Nonprofit marketing is similar to other kinds of marketing in several ways. But then, nonprofits have one big challenge that other organizations don’t face – a lack of funds. It means that nonprofits cannot allocate substantial money to marketing by mainly depending on donations and sponsorships.
However, nonprofits have no option other than using the little they have to attract their cause. But then, this means they need to ensure that every penny invested in marketing counts. This article will look into some marketing strategies that can help a nonprofit reach its marketing goals.
Let’s check them out below.
1. Use Google Ad Grants
Many people think pay-per-click marketing isn’t ideal for nonprofits. But then, the reality is that you do not need to pay to use PPC marketing, especially if running a nonprofit. Google helps nonprofits advertise on the world’s largest search engine for free through its Google for nonprofits program. This program helps nonprofits increase their donations and membership without spending a lot. It allows nonprofits access to several tools and services that help them increase their visibility.
You only need to know how to use Google for nonprofits and enough time to set Ad grants up. Thus, it is not entirely free because it takes a lot of time to set up. Thankfully, you receive $10,000 per month and a guarantee of thousands of visitors every month if you qualify to use this web traffic multiplier.
2. Leverage the Power of Social Platforms
Nonprofits with their meager budgets also need to venture into social media marketing. It would be best to have a vast following and a couple of organizations to spread your posts on social media. The truth is, posting online without putting money behind it to get such advocates who can share your content isn’t enough.
Thankfully, you do not need a huge budgetary allocation to be visible on social media. You can create pages on multiple platforms, post regularly, boost your content, run more advanced social media ads, etc. Leveraging the power of social media can help you reach wider audiences and increase your traffic.
3. Invest in Email Marketing
Email marketing as a marketing technique will never get out of fashion. It is one of the oldest yet most effective techniques organizations have used for marketing for years. However, it is a cheap way of marketing; you need to invest time crafting compelling emails that can generate leads for you.
One thing to remember as a nonprofit is that you need to send emails regularly to get the desired result. But then, you need to ensure that you do not bombard people on your email list with emails – an email every month is ideal. You can also use email fundraising to raise money for your nonprofit.
4. Create and Sell Mission-Related Merchandise
Another way to market your nonprofit is through products. You can create different kinds of products from mugs to t-shirts and bracelets. You can brand them with your nonprofit’s mission then sell them. This is one of the best ways that you can use to market and raise money to support your nonprofit’s cause.
You also don’t have to sell these products to make money. You can use them as bonuses during your fundraising campaigns. You can, for instance, say that anyone who donates $10 gets a free hat or bracelet. This can help attract more people into donating and will increase awareness of your brand.
5. Market Through Videos
Visuals have come up as some of the best and effective marketing elements that marketers can use today. One way to get the desired results as a nonprofit is by evoking emotions. Embedding visual aspects in your marketing campaigns can help you easily evoke emotions.
Videos are also easily shareable, which makes them better than text when it comes to digital marketing. A simple video can go viral and reach potential donors than chunks of text. You will need to invest more resources to create high-quality videos that resonate with your audience. Don’t worry though because the results are worth the effort.
6. Start a Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaign
Running a P2P campaign is another thing that should be in the mind of every nonprofit marketer. This is a campaign that you can best run when you have amassed a substantial number of followers, supporters, and email subscribers. You are likely to raise more funds from your supporters than any other source.
The best thing about running a P2P campaign is that you can raise money from people who you would have otherwise not reached. The good news is that you can also set up and run such a campaign on social media. This makes it possible to raise even with the help of your friends.
7. Consider Public Speaking
You can also increase your reach by organizing public speaking engagements. Although often underrated, speaking at public events can help you spread the word about your nonprofit as a marketer. One would argue that public speaking is more of a traditional method of reaching audiences.
The reality is that public speaking can be digitized in several ways. For instance, you can record a public speaking event and post it on social media or even allow people to download it from your website. That makes this technique both traditional and digital. The good news is that public speaking has proved to be an effective lead generation technique.
8. Invest in a Website and Blog
Investing in a website and blog for your nonprofit is essential. A website can benefit your nonprofit in several ways. First of all, it can help you build trust with your audience because they can see that you’re an expert in your field. Secondly, it can also help you increase your online donations through corporate matching programs and monthly donations.
It is also vital to have a blog where you can post content that relates to your cause. Ensure that you create high-quality content that can deliver exceptional results. You can also hire professionals to help you create content, build high-quality links, and optimize your blog for SEO.
Conclusion
Marketing for nonprofits can be tricky for various reasons. The main reason is that nonprofits, unlike businesses, have little funds to invest in marketing. But then, we have already said that the budget you set for your nonprofit’s marketing campaigns shouldn’t limit you from spreading the word about it.
Thankfully, we have provided some important insights that can help you market your nonprofit. These are smart, effective, and affordable strategies that will get your nonprofit the best results with little effort. There are also many other techniques that you can implement to succeed with marketing.
Many nonprofit owners don’t want to hear the word ‘invest.’ But then, some of these strategies, such as using social media, require a little investment to get the desired results. The good news is that they need little investments, which most nonprofits can afford.