As a nonprofit communicator, you pour your heart and soul into press releases, stay up late scheduling tweets, and work tirelessly to rush your newsletter to the printer on time.

You run fast and furious to get it all done as you scale mountains of deadlines. But admit it.

You know your marketing could do more.

Despite all your work to change the world, the same questions keep gnawing at you:

  • We keep mailing a newsletter, but how does this publication drive our mission?
  • We get a lot of media coverage, so shouldn't more people support us?
  • We have 28,000 Facebook likes—why don't these followers donate?

Maybe there's an easier tool for promoting your non-profit… like a blog.

Don't think you need a blog? You're not alone, as many nonprofits put blogging way down on their priority list, and only 47% of nonprofits use a blog as a marketing platform. Yet a blog is a tremendously effective marketing tool.

Let's review five good reasons why your nonprofit needs to get blogging.

1. You can have cozy conversations instead of shouting matches

Like most nonprofits, you're probably grooving on social media. But these days, it's easy to get lost in the noise.

Although social platforms have value, they aren't the snug supper clubs they were. Now, they're loud bars where you have to shout over the cat memes. And with pay-to-play models, all that shouting can get expensive.

With a blog, you don't have to shout for attention once you've built a readership. You can focus dialog through your blog's comments section, which is designed for give-and-take conversations instead of a like-and-comment free-for-all. And all this without a newsfeed to distract your donors.

2. You can stop scrounging for press coverage that never gives you feedback

In my old job as a communications coordinator at a neuroscience institute, I wrote a few press releases a month. I know how much work it takes to check facts, get approvals, and then beg a journalist to cover each story. That's a lot of heavy lifting for hard-to-measure ROI.

Did readers make it to page 10 to learn about your community program? Did the article inspire them to check out your microsite on healthy food? You just don't know.

When you blog, you are the journalist. You can funnel that press-release effort into posts, which you then can track with analytics.

Heat maps also show what attracts eyeballs, and you can adjust the copy to make a bigger impact the next time.

Even if your blog has a small readership, those few but dedicated followers who get your message are better than a mass media audience who tunes you out with the noise.

3. You can produce content that attracts donors forever

Although people aren't inundated with as much snail mail, your paper missives will still likely end up in the recycling bin with barely a glance.

I don't know about you, but I've never seen newsletters exchanged over a coffee at Starbucks. For many people, if you can't email, post, or text the content, it may as well not exist.

Paper has a short shelf life, as this medium isn't very synonymous with shareability.

Enter your email address to continue reading

Five Undeniable Reasons Your Nonprofit Needs a Blog

Don't worry...it's free!

Already a member? Sign in now.

Sign in with your preferred account, below.

Did you like this article?
Know someone who would enjoy it too? Share with your friends, free of charge, no sign up required! Simply share this link, and they will get instant access…
  • Copy Link

  • Email

  • Twitter

  • Facebook

  • Pinterest

  • Linkedin


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

image of Amy Butcher

Amy Butcher is a Web writer who helps non-profits develop effective online content and a content strategy for more donations.

Twitter: @AmyBContent

LinkedIn: Amy Butcher