Giving Tuesday is a worldwide day of giving that takes place on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. This year it falls on December 3, 2024, and it generally kicks off the year-end giving season.

Here are some tips to make your organization’s Giving Tuesday campaign a success:

        State Your Goals

Audiences are motivated when you ask them to help you achieve your goal. Set your Giving Tuesday goal and let everyone know what you hope to achieve.

        Hone Your Donation Page

Did you know that 25% of donations are made from a mobile device? Make sure your donation page is an easy experience for donors on all devices.

Use the #GivingTuesday Hashtag

     To draw attention to your campaign, use this hashtag in your social media posts. People will be using it in their searches and it could draw in more attention, donors and awareness about your nonprofit.

      Share Your Good Works

      Show behind the scenes photos and share the success stories that illustrate the good work that your organization does. This will surely inspire people to give. 

      Ask for Recurring Donations

      Giving Tuesday is the perfect opportunity to ask donors to give regularly. Be sure your donation page makes recurring donations a clear option. Make it easy for donors to convert their one-time gift into a recurring monthly donation.

Need help developing your Giving Tuesday campaign? Contact Jocelyn Murray today at 203.543.1455.

 

 

Nonprofit Year-End Fundraising Tips to Engage Your Donors

Planning your nonprofit’s year-end fundraising appeal to your donors?  As possibly your most important fundraising initiative of the year, it’s an opportunity to connect with your donors and show them how critical their support has been to your mission. Here are some tips to engage your donors to raise more funds for your organization:

Tip #1

Focus on the Donor

Create a campaign that involves the donor by reminding them why their donations are valued and what their support has and will help you accomplish.  Be sure to tell them how important they are to your success. Generous use of the word “you” instead of “we” makes the appeal more donor-centered and focuses on their impact.

Tip #2

Suggested Donation Amounts

Include suggested donation amounts in your appeal and how each amount will impact your organization or help you achieve your mission. Suggested donation amounts are shown to result in increased contribution sizes and improve conversion rates.

 

Tip #3

Have a Clear Call to Action

If donors are unsure how to make a donation, your campaign will surely fall short. A clear call to action is essential and giving your donors multiple ways to make their gifts is crucial. Communicate an easily conveyed URL and add a scannable QR code on your appeal letter to facilitate online donations. Also include a remittance envelope in your mailing to allow donors to mail checks.

Tip #4

Show Your Appreciation

Make your donors feel like they’ve played an intricate part in helping you carry out your mission. Give examples of what you’ve been able to accomplish thanks to their support. Thanking and appreciating your donors is the key to their long-term support and ongoing contributions.

Tip #5

Send Your Appeal Via Multiple Channels

Spread the word about your appeal campaign through multiple channels to widely broadcast your fundraising message. Direct mail is one of the most effective channels and has shown a higher response rate than email or social media for nonprofit organizations. But email is a great low-cost method to extend your outreach that shouldn't be overlooked. Social media will allow you to reinforce your message and donation links to all your supporters who follow you. And be sure to update your website with information about your campaign as supporters will surely be looking there as a result of your initial outreach.

 

Need help with your year-end appeal strategy, copywriting and execution? Contact Jocelyn Murray at Marketing & Event Resources today to get started on a winning campaign.

 

Marketing Trends for 2024 and Beyond

Below are some trends and predictions for the coming year and beyond from industry experts along with some commentary and information:

By 2025, a perceived decay in the quality of social media sites will push 50% of consumers to significantly limit their use of major platforms.  (Source: Gartner Group)

Due to the spread of misinformation, bots, the impact of AI and toxic users, Gartner Group predicts that people will significantly limit their social media interactions by 2025. This information gives testament to the need for businesses to invest in other channels such as a website and email lists while using social media strategically but not solely. I’ve seen many businesses rely just on their Facebook or LinkedIn pages, not wanting to invest in a website, build an email database or blog. 

 

The entire world’s social media has converged on short-form video. If you still haven’t mastered the art of producing content in short-form videos, it’s hard to see how you’ll be successful in social media in 2024!  (Source: Larry Kim, Customers.ai)

Short form videos are typically said to range from 15 to 60 seconds and they’re designed to attract people’s attention and to promote a brand. Some business benefits of short-form video marketing are that they attract more likes, shares and comments on social media, they can be easily incorporated in email campaigns and they yield high conversion rates which translate into good ROI.

Some examples of the top short-form video trends are creating behind the scenes videos, product teasers, frequently asked questions and user-generated content.

 

57% of marketers of companies with 500 or more employees are using AI for their email campaigns. (Source: Ascend2)

Marketers are using AI for their email’s personalization, subject line optimization, retargeting, dynamic content and more. Of all the marketing channels, email gives you the most control to better target your audience and to personalize and sharpen your messaging.

Newsletters will continue their hot streak, led by creator referral networks. More podcast creators will move into newsletters.  (Source: Joe Pulizzi, Author)

If you’re looking for ways to build trust and credibility with your prospects and clients, publishing an e-newsletter is a smart tool to consider.  A balanced, informative newsletter should support your business goals, be engaging to your readers, and provide useful content or relevant promotions. A newsletter can help you establish your expertise, build awareness about your brand, drive traffic to your website and help you build relationships with the people that matter the most to your business. Incorporate one into your marketing plans today.

When Should Your Business Post on Social Media?

Businesses are always seeking ideas to improve their social media engagement. Knowing the best days and times to post on every platform will boost activity on your company pages. Posting at certain times will allow you to further connect with your target audience.

There are some general rules that are important to follow for all platforms, however, each social media has its own specific guidelines. It is also important to factor in your target audience when deciding when to post on each platform. For instance, a younger audience may not be awake very early if they are on summer break.

The General Rule

The American Marketing Association recommends that for any social media platform, posting on a weekday morning is the route to go. Many people go on their phones as soon as they wake up, especially on work days. 

Data-driven decision-making is vital when it comes to social media posting. Utilize analytics and insights provided by the respective platforms to evaluate your previous posts' performance. Identify patterns and trends related to engagement levels, clicks, and impressions during different times and days. Leveraging this information will guide you in optimizing your posting schedule.

Instagram

Instagram has changed ever since Facebook acquired the platform. According to the American Marketing Association, to be successful on Instagram, post between 11:00 A.M.- 2:00 P.M. on any weekday (Monday-Friday), will get you higher numbers for your posts and stories. 

Facebook

While all weekday mornings are a good time to post, it is best to post on Facebook between 9:00 A.M.- 1:00 P.M. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Business pages can also try generating engagement between 6:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M., according to SocialPilot. There is a pop in users during these hours. If not early morning, lunch hours are another option to post.

Twitter

Twitter's fast-paced nature demands frequent and timely posts. Hootsuite noted that the best time to tweet on Twitter is at 8:00 A.M on Monday-Friday. Many people will turn to Twitter before they even get to Instagram or Facebook, as it is a simpler social media platform that appeals to those who are looking for breaking news or updates from those they follow.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great platform for businesses, as it can attract future employers, partnerships, and set the tone of their company in a professional manner. The best times to post on LinkedIn are at 9:00 A.M. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, right when the typical workday starts. Avoid weekends and late evenings when engagement tends to drop.

In Conclusion

The best time to post for your business’s social media depends on your target audience, your industry, and your content. Mastering the art of social media posting requires businesses to be in sync with their audience's habits and preferences. By analyzing data, understanding the nuances of each platform, and adapting to trends, businesses can unlock the full potential of their social media presence. However, posting at these recommended days and times can help to ensure that as many people as possible see and engage with what you’re promoting.

Storytelling: A Powerful Marketing Tool

One of the most compelling elements of good marketing communications is storytelling. Storytelling is a powerful tool that can persuade people to take action or learn about something new. In fact, for nonprofit organizations, studies show that donors are twice as likely to donate to a nonprofit when presented with a compelling story as opposed to a relevant statistic.

