Social media is an increasingly effective way for non-profit organisations to promote services and to connect with supporters and service users.
The platform also allows organisations to enter into two-way communication and engage with a vast number of supporters one-to-one. Many charities have yet to delve into the realm of social media, this may be due to lack of time, resources or perhaps some are unconvinced of the overall benefit of doing so. Here are a few reasons that may entice your organisation to embrace social media:
Expanded Reach
From the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to Movember or No Make Up Selfie, very few people remain untouched by charities through the power of Social Media. The advent of such accessible and low cost platforms such as Facebook and Twitter has allowed non-profit organisations to reach and engage with a number of people which has never been never seen before.
Recruitment Method
Social media can be used as a method to advertise for skilled volunteers or employees on platforms such as LinkedIn or Facebook. This year Kerry Volunteer Centre and affiliated centres partnered with LinkedIn. This made skilled volunteering roles on I-VOL, the national database for volunteering opportunities and listings, easily accessible to over 1.2 million LinkedIn members in Ireland. This partnership has proven beneficial for individuals, non-profits and companies alike. It has opened up the communication lines between potential skilled volunteers and non-profits organisations as well as showcasing LinkedIn member’s volunteer activities to potential employers.
Create an Online Community
Groups for example on Facebook and LinkedIn can create a digital community for volunteers. This gives volunteer programmes an online presence and allows volunteers to share experiences, learning and provide peer support. It can also be an excellent way of keeping your Virtual Volunteers involved in an organisation. Keeping volunteers engaged online and listening to their feedback is vital to keeping a volunteer team motivated!
Be Part of the Conversation
People talk all the time on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+. By having a presence on these sites, non-profit organisations can learn what its supporters and service users are saying about them. This vital feedback can give organisations ideas on how best to make changes to better serve its users. That in-turn can then shape the nature of their social media correspondence and indeed can help their entire communications.
Drive Website Traffic
Many organisations like ourselves provide a variety of services through a website. For example, on www.volunteerkerry.ie Volunteers can register or view our list of volunteering opportunities while organisations can register and post opportunities online. Social media will drive traffic to a website more than any other approach, giving more people the chance to see for themselves what an organisation is about and how they can get involved.
Help Improve Online Search
In an age where everyone seems to be online it is important to be seen. Online search remains the main way in which many people discover a charity and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) should be a key part of a non-profit organisations digital communications strategy. An active presence on social media, sharing and distributing keyword rich content will improve an organisations placing on Google and other search engines, ensuring that more people find it online.
Fundraising
Not specific to social media, but certainly related to it as it can be advertised through social media platforms are sites like Just Giving which have changed the face of fundraising in recent years. The Just Giving charity platform was launched in 2001 and has so far enabled over 13,000 different charities to raise £1.5 billion. Providing a number of ways to donate online and via text, Just Giving makes donating quick and easy, encouraging more users to do so.
Not yet on Social Media?
If your organisation is interested in setting up a social media account see our blog next week on how to set up a Facebook page for non-profit organisations.
Already on Social Media!
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