In addition to the inconsistent ROI presented by in-person events and our culture's recent turn toward "paperless communication," mobile fundraising has become a logical and increasingly popular choice nowadays, especially as Zenith reports that the average American spends over three and a half hours using mobile Internet everyday (that figure is expected to increase to more than four hours by next year). To take advantage of this digital wave, below are some top tips on how to create mobile funding solutions for your nonprofit.
Send out texts
Going mobile doesn't necessarily have to mean going online. Sending text messages to update donors on your campaign progress, invite them to events, and thank them for their support can go a long way in making your donors feel truly part of your progress. Business 2 Community's guide to writing a memorable donor thank you note highlights the importance of keeping your messages short and sweet, which is an important tip to keep in mind for text messages. To avoid being clunked as spam, make sure to keep your messages concise but still engaging.
You might even want to send an uplifting note every once in a while just to add that personal touch!
Optimize your website
Before looking into new outlets and platforms your organization can tap into, you should first look to optimize what you already have – your website. Your website will still be the main landing page for all your visitors, so you should make sure that your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Taking care of the little details such as the visibility of the donate button or the amount of text on a page all comes together to create a pleasing experience for visitors. The more time your visitor spends clicking around your website, the more they'll be able to get a better idea of what your organization (and mission) is about.
Use social media
Regardless of your target audience, chances are they have at least some sort of social media presence. This is why Maryville University’s researchers cite digital marketing as one of the marketing industry’s most in-demand skills.
If you're seeking help from marketing agencies, you'll need to be sure that their proposed marketing plan contains scheduled social media posts to boost engagement. Indeed, any comprehensive mobile fundraising campaign needs to take social media into account. The trick is to understand how each of the major platforms function in order for you to tailor your content to suit.
Try fundraising platforms
Setting up a funding page should only be done once you've mastered the first three steps; after all, it's hard to create an engaging pitch if users end up clicking away to see that your website is clunky or that your social media presence is non-existent. That being said, a properly utilized fundraising campaign is a great mobile solution for fundraisers. Most fundraising sites make it easy for donors to pay and get automatic updates on projects they've supported, which means all you'll need to do is give updates on your progress and create engaging content.
Our previous post on Why Promoting Community Philanthropy is Urgent Work for Us All emphasizes just how crucial the spread of information is in order to champion any given cause. Since our phones have become almost an extension of us, it's only natural that fundraising solutions have now gone mobile to increase visibility and garner support.