It is important for charities to promote themselves and show people what they are about and how their organization works. Charities can use platforms such as Instagram to put their organization on a fast track to getting recognized and getting supporters.
Julia Campbell of about.com discusses the benefits of charities and non profits using Instagram and especially videos on the platform. She says, “Creative videos drive website traffic as well as increase engagement on social media sites.”
She also states that you can do this all form your smartphone. It is easy to be creative when you have the tools right there in front of you.
Campbell goes on to talk about how Instagram and other platforms are connected to other social media sites.
She says, “Your nonprofit can use these mobile video sharing tools to push out the message to other social media channels, which increases engagement and recruits new supporters to your cause.”
Campbell gives suggestions on how to raise awareness for your organization. She gives these tips:
1. Show people who you are (organizations personality, behind the scenes)
2. Show people what you do (everyday things the organization does)
3. Show people why you do it (showcasing impact)
4.Showcase products or services
5.Share statistics and facts (makes people pause and think)
6. Acknowledge your donors (thank the people that support the organization or group)
7.Get celebrity endorsements (celebrities that love your cause)
8.Encourage participation (encourage readers and viewers to post their comments and reactions)
These tips can gain your charity more of a presence on Instagram and gain more exposure.
Jenny Ann Beswick of EContent says that users engagement in the content put out by charities can inspire “Loyalty, brand recognition, and emotional investment, and it is the most effective marketing strategy ever developed.”
Beswick also says that “Non-profits should be looking to visualize compelling true stories, show the impact the charity has made on lives and introduce them to the people they are helping.”
Pictures can say a lot and viewers can have an emotional concoction to strong visuals. They can be drawn in and want to explore what they are seeing more.
Being positive and sharing the pleasing more appealing side of your charity can gain more support.
Brock Smith of Charity Village says that a “social media presence is necessary: it is a pivotal and cost-efficient part of branding and marketing efforts, a driver of fundraising , and a useful tool for keeping donors informed.”
People have come to learn that images have more of an impact on viewers and users than statistics. Posts with photos on them receive more attention than “text based posts” according to a report by HubSpot.
Charities and non profits should use social media platforms such as Instagram to their benefit. It can shine a light on their cause and bring them the donations that they strive to get.
North Shore Animal League on Long Island, uses Instagram to promote events such as their Adoptathon and show off cats and dogs that need homes.
They gain support by posting pictures with captions that make users not only want to follow them but give to their organization by adopting or donating their money or time.