(Newswire.net — July 15, 2019) — Fundraising through an online program or platform can be a great way to run an efficient and successful campaign. However, making an online ask can be a challenge, especially if you’re not accustomed to interacting with donors on digital platforms. Nonetheless, it’s a simple process. Here are a few online fundraising tips to bear in mind.
Online Fundraising Tips
Some online fundraising tips to consider trying involve developing a social media strategy, merge your online and offline strategies together and more.
Develop A Social Media Strategy
Social media has become the most popular and most effective way to engage the community. The trick here is to determine where to focus your energy. Some of your social media platform options to get in touch with those around you for your fundraising ideas include:
Regardless of where you decide to post, here are a few tips for an effective strategy:
- Promote your goals and missions
- Engage with the community
- Tell your story
Once you’ve established your social media presence to tell your story, you can then post invitations, updates, information, opinions and pictures to your followers. Be sure to post about your campaigns and fundraisers, and your followers will respond.
Merge Your Online and Offline Strategies
Borrow a leaf from your in-person fundraising successes on how to strategize for your online fundraisers.
Ask yourself what motivates the community to get involved in your campaigns. For instance, if your supporters responded well to a little friendly competition during your previous campaigns or enjoy going through items that you’re selling, you can include a few gamification techniques in your online fundraisers. These can include:
- Challenges
- Points
- Levels
- Badges
Simplify the Giving Process
You have a huge responsibility to simplify the donation process and make it as easy as possible for your supporters to donate. Once your supporters make the decision to support your cause, the rest of the process should be seamless. Consider these few tips to make the donation page as simple as possible:
- Include suggested amounts, a planned gift or recurring gift options on your page.
- Customize your donation page and make sure it operates smoothly with your website
- Promote matching gifts on your donation page or website
Optimize for Mobile
More and more people are primarily using their smartphones to access the internet. As such, your donation pages and online asks need to be mobile-friendly. Some factors to keep in mind when making your online presence mobile-optimized include:
- Make sure your font is readable on a small screen
- Confirm that your email campaign loads correctly on a smartphone
- Ensure your website is up-to-date enough to be mobile-optimized or responsive.
The trick is to ensure that those who are swayed by your online asks have an easy time making their contributions.
Prioritize Follow Up Communications
One of the most critical steps in building donor relationships is following up with them after the donation. Here are some of the steps you should take after someone responds to your online ask:
- Say thank you as soon as they’ve completed their donation
- Send a thank you email with their donation receipt.
- Wait for a couple of days and say thank you again and send them a little more information on how they can get involved with your nonprofit.
In Conclusion
With these online fundraising tips, your online tasks will be as successful as your in-person ones. You’ll be able to raise all of the necessary funds for your school club, sports team, or organization.