As a nonprofit organization, you know that you live and die by the number and amount of donations you receive.
Not only is it important to get these donations so that you can pay your employees, there are very real consequences to you not hitting your goals.
If your numbers are lower than you’d like, you need an immediate solution.
The answer?
Digital marketing for nonprofits.
But what are the most effective ways to get your website in front of more eyes — and collect more donations in the process?
Keep on reading this post to find out.
Take Advantage of Facebook
The first stop when it comes to developing a non profit digital marketing strategy?
Facebook.
Not only is the social media platform an awesome way to engage with your followers, track your analytics, and keep the people who support your organization updated about the progress you’re making.
It’s also an incredible way to raise funds.
Now, you no longer have to worry about renting out a space, paying for an expensive dinner, and curated a well-heeled guest list for a fundraising event. Instead, you can raise funds digitally — through Facebook.
So, how does it work?
Your first step should be to upload your entire donor list to Facebook. This will allow you to quickly send out updates and invites them to “follow” your nonprofit on Facebook.
After all, over 25% of donors say that social media is what reminds them to give and influences the causes they end up giving to.
Next, use the platform’s fundraising tools to get more donations. We especially love that it’s completely free to nonprofits, and Facebook even has matching funds for certain organizations.
Simply upload a fundraising page, and Facebook will let everyone know that you’re raising money for a great cause!
You’ll be able to track your progress, and even see an individual list of both donors and amounts. This way, you can give them a special shoutout to say thanks.
Create a Blog
Of course, Facebook isn’t the beginning and end of online marketing for nonprofits.
You should also consider creating a blog.
Not only is this an amazing opportunity to create long-form content that makes a genuine emotional connection with your readers. It also allows you to up your SEO strategy through the inclusion of links and keywords.
You’ll rise in search engine rankings if you include links to your past blog posts (and other internal site pages) in your new posts.
When it comes to keywords (the words people type into Google when they’re looking for a nonprofit like yours) blog posts are the best way to work them in. The more keywords your website includes, the more likely you’ll be able to connect with the people who are the most likely to give — because they’re already trying to find you.
Plus, blogging tells Google and other search engines that you update your nonprofit’s website often. This will only help you to rank higher in the search engine result pages.
Upload Engaging Video Content
An often-overlooked side of digital marketing for nonprofits?
Creating video content.
While blog posts are informative and shareable, remember that YouTube is officially the second most popular search engine in the world.
Plus, not everyone will have the time or the interest in reading a longer blog post. You need to get your organization’s name in front of as many people as possible.
Especially if you’re looking to advertise an upcoming campaign or raise awareness about your nonprofit in general, two minutes and under is the sweet spot when it comes to length.
Make sure that you also include keywords in your video description, your video title, and even within the video tags.
Additionally, don’t neglect the way you choose to categorize your video. YouTube allows you to get incredibly specific. So, instead of nonprofits, aim for something such as, “educational nonprofit” or “international women’s rights nonprofit.”
Make Donating Easy
The final step in developing a digital marketing strategy for nonprofit organizations?
Above all, you need to make it as easy as possible for people to give.
While sending out email blasts, participating in causes like Giving Tuesday, and creating engaging content is certainly helpful, the ease of donation makes more of an impact than you might think.
Remember, not everyone is going to have the time to comb through your entire website to familiarize themselves with everything about your nonprofit. Especially if they’ve been asked for donations by a friend or family member, they’re probably looking to give and go.
While that may not be ideal, remember that an initial donation is an amazing opportunity to form a lasting partnership with a donor.
Always put your donation button at the top of your page. Make it bright, bold, and easy-to-read!
Digital Marketing for Nonprofits Doesn’t Have to be Difficult
We hope that this post has helped to take some of the guesswork out of effective digital marketing for nonprofits.
Remember, it’s all about creating video and blog content, conducting thorough keyword research, making donating as easy as possible, and getting seriously active on Facebook.
Looking for more advice about how you can take your digital marketing strategy for nonprofit organizations to the next level?
We’re here to help you do just that.
Spend some time on our website to get access to countless invaluable tips, and be sure to contact us to learn more about how we can help you to raise the funds you need.