Social media is another tool nonprofits and churches can use for marketing. Nonprofits are now depending on social media to share their mission and raise funds more than ever before.
Social media is popular for organizations because of the limited costs involved. Nonprofits and churches can create numerous accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, etc for no extra cost. They can post daily, raise funds and connect with new donors through the apps. 55% of people who learn about an organization on social media end up taking action in some way. That means they are getting a 50% return on practically free activity!
This article will explain why social media is crucial for nonprofits today and how organizations can get the most out of their social media campaigns.
Actual Client Data
When social media first became popular, nonprofits and churches assumed it would be the best way to connect with younger donors. Organizations that did not have a strong younger donor base may have felt social media wasn’t worth the time and energy. However, today, social media has become an essential tool for the majority of the population. In fact, 72% of people use some sort of social media daily.
Social media offers several benefits for nonprofits and churches. Whether your organization wants to raise awareness to a cause, spread the word about your mission and programs, find more donors, or increase your website’s search engine optimization (SEO), social media is the best way to reach your goals with little to no extra cost.
1. Reach a larger audience
Nonprofits and churches are always looking for more event attendees, donors or volunteers. Advertising in your local media can be costly, and other free promotion opportunities can be time-consuming and have shown few results. Since social media’s creation, organizations have found free and paid advertising options that help expand their outreach and grow their audience.
Online advertising is another way nonprofits and churches can find more supporters and donors. Online ads generally cost less and can reach a larger audience. National nonprofits can benefit from purchasing social media ads that target individuals based on their age, location, interests and online activity.
2. Keep donors engaged
A top concern for nonprofits is how to turn a one-time donor or event attendee into a recurring donor. Recurring donations are of enormous benefit to a nonprofit or church because that is money they can count on and add to their annual budget.
Finding ways to turn one-time donors into long-term supporters is not easy. Social media gives organizations the tools to keep donors engaged and interested in the activities the organization does. With daily posts, videos, questionnaires, and even games, nonprofits can keep donors amused, education, and coming back for more.
3. Helps recruit and activate volunteers
Like donors, nonprofits and churches have difficulties holding onto good volunteers. After all, these are the people doing work for free, so you cannot expect them to stick around forever.
If an organization cannot keep their volunteers engaged or find replacements for lost volunteers, they will find themselves in deep trouble. Social media gives organizations creative and unique ways to find new volunteers, stay connected with current volunteers and keep volunteers active. Peer-to-peer and crowdfunding campaigns on social media also allow nonprofits to use volunteers to fundraise and spread awareness about the organization.
4. Increase your SEO
One of the easiest ways to raise your ranking on search engines is through social media. By sharing blog posts on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram, you are helping Google index your organization and better understand what your organization offers.
Nonprofits and churches can increase brand recognition and create more backlinks that send people directly to their website by adding regular posts across various social media accounts. When people search for your nonprofit or church, they will likely turn to Google. So the more active your social media accounts are, the more likely your nonprofit or church will be found.
Final Thoughts
Nonprofits and churches can use social media for spreading the word about their mission to raising funds for their programs. Thanks to the affordability of this tool and the potential for creative new ideas, organizations of every size have found fun ways to use social media to raise funds, advocate and spread their mission.
Marilyn Jeanne Designs, LLC has previously shared an article about how “marketing” is NOT a bad word for nonprofits. You should check it out for an in-depth insight before creating your next social media fundraising campaign.
Marilyn Jeanne Designs is a full-service marketing agency for nonprofits and churches. We give organizations a chance to meet new donors through social media management, social media marketing, marketing consultations, print design and custom branded merchandise. Visit our FREE Facebook group to learn more about how you can leverage digital marketing for your nonprofit or church and sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive a FREE resource!
Comments