Mastering the art of efficiencies is the real work of every nonprofit. No matter how critical your mission, your resources—time, money, and people—invariably are scarce. That’s why marketing your services requires squeezing the maximum impact from little or no marketing funds. Here are some ways to do just that.
Refresh Your Tagline
Consider this: if you have used the same tagline for some time, it is possible that your nonprofit audience may have become deaf and blind to its original impact. One sure-fire way to invigorate your marketing and get people talking about your mission is to replace the tagline you have been using with one that punches home the need for your mission. A strong mission statement, while necessary, no longer is sufficient to attract and retain supporters. Why? In a world with a blizzard of messaging, your nonprofit’s tagline needs impact and new relevance.
Peer-Driven Marketing (AKA: No-Cost Authenticity)
According to Adweek, “A recommendation from a friend is the pinnacle of personalized, genuine marketing.” Peer-driven marketing is effective because it is perceived to be completely authentic. Consider training your strongest supporters, from board members to volunteers and committed donors, to become brand ambassadors for your nonprofit.
Provide them with encouragement, oversight, and sample messaging. Allow these brand ambassadors to suggest the most effective approaches to their own peer group—perhaps coffees, golf outings, cocktail parties, or business networking presentations, to name just a few. You just may discover a boost for your nonprofit’s profile among your target audience at little to no cost, thanks to the credibility attached to peer recommendations.
Partner With Local Businesses That Host Highly Visible Events
Every community has businesses or professional networking groups that want to be perceived as supporting their customers and community. Developing partnerships with a few carefully selected private companies or professional associations can draw new supporters to your organization. This approach to marketing combines the benefits of segmentation with the perceived authenticity of peer ambassadors: each of your partnerships has a built in affinity group, and the leaders within your partnerships typically will lend their credibility to the work of your organization.
Partners who hold highly visible events and promote your organization’s mission as part of their events raise your nonprofit’s profile, offer pipelines for human resources and financial support, and help pack more power into your marketing program without draining your resources.