5 Ways to Increase Your Followers on Social Media for Nonprofits

Many companies are turning to social media for marketing purposes. This is because it gives you access to a broad audience base. There are many social channels available, making it quite effective as a communication tool.

Further, there is no limit to the type of content you can put up. It could be blogs, snippets, and video content.  Yet digital marketers will attest to the fact that some challenges arise from this type of marketing. It can be challenging to keep up with posting content.

Some will start out great and, in the initial stages, maintain some level of consistency. But, over time, they wane off due to posting fatigue or too much work.

Others also struggle with engagement, leaving audiences feeling like the organization is ignoring them. Statistics indicate that up to 49% of audiences will unfollow a brand due to inferior quality products or support.

Poor customer service accounts for another 49%. Irrelevant content and too many ads share a 45% score each.

Yet, nonprofit organizations can benefit from a large social media following.  The visibility can help with fundraising and other types of support. In the end, their activities will have a more significant impact on communities or causes.

Our article explores how to increase followers on social media for nonprofits. But, the focus would not be on numbers. Rather, we are looking at an organic, loyal community that supports what the nonprofit organization is doing.

Let’s dive into it.

1. Start by Looking at the Audiences and Resources Available

There are many platforms on social media that nonprofit organizations can utilize. Such include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter. Understand the target audience you want to reach.

The second step is to focus on where they are likely to be. Instagram and Snapchat, for example, cater to a younger audience. Their interests and values may be very different from the professionals you find on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Also, take the time to explore the resources available. Do note, most of these platforms have tools specific to nonprofits. Facebook and Instagram have fundraising and charitable giving tools.

Platforms like the free Google for nonprofits have some excellent features for such organizations. The YouTube for nonprofits platform, for instance, is a fantastic place to connect with donors, volunteers, and other stakeholders.

The organization can use videos and storytelling to showcase the work they have been doing.  Followers can share, comment, and subscribe to show support.

2. Make the Posts Relevant

Before you click on that post button, step back for a minute. Take a good look at the post and see if it is relevant. Never just post for the sake of posting. If you do not provide relevance to the target audiences, you would rather leave the space blank.

It goes back to having a good understanding of your target audience. What kind of content resonates with them? Who would they look at as influences? Why would they care about your cause?

Finding the answers to such questions can be a challenge. Yet, without clarity, it is impossible to provide content that resonates with the target audience.

Another advantage of relevant content is that people love to share such. A funny story, video, or comment will get people to like and share. Educational and how-to tutorials can also give you quite a bit of traction.

And of course, do not forget to include a powerful call to action. It may surprise you how much power that little button has in swaying decisions.

And yes, do not be afraid to be very specific. It could read something like … bring your voice to the conversation by clicking on the link or tag a friend to spread positive vibes.

3. Visuals Drive Interest and Engagement

Visuals provide an effective way to tell stories about what the organization does. They also increase the chances of the audiences engaging and interacting with your content.

Take audiences on a visual journey with the images and videos you put up. Remember this, retention rates for content that has visuals are up to 65% after three days. Compare this to only 10% for text-based content.

4. Maintain an Active Presence and Consider Using Influencers

Nonprofit digital organizations must maintain an active social media presence. You cannot post, go away, come back one month later, and expect good feedback. You must engage with them with comments, mentions, shares, and retweets.

Do you want to know how important engagement is? Well, up to 71% of audiences will recommend a brand due to positive experiences on social media.

The same research shows that up to 49% of consumers depend on influencer recommendations before making purchasing decisions.

The advantage for nonprofits working with the right influencer is it allows you to connect with their audiences. They enjoy loyalty from their followers who will want to support whatever cause the influencer supports.

Look for one whose values align with those of your organization. It helps build more credibility and legitimacy when they talk about your work.

5. Actively Create Interest and Conversation

Non-profits must actively go out of their way to create exciting conversations. One way to do this is to hold a 50 50 raffle or another similar contest that forces people to engage with your social media channels or donate in order to enter. The right competition can generate a lot of user-generated content. Using such on websites or social media platforms can increase engagement.

The best part is the prizes do not have to be expensive. Take the example of the Greenpeace photo contest. The award was a chance for winners to showcase their work on the organization’s platforms.

Don’t just post. Talk to people. Be that quirky, personable online figure. You will achieve more engagement if you use people instead of faceless voice-overs. Ask for opinions, suggestions, and recommendations.

People love to be part of a change, in whatever way. They also like to know that someone appreciates their feedback.

Hashtag campaigns are also catching on. You may have stumbled on the # blacklivesmatter that called against racial injustices. Be strategic about the use of popular hashtags.

You may also want to check out what is trending and participate. Showing that you are part of what is happening can get your organization noticed.

Final Thoughts

Social media provides a lot of opportunities for nonprofit organizations. It is essential to understand your target audience.

Next, identify the platforms there are likely to be on. Do not spread yourself too thin by being everywhere. It is better to optimize one or two channels that can get you to the right audiences.

Use some of the tips we have shared above to increase your social media followers.