Social media are a great asset to any nonprofit internet strategy.
While there are plenty of tools for nonprofits in Facebook, Twitter and social sites of the like, one common way to keep volunteers and supporters in the loop is through an E-newsletter.
E-newsletters have a number of advantages for nonprofit marketing over non-web-based mail-outs.
They are more up to date, as alterations can be made moments before sending.
They also require less work as sending is the only step between writing and receiving, whereas traditional methods require arranging and paying for postage, filling and addressing envelopes, etc.
While e-newsletters are in many ways superior to hard copy, there are several things which will help increase their odds of success.
1.
The successful E-newsletter comes frequently enough to keep people interested and well-informed, but without being a nuisance.
If a subscriber's inbox fills up with two or three a day, his or her attitude toward the charity may suffer.
For those interested enough in the cause to want additional information, a separate site should be provided.
2.
Newsletters should be tailored to their audience.
If there is more than one readily identifiable sub-group of campaign supporters, organizers may consider more than one edition of the newsletter, each addressing a particular group's concerns.
3.
Image is (nearly) everything.
It is helpful to make use of the many graphic design tools available, but overuse adds clutter and distracts readers, if not altogether discouraging them.
4.
Whatever the newsletter asks for should be easy to accommodate.
If donations are requested, a PayPal widget really comes in handy.
If users are asked to submit feedback, personal information, etc.
, easily navigated toolbars should take the user to the appropriate location.
5.
Don't get hung up on every little detail.
The first thing the person who receives your newsletter will notice is the general look and feel of the thing and its overall clarity.
These are what convince the reader to read on.
6.
Information in the newsletter should stay on track.
Aside from, perhaps, a personal note from the head of the organization, E-newsletters should be fact-oriented.
7.
As mentioned in #4, the navigation toolbars are worth their own place on this list.
According to research done for Hewlett-Packard's site, hpshopping.
com, 25% of surveyed subscribers use it.
8.
Use subheadings, headlines, etc.
, to draw people to the areas that will be of interest to them.
Chances are there are a bunch of other messages in their inbox along with yours, so one big long article may scare away potential readers, and potential donors.
9.
Ask for feedback.
Waiting to see if people unsubscribe is not a very efficient method of troubleshooting.
10.
However you choose to go about making your E-newsletter, be consistent.
Nonprofit branding is just as important as it is for products and services.
Format and style should only be modified for practical reasons or if the organization's look is going through an overhaul.