There is more to social media than just cute videos of cats and television spoilers. There is so much good that can be achieved using the social media. Being able to engage a wide audience is the true power of the social media. And the best way to do that is by way of a nonprofit fundraising campaign where people may be positively involved in.
Here are eight simple ways you can use social media to your nonprofit fundraising campaign's advantage:
1. Consider your campaign. It's important to think through the fundamental elements of the fundraising campaign before diving into social media. What are your goals? Who is your target audience? Learn where your donors, advocates, and volunteers are and what social media platforms they prefer. Start the conversation there, rather than trying to be everywhere at once.
2. Tailor your messages. Social media channels come individually unique thus fitting for you to write posts suitable for each audience. "Cut and Paste" approach should be done away with. Try tailoring posts to fit different channels. Take note: be brief in your posts on Twitter as it comes limited to 140 characters, as opposed to Instagram which calls for visual presentations and YouTube requiring videos to make.
3. Be excited, so that the enthusiasm is contagious. Social media to begin with is indeed a two-way street which requires someone to be on the wheel in terms of the conversations. Each donor interacting should be recognized by even just simple thanks or any other response. Be "into it" by sharing or retweeting also the posts of those in the community whom you find quite influential to you. Join in the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn groups or Google+ communities in order to find companies or organizations you can connect with.
4. Experiment with different types of content. Try different approaches to see what works. If you see a particular day of the week, time, or type of post garners more response, continue in that direction. Pay attention to feedback you get from followers and adjust your posts to fit what inspires or engages them. Most social media platforms now include some type of free analytics that can be used to gauge response and measure effectiveness.
5. Urgency - a "must-stressed value." Indeed social media is concerned with the present. So, give them updates on your campaign's progress and how long before you can actually reach your goal. People are enticed by the possibility of them taking part of a monumental mark so when you call for "a few more dollars to go," they are most likely to donate.
6. Focus on impact. Use social media to thank donors and volunteers for their contribution and let them know specifically how their gift will be used. Let them see the real impact of their donation by breaking it down to show the results (i.e. "For each $50 that is donated, we can buy 5 pairs of shoes for children in need.") Consider creating a thank you video using testimonials from those receiving the benefits of the campaign. Spotlight volunteers and donors to showcase their stories and why participating in your cause is an important part of their lives.
7. Include a call to action. Don't forget to add a call to action in some of your social media posts asking your followers to take the next step. Chances are, they want to help share your story, but they might need a reminder such as "click here to donate now", "share this", "help spread the word", or "get your tickets here".
8. Transform you network into an army. The efforts you put into building a successful network of volunteers, donors and ambassadors in the real world may be linked to your efforts to use social media for your fundraising. Ask followers to share testimonials and their own ideas too. They can very well raise funds and scatter information about your campaign using their own individual links. It could also work if you launch contests to expand your list of contacts. Your fundraising campaign can gain much exposure the moment more people under you will share it to people under their own umbrella of network.
Nonprofit fundraising is possible through the powerful tool that is social media. Just remain conversational and not really aggressive. You can always opt to create a conversation evolving around your campaign which people may be willing to share over directly asking something from them. Because of this, you and your followers could form a certain connection as they learn more about your organization and consequently give your campaign the "edge" over others.
InstaGive makes online donations a truly social experience because campaigns and donations are easily sharable on all popular social media channels. Registration takes just over a minute, and you can find out more about this service at Truist.
Here are eight simple ways you can use social media to your nonprofit fundraising campaign's advantage:
1. Consider your campaign. It's important to think through the fundamental elements of the fundraising campaign before diving into social media. What are your goals? Who is your target audience? Learn where your donors, advocates, and volunteers are and what social media platforms they prefer. Start the conversation there, rather than trying to be everywhere at once.
2. Tailor your messages. Social media channels come individually unique thus fitting for you to write posts suitable for each audience. "Cut and Paste" approach should be done away with. Try tailoring posts to fit different channels. Take note: be brief in your posts on Twitter as it comes limited to 140 characters, as opposed to Instagram which calls for visual presentations and YouTube requiring videos to make.
3. Be excited, so that the enthusiasm is contagious. Social media to begin with is indeed a two-way street which requires someone to be on the wheel in terms of the conversations. Each donor interacting should be recognized by even just simple thanks or any other response. Be "into it" by sharing or retweeting also the posts of those in the community whom you find quite influential to you. Join in the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn groups or Google+ communities in order to find companies or organizations you can connect with.
4. Experiment with different types of content. Try different approaches to see what works. If you see a particular day of the week, time, or type of post garners more response, continue in that direction. Pay attention to feedback you get from followers and adjust your posts to fit what inspires or engages them. Most social media platforms now include some type of free analytics that can be used to gauge response and measure effectiveness.
5. Urgency - a "must-stressed value." Indeed social media is concerned with the present. So, give them updates on your campaign's progress and how long before you can actually reach your goal. People are enticed by the possibility of them taking part of a monumental mark so when you call for "a few more dollars to go," they are most likely to donate.
6. Focus on impact. Use social media to thank donors and volunteers for their contribution and let them know specifically how their gift will be used. Let them see the real impact of their donation by breaking it down to show the results (i.e. "For each $50 that is donated, we can buy 5 pairs of shoes for children in need.") Consider creating a thank you video using testimonials from those receiving the benefits of the campaign. Spotlight volunteers and donors to showcase their stories and why participating in your cause is an important part of their lives.
7. Include a call to action. Don't forget to add a call to action in some of your social media posts asking your followers to take the next step. Chances are, they want to help share your story, but they might need a reminder such as "click here to donate now", "share this", "help spread the word", or "get your tickets here".
8. Transform you network into an army. The efforts you put into building a successful network of volunteers, donors and ambassadors in the real world may be linked to your efforts to use social media for your fundraising. Ask followers to share testimonials and their own ideas too. They can very well raise funds and scatter information about your campaign using their own individual links. It could also work if you launch contests to expand your list of contacts. Your fundraising campaign can gain much exposure the moment more people under you will share it to people under their own umbrella of network.
Nonprofit fundraising is possible through the powerful tool that is social media. Just remain conversational and not really aggressive. You can always opt to create a conversation evolving around your campaign which people may be willing to share over directly asking something from them. Because of this, you and your followers could form a certain connection as they learn more about your organization and consequently give your campaign the "edge" over others.
InstaGive makes online donations a truly social experience because campaigns and donations are easily sharable on all popular social media channels. Registration takes just over a minute, and you can find out more about this service at Truist.
About the Author:
Sebastian Troup enjoys writing about philantrophic solutions for businesses and non profit organizations. For more information about company charitable giving campaigns, or to find help setting up a charitable fund, please go to the Truist.com website today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment