When I think about an organization that does real good for the community, I think about nonprofits. But in order to be most effective, nonprofits need to get the word out about their various initiatives, encourage donations to support their cause, and recruit and manage volunteers. While you may not think that SMS marketing necessarily makes sense within the nonprofit industry, we’re here to tell you that it does, and it can be used to accomplish each of these things.
Spread the word about upcoming initiatives
Around 98% of text messages are opened within the first three minutes. So if you want a quick and easy way to let contacts know about an upcoming event or pledge drive that your organization is hosting, SMS is a great way to do it.
Include a clickable link that points to your event registration page or a page on your website that includes more information.
Encourage donations
It makes me feel good to donate to nonprofit organizations, especially ones that support a cause I believe in. But honestly, it’s not always top of mind for me. That is, unless I get a text message asking for contributions. Then I make donating more of a priority.
So don’t shy away from using SMS to request donations! If relevant, share your fundraising goal so community members feel like they are contributing to something that will have a big impact. Perhaps pair your SMS campaign with an email campaign to increase engagement.
SMS marketing also allows you to send a quick message to the donor to confirm that you’ve received their donation. This is an easy way to show your gratitude, and the donor will be more likely to make donations in the future.
Recruit and manage volunteers
Getting reliable volunteers and managing existing ones is a challenge for any nonprofit. By using SMS, you can more easily recruit volunteers for an upcoming event, confirm schedules with existing volunteers, and communicate any need-to-know information.
SMS Marketing best practices
First off, make sure you stay compliant and understand the guidelines for using SMS marketing through Constant Contact.
When crafting your SMS message:
- Keep your messages short, sweet, and easily scannable
- Let recipients know how to opt-out
- Providing a clear call to action
- Engaging readers with relevant links (to your donation page or contact information)
Keep tone in mind, as well. Even in a text message, it’s important to maintain professionalism!
Ready to get started?
The first step is to register your account for SMS marketing. Then you’ll want to begin growing your SMS list. Next, create and send SMS messaging content!
Take a look at our Getting Started guide to set yourself up for success with Constant Contact's SMS Marketing.
Once you’re up and running with SMS, check out our Community Nonprofit group to connect with other nonprofit organizations and receive tips and resources!
