Diving into the digital and social media world for your nonprofit can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Social media sites are the perfect platforms for nonprofit organizations to grow and build a digital media presence.
Whether it’s spreading awareness of a cause, raising money, or handling an event, social media can be used for it all. Money is scarce in this sector so social media can be a prime opportunity to gain exposure on a budget.
Let’s take a look at how you can use some of the major platforms.
Facebook can be your one-stop-shop when looking for that perfect platform; you can post almost anything: pictures, videos, blogs and related articles. It’s also the most popular social media platform – 98% of nonprofits are on Facebook.
A visual element will allow your post to gain more traction and a wider reach. Share weekly tips on your specialty area to spread awareness of your cause, actively engage with your followers, share an article, or even promote a press release.
If you’re holding a race or marathon, create a Facebook group for the participants so they can share their training tips and fundraising events. These groups can be helpful for first-time attendees to gain information from others.
Facebook can also be a great way to connect with other groups and organizations who share your same interests.
Enter into the world of hashtags and trending topics! Twitter could be one of the best places to converse with your audience. Engage with your followers as much as possible by retweeting, replying and liking posts often.
The more you retweet your followers, the more likely for them to do the same in return.
A new study found that one of out of every ten Twitter followers is fake, so don’t follow every person that follows you.
Use the 80/20 rule when sharing content, 80% should be third party content and 20% should be your own.
Most nonprofits get a majority of their money from events and galas they hold. Twitter can be used to communicate to your event-goers in real time. You can let them know of cancellations, emergencies or just to remind them of important events throughout the day.
Remember, Twitter is what you make it; you have to put in the work build a successful Twitter community.
For a visual audience, Instagram is a great tool to enhance your social media presence.
Hashtags aren’t just for Twitter; they are very important for Instagram as well. Spend some time researching relevant hashtags for your organization.
With Instagram, your organization has the opportunity to balance your charity work with workplace photos and videos as well.
So what happens when you have an Instagram account but no followers? Try contests — they’re an easy way to gain followers and enhance engagement. Give away tickets, prizes or swag to followers who tag friends in a post or re-post one of your pictures.
Keep in mind that Facebook recently acquired Instagram and the algorithm is changing; this means that instead of showing your photos in chronological order, it will now show you photos based on what it thinks you care about most.
Finally don’t be afraid to have fun, create an enjoyable and engaging space for your followers to learn and interact with your organization.
One Last Tip
It will also be beneficial to also to learn about the new social media apps that are being launched; your audience might want something new and exciting from your posts, and it’s never a bad idea to experiment with new content.
No matter which social media platform you choose it needs to be parallel to your marketing goals and objectives.
Each unique platform has its pros and cons, so you do your research on your audience and narrow down who your buyer persona or audience is before you choose the right one for your organization.
Social media is about telling a story, make each post personal and authentic to your organization. Aim to have relevant, timely and engaging content that will prompt your audience to learn more about what you do – and maybe turn into an advocate for your cause!