How to Inspire Social Media Followers to Give to Your Cause

Reading Time: 5 minutes

 

Social media has the power to do great things, including converting your followers into donors, volunteers, or other types of supporters. If you’re struggling to persuade your followers to donate, it may be time to rethink your nonprofit’s approach to social media marketing.

There’s no secret formula or a “hack” for the algorithm. Instead, seek out ways that you can be of service to your audience and lean into new ways to inspire your followers. You need to show them why your organization is the one that can get the job done!

This guide will offer actionable advice to elevate your online presence and connect with followers. Soon enough, you’ll learn how to craft inspiring posts that bridge the gap between your online presence and genuine human connection, helping to build reliable revenue streams for your nonprofit.

Create valuable content.

First, focus on your content. Are you sharing plenty of information about your cause, upcoming involvement opportunities, and how your nonprofit is achieving its mission? Craft your posts with your audience in mind. Ask yourself, “What do prospective supporters want to know about our work? How can we update current donors to retain their support?”

When posting on social media, aim for a wide variety of content: some educational, some inspirational, some personality-filled, some behind-the-scenes, and some asking for involvement. A range of content will help you cater to your entire audience rather than only specific segments.

As you create your content, elevate your posts with these tips:

• Share high-quality photos and videos. Photos of your volunteers, videos featuring beneficiaries’ testimonials, and eye-catching cause awareness eCards can stand out in followers’ feeds and create lasting impressions. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are ideal for visual content, but don’t forget to include visuals in your posts on other platforms, too.
• Focus on storytelling. Social media is a storytelling platform. Showcase donors’ stories by explaining why they support your nonprofit, how they feel about your mission, and any experiences they’ve had with your organization. Another powerful way to tap into storytelling is to share quotes from beneficiaries. This helps followers understand how donations fuel your work, helping build trust in your nonprofit.
• Feature interactive content. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow you to use stories and live videos. These mediums can allow you to share real-time insights into your organization’s work and conduct Q&A sessions, making the cause more relatable. Share interactive content like polls and quizzes that educate followers about your cause and subtly prompt them to donate, too.

No matter what content you post, the words and images you share matter. Invest in high-quality photography and videography, and take time creating graphics and writing copy. 

If you don’t have the financial resources to outsource these tasks, there are free and low-cost options for creating your own content. Use Portrait mode on your iPhone when taking photos, edit them with free online tools, create graphics on Canva, write thoughtful descriptions for each image you post, and include alt text to ensure visual content is accessible. Always find a way to address your target audience’s passions and speak to how your work supports them.

Engage with followers.

Social media has one major advantage over other marketing platforms like email: the ability to hold two-way conversations with your audience. 

Reply to comments, engage in discussions, and encourage followers to share their thoughts and stories related to your cause. Get a hashtag going, or encourage your followers to tag your nonprofit each time they post about your work. Either approach makes engaging with their posts easy, allowing you to show your appreciation for their efforts to promote your cause.

Even if they haven’t personally donated, encourage your followers to launch birthday fundraisers for your cause. Then, share their posts on your nonprofit’s social media page to show you genuinely care about their support.

However you go about it, make sure your followers know you’re paying attention to form connections that may ultimately inspire donations.

Run a social awareness campaign.

Given social media’s sharing nature, these platforms lend themselves well to social awareness campaigns. To make the most of these types of campaigns, keep up with the latest marketing trends, including which platforms are rising in popularity. Knowing this will provide insight into which channels will enable you to reach the largest audience possible with your social awareness campaign.

Whichever platforms you choose, the main appeal of these campaigns is that people can get involved without feeling pressured to donate. Even if they can’t give, they may inspire someone else to do so by expressing their passion for your cause.

Here’s how to launch a cause awareness campaign that stands out:

• Create cards people can share online. Fundraising Letters’ digital cards guide shares how online greeting cards can transform your cause awareness campaigns. Cards will work as compelling visuals for each post. Create a handful of eCards that highlight your cause and supporters can share online.
• Create a hashtag. Create a unique, memorable hashtag for your campaign. This will make it easy to engage with anyone who participates. This is also a great way to foster a sense of community around your campaign.
• Provide clear calls to action. Each post should have a clear CTA, guiding followers to share it with their followers and donate if they can. Let’s say you design eCards for your campaign. You might include a phrase in the design that says, “Join me in raising awareness for domestic violence prevention.” 

Running an awareness campaign is a powerful way to spark interest in your mission and ultimately encourage donations. As the number of shares increases, more people will learn about your cause and how they can help.

Don’t forget to ask!

When your audience has seen your educational content and understands your mission, they’re primed to give. Simply asking them can seal the deal. Set your social media donation solicitations up for success by doing the following:

• Be clear in your ask. Not every post should be a direct appeal for funds, but when you do ask, ensure it’s clear. Use compelling graphics and concise language to guide followers on how to donate. Then, link to your donation page.
• Explain how donations support your work. Using the storytelling tactics we shared earlier, paint a picture for your followers about how their donation will directly impact your beneficiaries.
• Ask for specific dollar amounts. Don’t post generic fundraising messages. By asking for specific amounts and tying them to specific results, you’ll give readers a frame of reference for how much to give. For example, you can reference that $25 is enough to provide food for a dog at your animal rescue shelter for a week.

Don’t let all your hard work maintaining your social media accounts go to waste! When you’ve engaged followers in your cause, they’ll want to know the best way to help. Let them know how vital donations are, and they’ll likely give.

Publicly recognize your donors.

When your followers donate, reward them for their generosity by thanking them! Depending on their preferences, you can show your gratitude in several ways, including:

• Post about donors who go above and beyond. After obtaining permission, share testimonials from donors on your nonprofit’s social media. You can share their story, emphasizing their passion for the cause. Not only will donors feel appreciated, but this also gives them something to share on their personal pages.
• Send private acknowledgments. Send personalized thank-letters to everyone who gives. Level up these recognitions by formatting them as eCards that recipients can share online. When they post them, that’ll act as a soft endorsement of your nonprofit, encouraging their followers to donate as well.
• Create a general thank you video. Develop a short video featuring team members, beneficiaries, or volunteers expressing their gratitude. This will put a face to your cause and show donors their support matters. Once your video is finalized, share it on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

eCardWidget’s donor recognition guide explains that when you value supporters, the word will get around! Seeing how much you appreciate your donors may incentivize others to give as well. 

Brainstorm with your team about how to show supporters gratitude. While social media is a great spot to showcase appreciation, always confirm whether someone prefers public or private recognition. Maintain their trust by only posting about their donation if they state that’s their preference over other appreciation methods, like a private and engaging email.

Final thoughts

Simple changes today can make a world of difference tomorrow! Social media can be a powerful force for your fundraising, but only if you’re strategic with your approach. When you lead with authenticity and showcase the work your organization is doing to make a difference, you will ultimately attract the crowd that is the perfect fit for you.