Bulk eMail Sending Service for NGOs
Email marketing is a chance for nonprofits to grow a loyal supporter base while maximizing time and resources. Learn how with this guide, which includes tips on choosing an email marketing service for your nonprofit, plus best practices and inspiration for effective campaigns. Traditional marketing methods favored by nonprofits like face-to-face fundraising and events came to an abrupt halt in 2020. With the pandemic context organizations had to find new ways to stay connected with followers and attract new supporters. Email marketing proved an effective solution. From donation drives to updates on your activities, email offers nonprofits an efficient way to reach supporters while still creating a personal experience. Below you’ll find all the essentials on building an email strategy for your nonprofit that uses the channel to its full potential. Why email marketing is a must for nonprofits For nonprofit organizations looking to build a base of loyal supporters, email marketing offers distinct advantages over other digital channels and offline strategies. Here are just some of the benefits your nonprofit could gain from adding email to its marketing mix. It’s cost-effective In a sector where budgets are often tight, efficiency is key. Email offers nonprofits a communication channel that is both affordable and brings results. There’s none of the hassle and cost that comes with posting out appeals and updates to supporters. Your email campaigns don’t even have to cost you a penny. What’s more, email works. The channel is known for its high return on investment. In a nonprofit context, for every 1,000 fundraising emails organizations raise an average of $78. It’s personal yet efficient While nothing beats a one-to-one conversation with a supporter, email marketing can offer the next best thing. As a nonprofit, you’re likely juggling limited resources. So, as your supporter base grows you can’t communicate with every contact individually. Email enables you to reach more people without sacrificing the personal touch. Unlike channels such as social media, messages arrive direct to the contact’s inbox and you decide who receives what, so you can make sure content is relevant. Plus, your email marketing platform will collect data on how contacts engage, so you can personalize your approach even more. It boosts engagement Email offers a direct line of communication with those interested in your cause, allowing you to keep the conversation going and nurture the relationship. You can show your appreciation with a timely thank you and inspire further support by sharing updates on your work and ways to get involved. While there will always be debate over the effectiveness of email vs. direct mail for nonprofits, the trend towards digital engagement is undeniable. Online giving grew by almost 21% in 2020 compared to the previous year and by more than 32% over the past three years. Email lets you create a seamless donor experience that can boost response rates. Rather than having to fill out and return a paper donation form, the supporter clicks a button to donate straight from their device. Choosing the best email marketing service for your nonprofit Before diving into your nonprofit’s email strategy you need to make sure you have the tools to make it happen. With so many services to choose from, deciding which is best for your nonprofit’s email marketing can be a daunting task. To help with your research, here are some factors to bear in mind. Features Aside from affordability, here’s some tools nonprofits should look out for in an email marketing software: Ease of Use If you’re in charge of your nonprofit’s email marketing, you may well be wearing multiple hats. So the last thing you want is to spend your time fiddling around with overly complicated tools. Creating email campaigns will likely take up much of your focus. So an intuitive, drag and drop editor for adapting the format and layout of your content is a must. Trials and free plans are great for testing out different software and getting a feel for how user-friendly they are. It’s also worth checking the level of support available for if you do ever get stuck. Particularly on cheaper plans, not all services will offer human support, meaning you’ll have to trawl through help articles for answers. The forever free plan comes with more than enough to get you started, with features for designing personalized campaigns, collecting signups, segmenting your lists, and sending automated messages. There’s no limit to the number of contacts you can store and you’ll be able to send up to 300 emails a day. 4 Nonprofit email marketing best practices to guide your strategy The steps below walk you through building an effective email marketing strategy for your nonprofit, from managing your audience to executing campaigns. 1. Build a solid contact list Your nonprofit’s email list is the foundation of a successful campaign. It’s not just about sheer quantity, but also the quality of the data you have. Don’t be tempted to buy a nonprofit mailing list as a shortcut to building up your contacts. You’ll see better results with a smaller audience truly interested in your work than if you send unwanted emails to people with no affinity to your organization. Here’s some tips for how to grow your nonprofit email list the right way: Get subscriptions from your online followers Email marketing services let you create signup forms to promote via digital channels. For example, you can add your form to strategic places on your website like your homepage or blog. You could also create a dedicated landing page for your form to share on social media or link to in your email signature. Simple is normally best when it comes to email signup forms. Take a look at this landing page promoting charity: water’s newsletter. In a few lines, they tell you why you should subscribe, while the image gives an idea of the kinds of real-life impact stories to expect. The 4 best nonprofit email campaigns you should be sending Now you know the theory, here’s some examples of must-have campaigns to include in your nonprofit’s email marketing strategy. 1. Newsletters These are the bread and butter of your nonprofit email








