Non-profits Need to Get Web Savvy
I have discovered lately that several non-profit organizations struggle with new web-based ways of creating awareness and gaining support for their causes. Perhaps a new marketing plan is needed? Here are some tactics to consider:
1. Set up Google Analytics (free web-based tool) to monitor website traffic.
Goals: Find out where your website visitors are coming from and what they are looking at, get ideas for making improvements. Determine which marketing efforts are working for you.
2. Create a Facebook page for your non-profit. You don’t have to pay monthly maintenance fees, but time and effort is required to build and update your Facebook page.
Goal: Develop new and nurture existing relationships. Facebook is also great for Event Marketing, announcements, fund raising campaigns and community building.
3. Write and distribute online press releases – submit to PRWeb (online press release engine). Include images (photos), links to videos.
Goals: Reach media, improve search engine optimization, attract new donors, create awareness.
4. Email marketing – collect donors’ and supporters’ email addresses, create an email marketing list. Sign up for Constant Contact – free for 60 days, makes it easy for you to distribute monthly newsletters, invitations, even surveys via email. Constant Contact has built-in tracking features, people can unsubscribe easily if they don’t want to get your messages.
Goal: Strengthen current relationships and reach new audiences. Streamline sending thank you notes.
5. Convert your non-profit website to a content management system such as WordPress so that staff can make changes without having html or programming knowledge.
Sample great non-profit WordPress website: Riverkeeper
Goal: Make it easy for your staff to post fresh content. WordPress websites come with built-in SEO.
6. Consider Convio – high end turnkey solution, online system for non-profits, comes with built-in donor management, e-commerce and communications system.
7. Add additional ways to collect donations, for example PayPal. People can donate by using their credit card, bank account, PayPal account, etc. You need to submit your organization’s tax letter and bank statement proving nonprofit status to PayPal.
No monthly fees.
Goal: Streamline collecting and tracking donations.
You can also hire a digital marketing coach who will help you create a new marketing plan and help you reach your goals.