11 Social Media Marketing Tips for Non-Profits

If you’re a volunteer or an employee of a non-profit organization, but are not sure which social media tools you should use as part of your marketing plan, here are some very effective tools I’d like to share with you.

First, let’s go over the basics of a non-profit marketing plan. 4 basic items to consider:

•    Who are you trying to engage?
•    What are you trying to achieve?
•    What are the tools you’re going to use? (Don’t worry, I got you covered)!
•    What will your marketing plan’s results look like when you’re done?

You need a solid marketing plan (much like creating a business plan, I’d create both). The above four pointers are a good place to start. To implement your plan, you’ll need some great social media tools. The following are the most desirable (in my humble opinion) social media tools best used for campaigns specific to non-profit-organizations:

•            Search for key word terms (for example, pet rescue) on search.twitter.com. You will find twitter users who are speaking about pets or pet rescues. I would start by following them, and than reaching out to them, by asking them to visit your blog, or view your YouTube videos. DO NOT TRY TO SELL THEM ANYTHING, OR ASK FOR IMMEDIATE DONATIONS. If you do that, they will surely block you, or unfollow you.
•            Create a fundraising campaign organized with twitter. Click to read their guidelines for non-profits.
•            Promote awareness of your cause using Facebook and Twitter via Twibbon.
•            Organize a petition with act.ly. I actually think this is a nifty tool to reach groups, organizations, or famous people who might share a mutual passion for your cause. This is by far my favorite social media tool for raising awareness.
•            Create a cause, and add it to your organization’s Facebook page.
•            Add your blog’s feed to your fan page wall via the Notes application.
•            Add your events to your Facebook fan page.
•            Ask your Facebook fans to upload videos which support your organization. (For example: if you create YouTube videos, be sure they have happy endings, and allow these videos to be embedded by others). Take a look at Hope For Paw’s videos. They are the perfect example!
•            Apply for a designated nonprofit YouTube Channel. This is an incredible tool. I love it. Be sure that your videos have a happy ending, not a sad one! Encourage your supporters to engage and upload video responses.
•            My absolute other favorite tool- the Google for Nonprofits. The benefits after you’ve been approved for eligibility is incredible. Apply Here.
•            Be sure that your website or blog has a “Share This” widget.

I have two passions in life, my first, animal rights advocacy, and second, I am a social media marketing aficionado. I sincerely hope that these tools help you raise the funds your worthy cause surely deserves. I’ve armed you with more than enough information and tools to run your very own non-for-profit marketing campaign. However, you will need to dedicate a lot of time for your cause to succeed. You may need the help of additional volunteers. If you have the funding for it, you should absolutely consider a professional social media marketing agency to help run your campaign. Feel free to contact me to discuss a possible non-for-profit marketing campaign.