Nonprofit organizations always have the challenge of keeping donors engaged. With so much competition out there, standing out from the crowd is even more of a challenge. It is kind of ironic to say that the fierce competition out there is the bane of most nonprofits. Add the spotty economy to the mix and you have a combination that keeps many nonprofit managers up at night. Finding a way to tackle these hurdles is top priority. To get your nonprofit organization recognized and in front of these motivated donors, you need to get your internet marketing planned and implemented.
However, the issue at hand is that nonprofits operate on limited budgets, relying on donations and grants. A cost-effective way to make your nonprofit organization stand out from the competition is to use internet marketing. More and more people are using the convenience of the internet to explore donation opportunities. They also take advantage of the opportunity to make donations online when possible. Being able to click a few buttons is easier than writing a check for many people.
If that doesn't convince you that you need to beef up your online presence, maybe a statistic from the Blackbaud Index of Online Giving would help. In the third quarter of 2012, there was an almost 2 percent increase in online giving while overall giving decreased by almost 4 percent. Obviously, there are donors out there who are finding online giving their preferred method. Smart nonprofits are realizing this and positioning their organizations to take advantage of this.
What can internet marketing do for your donation efforts?
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Engage your target audience
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Keep your nonprofit in front of past donors
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Update your audience on your recent efforts and achievements
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Promote new initiatives
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Make calls for emergency donations when needed
That is just a bit of what you can do when you engage your ideal audience with targeted internet marketing. You can do that with blogging, social media, SEO, and keyword strategy. (We'll get into each of these individual topics more soon.) All of those tactics will give you the online presence that donors want to see. This kind of marketing requires an understanding of how Internet users seek nonprofits and how to position your organization in a way that they can find you.
Where do you find time to spread your nonprofit's message?
If you work at or run a nonprofit organization, you most likely have your hands full, leaving little to no time for marketing strategies. Have you thought about using social media to your organization’s advantage? What about blogging about your personal experience with your nonprofit, such as volunteer work? When you are ready to concentrate your efforts on growing your nonprofit organization through digital marketing, you need an experienced internet marketing agency, such as ROI Online, to handle your internet marketing efforts. Several of our clients are nonprofit organizations, and we have helped them expand their online presence and engage with potential donors through social media and blogs. With your limited budget in mind, ROI Online can customize a cost-effective plan that works just for your nonprofit.
There are limitless tools available online that your nonprofit can take advantage of. Ask yourself, what marketing tactics you are currently using, and really ponder their effectiveness. Would you like to see an increase in donations, or more willingness from your community to give back? What issues are you currently facing with growing your nonprofit? Share your thoughts!
