As we close in on the end of the first two decades of the 21st century, it's a great time to take a good look at your nonprofit organization's current digital strategy. If your first thought is "what digital strategy?" then you're not alone; a recent study found that 35 percent of surveyed nonprofits "use digital technologies but don’t have a strategic approach."
But, even if your nonprofit already has a website, or even a small social media presence, it's important that you also have a comprehensive strategy in place to help make online connections a truly vital part of your outreach and engagement. So, how do you get strategic?
- A Website that Works - For starters, check your current website for basic functionality. If you have links that go to nowhere, or outdated information, you are likely turning away potential volunteers and donors without even knowing it. A cleanly designed website with working links is an essential part of any digital strategy, so make this priority one if you're looking to start somewhere.
- Mobile Optimization - While you're working on your site, you should also plan to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile viewing. Many hosting design platforms make this easy to do, but don't assume that your website will properly on a mobile device if you're going the DIY route. Having a glitchy website on a phone or tablet makes it that much more difficult to capture support right in the moment when someone is looking to engage with your nonprofit.
- Social Media - Using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms can be a wonderful way to showcase the work of your nonprofit, and also engage with potential supporters. But be sure to have a clear system in place for responding to comments or mentions so that you can stay on top of your communication, and not leave your supporters on a digital dead end street.
- Ways to Engage - A strong digital strategy isn't just about attracting new attention, but also maintaining connections within your current base of supporters. Try using targeted emails, or even text messages, to send actionable updates to your current lists with clear call to actions so that people can donate, volunteer, or otherwise show their support, all from their handheld device.
- Create and Promote Shareable Content - When you or your supporters share information and photos about your nonprofit's work, you can extend your overall impact. Use consistent hashtags online to help your community engage with and participate in your nonprofit, and actively work to share and support those who support you.
For more digital strategy insights and tech tips, contact Tech Impact today! Our mission is to empower communities and nonprofits to use technology to better serve our world, and we’d be delighted to support your nonprofit in creating a modern digital strategy that truly works.
