What is nonprofit marketing? 8 Ways to Boost Online Efforts

Activism must be marketed to be accessible.

Social media has come a long way since the early days of MySpace and Friendster. The same goes for nonprofit organizations and their drive to leverage online communities to activate their fans and improve profits for important causes.

Implementing tools such as nonprofit CRM software ensures your organization doesn't miss out on key marketing and outreach channels. Investing in nonprofit marketing strategies is an easy and cost-effective way to establish your brand, make new contacts, and educate a wider audience.

What is nonprofit marketing?

Nonprofit marketing uses tactics and strategies to amplify an organization's cause and mission, solicit donations, and attract volunteers and supporters.

Running a nonprofit is about creating meaningful experiences and having a positive impact on people, communities, and their environment. By using marketing tactics, your organization can attract new supporters and connect with relevant donors and sponsors.

Benefits of Nonprofit Marketing

One of the main reasons nonprofits think marketing is not for them is that they see marketing as heavily focused on fundraising and asking for money for initiatives and events.

While fundraising is important for nonprofits to provide new opportunities for groups with additional funds, that shouldn't be the only time your organization shows up. Marketing for nonprofits goes far beyond asking "please send us money" to engaging with people through personalized campaigns and social media posts.

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Here are some benefits of using marketing for your nonprofit organization:

Raising awareness of your cause Solicit donations online Recruit new volunteers Share the stories of the people your business helps Foster community engagement Manage your online reputation How to develop a nonprofit marketing strategy?

Recent nonprofit statistics show that online giving is the way of the future in nonprofit marketing. Year over year, donations and brand awareness of nonprofit organizations have increased significantly by using popular marketing channels, especially social media in their broader marketing plan.

But creating a social media plan for a nonprofit presents unique challenges. Tighter budgets and fewer staff can make it difficult to battle the social media landscape. The good news is that there is a great way to market your nonprofit online.

1. Start with the basics

This first step is important to lay the groundwork for your social media strategy. Whether you're already using social media or new to the game, these questions will help your team start thinking about social media in a new way.

Questions to consider when establishing a marketing plan: What will your budget be? What already works? What can you change? What platforms will you be using? Who will manage everything? What does success look like? What will you do if you fail?

Once you have answered these questions and brainstormed with your team, you can move on to the next step in the process.

2. Define your goal

Like any good marketing plan, your social media marketing strategy should start with your goals. One of the biggest mistakes marketers tend to make is jumping on a trend just because other companies are doing it.

Going all out on social media might seem like a good idea at first, but without an idea of ​​what you want your outcome to be, it can end in a mess. You need to ask yourself what your end goal of creating a social presence is, as this will help inform your strategy.

Specifically for nonprofits, there are different options you can choose for your digital communications plan. When in doubt, trust what you know best.

Education and awareness

Nothing is more frustrating than working for a wonderful nonprofit that no one seems to know or understand. The causes you support are important, but communicating them to the public can be difficult.

Social media is a cost effective way to spread your message. You can link your followers to newsworthy articles about your work, dispel myths or misunderstandings about your nonprofit, and connect with people who haven't heard of your cause. /p>

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association is a perfect example. In 2014, they created the viral Ice Bucket Challenge, which encouraged social media users to donate to their cause and raise awareness by throwing cold buckets of ice at themselves.