Do you have a lot of constituents in your database that are essentially inactive? Are they ignoring your emails and newsletters? What if you had a simple way to re-engage these supporters?
The online world provides a myriad of ways for you to re-energize your existing supporters. The secret is to provide them with some very low-hurdle ways to express their support for your organization (beyond a donation). For instance, what if you had a way for your supporters to write recommendations for your organization? Or, what if you had a way for them to share videos, photos or stories about their personal experience with your organization? What if they could invite their friends to learn more about you?
These simple actions form the foundation of what we refer to as the “Ladder of Engagement.” Low on the ladder are activities like the ones just mentioned. Higher up on the ladder are activities such as volunteering, donating and becoming a fundraiser. Over time, individual supporters can engage in a variety activities, both high and low on the ladder. However, the ultimate goal is to make it easy and fun for your supporters to “climb” the ladder.
Over the next several months, givezooks! will be rolling out many new ways for your supporters to engage with you at all levels of the “Ladder of Engagement”. Our latest release provides a way for your supporters to engage with you at the first “rung.” That is, we are going to invite them to vote for you as their “favorite” nonprofit organization. In order to entice individuals to vote, we are offering them a chance to win some cool prizes. In addition, we are promoting this contest Internet-wide in order to help you find new supporters. And, one more thing – the nonprofit with the most votes will also win $1000 in prizes (including 3 months free givezooks! service and a $500 donation)! Nonprofits do not need to be givezooks! customers to participate.
So, please encourage all of your supporters to vote for you within the next two weeks. Simply email them this link. And, don’t forget to post this link on your Facebook wall and on your Twitter feed! This is a simple way to become top-of-mind with your supporters without a lot of effort… Contests are proving to be an effective way to gain new supporters in this tough economy (check out this New York Times article).
In a couple of weeks, in an effort to move your supporters up to the second “rung,” we will provide you with a way to ask your supporters for recommendations. So stay tuned!
