You might be reading this blog post title and thinking, “Do Facebook likes really matter for my nonprofit? Aren’t there more important things my organization should be focused on?” And while yes, ultimately your goal is to raise donations and recruit volunteers, Facebook likes may be one of the keys to helping you get there.
Think of a Facebook like as a confirmation that you have established a new relationship with a potential follower, donor or supporter. By liking your page, your follower is giving your page permission to share your content and information with them. It is a way for individuals to show they care about your organization and are interested in seeing your growth.
Unique ways to attract Facebook likes
Not everyone is ready to commit to being a donor or volunteer, so think of Facebook page likes as potential supporters opening the door for your nonprofit to share information with them. Here are 8 ways for your nonprofit to attract more page likes:
1. Create shareable content
One important element of growing your online community involves creating content that is easy for your followers and fans to share. Writing quality blog posts, posting content regularly and adding social media tags to your website pages are just a few options for creating more shareable content.
2. Post consistently on social media
Your followers will not have content to share and new fans will not have content to engage your nonprofit with if you are not posting consistently. If your nonprofit is on Facebook, consider posting 3-5 times a week during active hours. Twitter moves much faster than Facebook, and users will not always see a Tweet you posted in the morning during their afternoon scan. If your nonprofit is using Twitter, consider posting 2-4 times a day.
3. Ask your fans to share
You might be surprised at how effective it is to simply add, “Share this event with your friends” on your social media post. Telling your fans clearly what you want them to do, such as sharing your post with their friends, to help increase engagement and reach new fans.
4. “Like” other pages from your nonprofit business page
Don’t forget to “like” other business pages from your nonprofit Facebook business page or Twitter account. You can be liking other community businesses, causes that your nonprofit partners with, local media outlets and more. Liking their pages will show that you endorse their business and you would like to establish a relationship.
5. Engage your followers from your nonprofit account
Your nonprofit should be engaging and communicating in real-time with your followers. While it is always a helpful option to be scheduling regular daily content ahead of time, your followers want to see that there is actually a person behind the account who will answer their questions and interact with them.
6. Remind your current supporters and volunteers
There may be many of your current donors and volunteers who are not following your nonprofit on social media. Remind these current supporters during fundraiser events or at the end of your monthly email campaign to follow your nonprofit page on social media and share with their friends. Inform them that following your pages will help keep them up-to-date on events and opportunities.
7. Consider holding a Facebook contest
Social media contests are a great way to build your fan base, spark interest in your cause and encourage engagement. Your nonprofit can host a giveaway, where people must like your page and enter their email on the website in order to enter a drawing for the prize. Another fun option is to host a photo contest, where fans of your page can submit a photo for a theme, and then followers are able to vote for their favorite.
8. Don’t be afraid to promote it
In order for people to know that your nonprofit is on social media, you must be promoting it. Include links to your social media pages at the end of your emails, on your printed materials, on your business cards and in press releases. You can add these links to almost any and every digital and print communication that you are sending out to your current and potential supporters.
Social media is a great option for nonprofits and fundraising. After you’ve built a fan base on your social media accounts, take advantage of your social media resources to help increase your nonprofit online donations.
