The absolute importance of Marketing on the Social Networks for Charities

Are you on Facebook?  Twitter? LinkedIn?  Instagram?  Pinterest?  Google Plus?....Do you have an email address?  No?!?!?!  Why not?  Are you living in the stone ages?

Today, the most effective and powerful tool a charity has in it's arsenal is the social networks, more importantly, Facebook.  Facebook in and of its self is its very own internet.  Everyone who is anyone is there, waiting to be marketed to and not only is the single most powerful tool to market on, its 100% FREE.  Stuck between the pictures of peoples kids, pets (which I’m guilty of), funny video’s, rants about the government, motivational pictures and quotes, there are huge companies marketing with various direct and indirect ways.  These companies spend an amazing amount of money to advertise there.  Why do you ask?  Because everyone is there…EVERYONE.  Oddly enough, many charities do not use the power of the Social Networks to advertise them and their missions.  But for this Blog, we are going to solely focus on charity fundraising events and the marketing there of.

I hear the same thing all the time “We are going to hand out flyers for our Event”, “We are posting information about how to buy tickets and all the pictures of the items on our website.”  But you never see any of the information on Facebook or other social networks. 

Let’s look at this as if you built a house.  You spend hundreds of thousands of dollars building a beautiful home tucked back in the woods.  It’s hidden behind tree’s and a long turning driveway, it’s so hidden, you can’t see it from the road.  The only thing you see is the mailbox on the side of the road.  You sit there in your beautiful new home hoping and praying people stop by to see your amazing new house,  you even cooked a huge meal for your guests, but no one ever shows up, because you didn’t invite them – That’s your website.  Your website could be incredible, offering everything you can imagine including photos and testimonials – everything.  But without something inviting them to visit it, they will not come and check it out. 

Look at the Social Networks like a huge community of people, your friends, family, supporters and many new faces and names.  These people are waiting to be shown just how great you are and more importantly, how “AWESOME” your fundraising event is going to be.  They would love to know that you are going to host a huge event…but you have to tell them, tempt them to come to your website and buy tickets.

While I was building BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising, I sat like a 3rd grader and listened to everything there was to know from my good friend, Web Designer Bob Lynch of BV Creative.  Bob would talk for hours about the importance of the Social Networks and in fact, that is how we went from a Mom & Pop start up to the Leader in Charity Fundraising in North America - through marketing on the Social Networks.  Today, we are present and active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Plus, Pinterest and obviously BlogSpot.  Why?  Because it's the #1 way to market yourself and your company (ie. your Charity and it's great work). In fact, is that the way your learned about BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising?

 

 

Bob Lynch of BV Creative Web & Graphic  Design said:

“Being present on Social Networks is vital to a charities ultimate success.  By posting photo’s and information to a waiting public, they are leaving “Bread Crumbs” to follow back to a charities website.  By utilizing Facebook to educate their supporters about their charity fundraising efforts, they will also attract many new supporters and be able to entice them to continually supporting them.  The Social Networks are Key to their success.”

When a charity who is hosting a charity fundraising event does not utilize the Social Networks, they are in essence, hoping that people visit their website.  However, people are in reality “Milling around” waiting to be told. 

The old ways of marketing have gone away much like the dinosaurs.  Print Adds, Mailings, Billboards and TV Commercials have become ineffective.  Today, companies that are following the trends, totally utilize the Social Networks.  However, you must be open to new ways, new trends and if you are, you will see a marked change in your success rate.

Here are some BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising “Tips & Tricks” on how to market your fundraising efforts on Facebook specifically:

1.     Photo’s – After you have determined what items and travel packages you are going to have at your event, ask us to email you the images (which we would be glad to).

2.     Posting on Facebook – Then post the images on Facebook either singularly or in an album.

3.     Description – Write a short description of what the image is, where it will be (your fundraising event) and how to buy tickets or visit your website to purchase them.

4.     Tagging – When you are posting the images, use the “Tag Photo” option.  Scroll through your friends and tag everyone possible.  What happens is, the images will then appear in your friends, friends news feed.

5.     Sharing – Sharing is “Vital” to the success of the images and your marketing.  Ask everyone involved in your event to “Share” the photos.  Ask your friends to share the photo’s.

6.     Event Page – Create an event page.  Invite your entire friends list to join it and ask everyone who is helping you and your charity to do the same.  This will greatly help you sell tickets, get donations and market the items available at your event.  Post photo’s there, links to where people can purchase tickets etc.

If you are not willing to use the methods I've described above, your competition will, in fat, they probably already are.  In fact, they may have hired a Social Networking company to do it for them.  They are competing for the same fundraising dollars you are.  Whose going to be in lead?

 

If you would like to learn more in-depth tools and tactics such as the use of "Hash-Tags" (#), contact us, we can walk you through it. 

 

So, are you ready to start leaving the “Bread Crumbs” and attracting people to you’re your charity fundraising event or are you just going to sit in your beautiful home back in the woods and wait for everyone to show up?

But, most importantly, much more important than your website, Facebook is key to your ultimate fundraising success.  If you are not on Facebook, you should be.  Facebook is where everybody and everything is.  If you would like more information about how BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can help you on the Social Networks, contact us today at www.BWUnlimited.com, we would love to hear from you.  More importantly, "Like Us" on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwcharityfundraising. 

BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising is a leader in Charity Fundraising in North America in a “One Stop Shop” convenient setting.  The expert charity fundraisers at BW Unlimited Charity Fundraising can provide you with the keys to your ultimate fundraising success by staying on the “Cusp” of the most successful ways to market both your charity and your charity fundraising event.  If you would like our help Planning, Managing and Hosting your next charity fundraising event, contact us at www.BWUnlimited.com.