It isn't just access to videos of cute cats and bad singers that may be gained using social media. Much good can be achieved here. Its true power in fact is the way it engages a wide audience. And the best use for its power is by way of causing people to feel good about themselves through nonprofit fundraising campaigns launched using the social media.
If you want to gain momentum for your nonprofit campaign, consider the following ways to utilize the tools of social media.
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. Customize your message. Each social media channel is unique, so posts should be written to fit each specific audience. Don't apply a "cut and paste" approach over different platforms. Instead, customize each post to fit the channel. For example, Twitter has a limit of 140 characters per post so brevity is a necessity, Instagram is all about pictures and imagery, and you'll need to create videos to use YouTube.
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. Accommodate other types of content. Other approaches may be found effective through this. The most response garnered by a particular post, time or week should be the direction you should aim to go to. The feedbacks of followers matters much because it will enable you to adjust your post according to what engages them. Today, some social media platforms are with analytics so you can gauge the people's response and find the most effective option.
5. Convey urgency. Social media is all about the present. Provide real-time updates on the progress of your campaign and how far away you are from meeting your goals. Seeing a post that says there is less than a few hundred dollars to go could inspire someone to pull the trigger on donating to help cross that monumental mark.
6. Concentrate on effect. Be sure that donors and volunteers are recognized via social media and be clear on how what they donate is to be used. Present a more understandable break down of the effect that their donation has in order to show results like maybe "every $50 donation buys 5 pairs of children shoes." Maybe you can come up with a "thank you video" from the recipients of the donations. You may ask volunteers and donors to give testimonies as well concentrating on the effect of their participation on your cause.
7. There should be a call to action. This is something that should be present in some of your posts in social media venues so your followers can take the succeeding step. They can be reminded to "help spread the word" or "share this" and even "get your tickets here" or "click here to donate now" should they be interested to share your story.
8. Your network could be your army. Fundraising efforts using social media may be used in line with your working hard on building a network of real-time volunteers, donors and promoters. Call for followers to share ideas and testimonials. Seek out their potential help to raise funds and promote the campaign via their own channels. Participation and expansion of network contacts may be achieved via contests. The more people are doing their own awareness campaigns about your fundraising, the more it becomes exposed to the friends and followers of your own network.
Social media can be used as a powerful tool for nonprofit fundraising. Remember to be conversational and not come on too strong. Rather than always asking for something from your followers, focus on creating a conversation around your campaign that people will want to share. Your supporters will get to know your organization better and form a connection, which will in turn, set your campaign apart from others.
Because of the campaigns and donations being "sharable" in most any well-known social media channels, InstaGive creates this online donation as a true social experience. Registration for InstaGive is simple and fast, so perhaps you'd like to learn more about this program at Truist.
If you want to gain momentum for your nonprofit campaign, consider the following ways to utilize the tools of social media.
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. Customize your message. Each social media channel is unique, so posts should be written to fit each specific audience. Don't apply a "cut and paste" approach over different platforms. Instead, customize each post to fit the channel. For example, Twitter has a limit of 140 characters per post so brevity is a necessity, Instagram is all about pictures and imagery, and you'll need to create videos to use YouTube.
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. Accommodate other types of content. Other approaches may be found effective through this. The most response garnered by a particular post, time or week should be the direction you should aim to go to. The feedbacks of followers matters much because it will enable you to adjust your post according to what engages them. Today, some social media platforms are with analytics so you can gauge the people's response and find the most effective option.
5. Convey urgency. Social media is all about the present. Provide real-time updates on the progress of your campaign and how far away you are from meeting your goals. Seeing a post that says there is less than a few hundred dollars to go could inspire someone to pull the trigger on donating to help cross that monumental mark.
6. Concentrate on effect. Be sure that donors and volunteers are recognized via social media and be clear on how what they donate is to be used. Present a more understandable break down of the effect that their donation has in order to show results like maybe "every $50 donation buys 5 pairs of children shoes." Maybe you can come up with a "thank you video" from the recipients of the donations. You may ask volunteers and donors to give testimonies as well concentrating on the effect of their participation on your cause.
7. There should be a call to action. This is something that should be present in some of your posts in social media venues so your followers can take the succeeding step. They can be reminded to "help spread the word" or "share this" and even "get your tickets here" or "click here to donate now" should they be interested to share your story.
8. Your network could be your army. Fundraising efforts using social media may be used in line with your working hard on building a network of real-time volunteers, donors and promoters. Call for followers to share ideas and testimonials. Seek out their potential help to raise funds and promote the campaign via their own channels. Participation and expansion of network contacts may be achieved via contests. The more people are doing their own awareness campaigns about your fundraising, the more it becomes exposed to the friends and followers of your own network.
Social media can be used as a powerful tool for nonprofit fundraising. Remember to be conversational and not come on too strong. Rather than always asking for something from your followers, focus on creating a conversation around your campaign that people will want to share. Your supporters will get to know your organization better and form a connection, which will in turn, set your campaign apart from others.
Because of the campaigns and donations being "sharable" in most any well-known social media channels, InstaGive creates this online donation as a true social experience. Registration for InstaGive is simple and fast, so perhaps you'd like to learn more about this program at Truist.
About the Author:
Sebastian Troup loves blogging about philantrophic solutions for businesses and non profit organizations. For more information about company charitable giving campaigns, or to get help setting up a charitable fund, please go to the Truist.com site now.
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