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Social Media for Small Nonprofits: 10 Essential Tips for Success
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Social media marketing is an affordable and impactful way for nonprofits to connect with their target audiences, generate awareness for their causes, and support those in need.
Social media is an affordable and impactful way for nonprofits to connect with target audiences
Figuring out how to create an engaging social media presence can be tricky, though, especially with so many accounts vying for online attention.
If you’re struggling with your nonprofit’s social media accounts, this guide can help. Discover ten essential tips for promoting nonprofit organizations below.
1. Enroll as a Nonprofit
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If you run a charity or another nonprofit, be sure to enroll as a nonprofit when creating your social media accounts. Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, and Pinterest all offer these options for organizations like yours.
Enrolling as a nonprofit adds validity to your group. It also provides access to dedicated resources that help you maximize your presence on specific platforms.
2. Include Donation Buttons
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Facebook and Instagram also allow nonprofits to add donation buttons to their posts. If you’re trying to raise money for a specific cause, donation buttons make it easy for your followers to contribute.
By removing barriers to entry and simplifying the donation process, you’ll be amazed at how many more contributions you receive.
Example: Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary has a dedicated page (with a prominent donation button) for people who want to give money to elderly dogs in need.
3. Use a Content Calendar
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Working for a nonprofit often means long hours, tight budgets, and even tighter schedules. If you find yourself skipping social media content creation and posting because you have too many other things on your plate, consider using a content calendar.
Planning content in advance helps you know what to post and when
Planning content in advance helps you know what to post and when. It also ensures you don’t miss holidays or other important dates for people interested in causes like yours.
4. Share Stories
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Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to connect with potential donors, volunteers, and others who may want to support your organization.
Ask people who have worked with your nonprofit in the past to share their experiences and talk about how you helped to make a difference in their lives. You can also interview a long-time volunteer, so your followers can learn about the organization from their perspective.
Example: Time to Change Campaign regularly shares stories about the importance of small conversations on mental health.
5. Use AI Tools to Create Posts
Hookle AI Assistant
Nonprofits can use AI tools such as ChatGPT or OpenAI to create high-quality social posts that save time and resources, generate content ideas, and suggest hashtags. This enables them to deliver meaningful messages, engage their audience, and drive support for their cause.
AI-powered social media marketing apps like Hookle enable small nonprofit organizations to not only generate but also schedule posts with a simple click of a button.
Generating social media posts with AI may sound daunting, but trying it out can bring surprising results. Don't be intimidated by the technology - give it a try and see the benefits it can bring to your social media strategy!
6. Create Hashtag Campaigns
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Hashtags help people find content on social media. They also help people feel that they’re part of something bigger than themselves and can encourage your followers to spread awareness of your organization.
Hashtags help people find content on social media
Example: Know Your Lemons (a global nonprofit supporting breast cancer education) uses the popular #KnowYourLemons hashtag.
7. Connect with Your Local Audience
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Don’t forget about the power of local tools (like your free Google Business Profile) to connect with people in your area and get them excited about supporting your organization.
Claim your free profile today and start updating it with photos, answers to frequently asked questions, and other content that encourages interest in your nonprofit.
8. Post on Your Followers’ Preferred Platforms
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Think about the people you’re trying to reach with your nonprofit. Then, consider which platforms they use most often. This blog post might help you choose the right platform for your nonprofit.
If you want to support professionals (or encourage them to support others), make sure you’re present on LinkedIn. If you want to encourage more young people to support your cause, up your TikTok game.
9. Use a Social Media Scheduling App
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A social media scheduling app, especially combined with a content calendar, is an excellent way to save time without sacrificing your social media presence. Use these kinds of apps (such as Hookle) to plan what and when you want to post and ensure you stick to a consistent schedule.
10. Review Analytics Regularly
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Pay attention to your post and social media profile analytics. Find out what posts receive the most attention and learn about the types of people who follow your profiles. This data will help you tailor your content to your target audience.
Final Thoughts
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Effective social media marketing for nonprofits requires a solid strategy. Use the ten tips discussed above to create a plan that helps you reach potential donors, volunteers, and others who can support your organization.
Use scheduling apps such as Hookle to save your time - generate posts effortlessly and schedule/publish content on multiple platforms simultaneously.
Download the Hookle app and try it out today!
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