here:

Nashville Flood Relief - give a little extra

Local Giving & Nonprofits

Raven Tools recently launched a contest to give 10 nonprofits a year’s worth of Raven Tools for FREE to help them with their marketing efforts. Now, THAT’S giving back!

Alison mentioned their Nonprofit Jumpstart program in the “Nashville, Our City” blog post:

We at Raven are so grateful to work and live in such an amazing community of good neighbors and caring people. We know there are plenty of organizations in other communities doing great work every day that are under the radar. If there’s an organization in your area that you love, be sure to nominate them for our Nonprofit Jumpstart program. We want to give back to those who serve us in our cities every single day.

Nonprofit Jumpstart by Raven Tools

Raven Tools was already giving BEFORE they were in need themselves!!!!!! Their nonprofit program started BEFORE the Tennessee flooding.

High five, Raven Tools!

Recovery

Alison took the time to say “thank you” via Twitter, noting that it’s going to take Nashville a long time to recover.

Nashville is going to take a long time to recover!

People have lost more than memories and collectibles. They lost essentials to live. They have air to breath, but what about clean water to drink? Dry, clean food? Imagine the filth and bacteria from the river flooding every crevice of your home, including your toothbrushes….

How do they recover?

Are you willing to walk alongside them with your support?

Give to a local nonprofit who can help directly. Then nominate a nonprofit for a year’s worth of Raven Tools to help jumpstart them in their marketing efforts.

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

Nashville Flood Relief & Raven Tools

I am thankful for WordStream for more than your free keyword tool. Here’s a “Thank you” for a number of reasons. I can’t say it enough!

Thank you, Wordstream!

You give so much and deserve even more in return!

NEW! Free Keyword Tool

The launch of your new Free Keyword Research Tool is a gift to the SEO/SEM industry! FREE? It’s not a “token” tool. You gave me the opportunity to beta test it. I compared it against the other tools in my arsenal. I kept wondering how you could give us so much?

• You have given anyone who plans search engine optimization efforts and pay-per-click campaigns access to hundreds, thousands, over 1 billion unique keywords!
• You lowered the bar to entry for those who were limited to only 100 keywords with WordTracker’s free keyword research tool.
• You have given us fast results, almost like lightening, from a database broader than Google’s AdWords keyword suggestion tool, which means the keywords are not Google-biased!
• You wrapped up all this data in an easy-to-use interface that trumps NicheBot – enough said there.
• You help marketers clearly see into user behavior through search, through the keywords users use to search, to find their interests, needs, desires.
• You have given us the ability to make better decisions with more information, so we can meet customer needs and provide them with targeted content while helping us drive sales!

Wordstream Free Keyword Tool

• You have given us intelligence!

Thank you for this fast, free keyword research brain!

Free SEO & PPC Information

I cannot stay away from your Internet Marketing Blog. I have to exhibit discipline to stop reading it!

You share information and latest industry news beyond SEO & PPC. You take the time to share tips, resources, ways to help others be successful, productive and profitable.

You are genuine on Twitter and have an active account, sharing quality information. And you even take the time to document your #FollowFriday lists! There you go again, thinking and giving outside the box!

You are not the only one sharing information. Look at how people are talking about you …

Topsy Real-Time Search for Wordstream

Topsy.com shows 253 mentions of you in real-time search for you this past month (and that’s just what got indexed)!

It’s easy to see why Topsy considers @WordStream Twitter profile as “Highly Influential.” People are talking about you. You are talking back, listening, and giving back!

On the subject of giving …

A Special WordStream Gift

Dana is proud of her WordStream Vest!

A high-quality, WordStream-embroidered Lands End vest arrived at my door!

And you sent ME a “thank you” card and gift?

I will wear your gift with pride!

I’ve listed only a few reasons for my gratitude. However, I have much more to say and share about you, your tools, your solutions and your team. EACH member of the WordStream team is as dynamic as your keyword tool!

I look forward to using WordStream to help others. So, consider all your giving as paying it forward. I plan to do the same!

I don’t know how to thank you enough …

Can you hear the jingle of this card:

“Thanks a lot! Much gratitude! Danke! Muchas Gracias! Merci Beaucoup!”

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

Free Keyword Tool! Thank You, WordStream!