The right marketing plan will make any charitable organization more visible and non-profits must have plenty of visibility to survive.
Although non-profits don't have goods or services to promote, their passion and goodwill are their marketing message.
With effective outreach in mind, here are just a few ways non-profits like yours can make the right marketing moves:
Non-Profit Numbers in the U.S.
The non-profit landscape in the U.S. is a steadily growing one.
Your non-profit probably doesn't think of other charitable organizations as competition, but it is important to know how many non-profits there are.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are more than 1.4 million tax-exempt organizations in the country. This number includes public and private foundations as well as other non-profit organizations like civic leagues.
The NCCS also reports that non-profits made up more than 9% of all paid salaries and wages in the U.S. in 2012 alone.
In addition, non-profits made about $1.65 trillion in revenue in 2012 with expenses totaling $1.57 trillion. Non-profits in the U.S. simply wouldn't reach these numbers without an effective marketing plan.
Aligning Brand and Message
An effective marketing plan begins with aligning your non-profit's brand with its message.
Having a recognizable brand is important for any business, but your charitable message is just as important if you want to get your audience involved in the cause.
Brand recognition doesn't happen overnight. You have to truly know what's at the heart of your non-profit.
How does your non-profit make a positive impact on society and the local community?
Figuring out your brand, then matching it with a passionate message will result in more support from outside sources.
Creating Informative Content
Donators, contributors, and philanthropic people like to know just about everything there is about a cause before they choose to donate. This means your non-profit needs to create informative marketing content.
As the following article looks at, if you've ever seen donation process advertisements or even free whiteboard explainer videos for your favorite non-profit, then you already know how effective informative content is.
Creating content that explains your cause and how your non-profit works increases your visibility and get donators involved.
Keep Up With Social Audiences
Social media is one of the best ways to spread the word about your non-profit and its message. By keeping in touch with your social followers, you can keep them up to date about all of the exciting developments taking place with your non-profit.
Taking a social approach to your marketing means you are providing your social followers with content that speaks to your cause and their beliefs.
With that said, you don't want to flood their social feeds with an overabundance of your message - consistency and brevity go a long way.
Know Your Audience
Speaking of social media, it's also crucial that your non-profit marketing team knows its audience.
By marketing to individuals who are in-line with your cause and also capable of volunteering or donating to your charity, your non-profit will thrive in the social atmosphere and elsewhere.
When it comes to taking the right marketing approach, the pointers above will help put your non-profit in the spotlight.