Looking for ways to bring attention to your nonprofit organization? You've come to the right place! At Loud+Clear, our digital marketing agency team specializes in nonprofit and start-up advertising. We know what it’s like to manage a tight budget, and to feel like you're juggling five different roles.
We also understand that the best methods of outreach and tools are constantly changing, and it can be difficult figuring out where to focus your efforts. Which is why we've compiled 8 simple tips that summarize the most important and evergreen ways of getting and maintaining attention for your nonprofit organization. From developing relationships to encouraging donations, here are some good places to start as you're developing your outreach and communications strategies.
1. Start off on a Good Note (Literally)
People are most engaged with an organization right after they sign up. Start the relationship as soon as a potential donor demonstrates interest by sending a personalized email thanking them for their engagement. Click here for some inspo, and explore sites like Mailchimp and Constant Contact to easily automate that email if you don't already have a CRM. Bonus points if you provide them with a link to a relevant blog post. Which brings me to...
2. Create ~Inbound~ Content for your Website
Inbound content does two things: 1. It keeps people on your website, engaging them with the importance of your non profit's mission. And 2. It brings people to your website through search results, as long as you use specific, relevant keywords and copy in your content (the more relevant, the better, for search ranking).
The more consistent and relevant content you produce, the more likely your audience will find you. Toot your own horn, share big news and program updates, and thank partners and donors. This can be in the form of blog posts, but can also be a webinar library, news stories highlighting your nonprofit's achievements, and any means of attracting visitors to stay on your website and learn about your cause.
3. Tell Stories
The best way to engage a person's interest is through storytelling. Center your content around this premise, and you are sure to attract more attention. For example, rather than simply asking for donations for your programs, tell a story: show the need and tell a compelling story that connects how a donor's support will solve a need and improve someone's life. Here's an example of that kind of storytelling content from a recent campaign with International Lifeline Fund.
4. Emphasize RELEVANCE
It's important to make and add content regularly to reflect your nonprofit's activity. One great way to do this is by tailoring your content to the time of year, the holidays, the current news, the national days, etc. The best way to stay on top of this is via a calendar, and we've made a free one for this very purpose! Our conscious content calendar is downloadable right to your own google calendar, and provides you with all the relevant days you might want to know about. We make one every month, but here's the link to download the most recent one.
5. Include Visuals in Every. Single. Place. You Can
According to hubspot data, coupling your content with visuals makes the content more memorable and more likely to be shared. Make sure to incorporate pictures into every blog post, and to include relevant visuals in social media postings. Gifs are also a great way to attract the eye, and a personalized gif goes a long way (see our gif-making tutorial here).
6. Utilize Social Media
Social media is the best way to directly and quickly share content and connect with your supporters where they already are. Between Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where to focus on depends heavily on who your audience is. Learn where your target donors spend their time, and tailor your use of platforms accordingly; a good way to start is with a digital audit of all your assets. Here's a link that talks more about the differences between platforms.
7. Organize and Plan your Content
By planning out your content in advance, your nonprofit will be able to stay on top of trends and maintain consistent activity (with less last minute scrambling). There are plenty of tools out there that allow you to plan and analyze your social media postings, and we've also made a comprehensive guide to social tools.
Our conscious content calendar also works as a social planning tool, complete with monthly and weekly excel tabs for you to fill out with potential content ideas. Check it out here.
8. Take on Help When You Need It
As fun as all of this creating and sharing is, there's only so many hours in the day. Shoot us an email and let's talk about ways that we can help you in expanding your outreach and driving your larger goals.
Make our day! let us know any responses and anything you think we left out.
About the Author: Jacqueline is the Social Impact Marketing Intern at Loud + Clear. She is a senior at Tufts University majoring in Sociology and Psychology, graduating in May 2021. She is originally from Miami, FL, and has a passion for creative projects within the non-profit and social impact space. Connect with her by email here.
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