This is because stories leverage emotions to your benefit and illustrate the impact of your product, service, or work. Individuals are more likely to remember an inspiring story as opposed to a number or figure, no matter how remarkable the statistic is.

When telling stories, create ones that are educational, entertaining, memorable, and compelling. Focus on quality writing and use interesting visual elements to best execute this communication strategy.

Keep your audience in mind when creating stories. What do they want to hear and learn? What kind of response or action do you want them to take as a result of reading your story?

Find ways to best connect with your target audience by telling stories that are inspiring, touching, and ones that illustrate the benefits of your products or services.

How will you tell your story? Whether it’s a written article, blog post, video or audio clip, consider what medium your audience will respond best to and what fits into your budget.

Gather stories from as many different types of people associated with your organization as possible. Clients, volunteers, employees, board members all have different perspectives and may have valuable messages and stories that can be impactful for your organization.

Share in the comments how you have incorporated storytelling in your marketing communications and what the results have yielded.

Reasons to Start an E-Newsletter for Your Business

If you’re looking for ways to build trust and credibility with your prospects and clients, publishing an e-newsletter is a smart tool to consider.  A balanced, informative newsletter should support your business goals, be engaging to your readers, and provide useful content or relevant promotions.

Here are six reasons to get your e-newsletter up and running now:

1. Build Relationships-  A newsletter can provide the opportunity to connect with your audiences by consistently providing valuable content while also keeping them engaged and interested. Relationships require work and regular connections. An e-newsletter can help you accomplish that.

2. Establish Your Expertise- By sharing industry news, insights and tips in your newsletter, you can establish yourself as a thought leader or expert.

3. Cost-Effective Marketing- E-newsletters require a minimal investment beyond time and effort! Tools like Constant Contact offer newsletter email templates that are easy to use and inexpensive.

4. Brand Awareness-  E-newsletters are a smart way to increase knowledge of your brand by regularly staying in touch with your clients and prospects and reminding them of your business, product or services.

5. Collect Valuable Feedback- Include survey questions or polls in your e-newsletter to better understand your audience and improve your offerings to them.

6. Drive Traffic to Your Site- E-newsletters should be kept brief and lead your reader to your website, blog or a landing page where they can find more information.

Your customers and prospects want to hear from you! So are you ready to take the next steps to start your e-newsletter?  Now that you know how they can help your business, it’s time to incorporate one into your own marketing strategy!

Use the 80/20 Rule to Increase Your Profitability

Are you familiar with the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle? As it relates to business, the rule asserts that the majority of your sales will come from a small portion of your customer base. Specifically: 80% of your revenue comes from 20% of your customers.

By understanding and leveraging the 80/20 rule, you can potentially increase your business effectiveness and profitability.

All Customers Aren’t Created Equal

From a sales and marketing perspective, it makes sense to invest time and effort in strengthening and maximizing your relationships with the vital 20% of your customers. This segment has the greatest potential for spending more money on your products or services. They’re also more likely to refer business to you.    

Spend more time cultivating this core base of customers that generates the most business and profits. Create a strategy for up-selling or cross-selling to this group as you’re likely to reap the most results.

Provide these lucrative customers with preferred services such as 24/7 support, loyalty rewards, email them discount coupons, send special holiday gifts or personalized notes of appreciation, and other ways to thank your best customers for doing business with you.

Customer Profiles

Take time to analyze the characteristics and demographics of the top 20% of your customers. Understand why they buy and what drives them. Focus your marketing efforts on finding new clients who are similar in an attempt to replicate your successes.

While all business is important, pinpoint your highest-return customers and devote more time to them and avoid letting unprofitable customers drain your resources. To maximize your profits, employ marketing strategies that attract more of your ideal type of customer.

Contact Marketing & Event Resources for assistance with your targeted marketing campaigns to attract the right clients!