Have you ever wondered why you don’t get the desired results despite the efforts and passion you invest in your marketing? You struggle to reach your targeted audience and can’t secure the necessary funds to support your organization. Well, Why do nonprofits struggle with marketing? Here are three reasons:

• Underestimating what non-profit marketing takes and not being able to adapt to the changing trends: There was a time as a non-profit you went to television stations, radio stations, and print media to advertise your cause, and it would generate the desired results, but times have changed. You need to up your game as a non-profit too.   The strategies which worked back then can’t anymore because the world has gone digital. If you mean business, you need to upscale. The broader public lives on the Internet, and if you want to reach them, you need to go where they are.  This can be done by doing the following;

• Create eye-catching social media pages for your nonprofit with good graphics that will catch the viewer’s attention and make them want to learn more about what you have to offer.
• Ensure you have a functional website; it shows your viewers that you mean business, not just a one-time thing.
• Recruit volunteers who specialize in social media marketing. Marketing a non-profit requires skill, passion, and ingenuity; therefore, recruit those who are willing and knowledgeable in the art.
• Ensure your website content has the right answers to the questions of potential donors. Make them see why they should donate to your cause. For example, explain clearly what your nonprofit is about, its effects on society, and other things that would make the donors feel that their money is in good hands. 

• Lack of consistency in marketing: Marketing is challenging, and it’s not surprising that many nonprofits with low budgets and a small number of employees struggle to market their organizations well. It requires consistent capital, which can only be gotten if there is constant communication with the right channels. Unfortunately, some nonprofits are unaware of this and are only content with updating their posts quarterly with no creativity. With the rising trend, this isn’t enough to engage your potential audience. It can be likened to farming, where you have to water your crops for them to yield consistently. Here are some tips to defeat this challenge as a non-profit.

• Plan a good marketing strategy and follow through consistently and passionately.
• Always provide a call to action, as this will actively engage your audience and make them proactive when on your website or your page 
• Don’t allow your content only to be event-driven but also teach, inspire and motivate.
• Always plan your next step or next content ahead.
• Have long-term plans for your non-profit, as this will always keep you going and on your toes.

• Avoid overreliance on stereotypical content and mission statements: Content marketing is the best form of marketing for nonprofits; it is the most natural way to communicate about your business. It allows you to share your values without feeling too pushy or materialistic as regards your nonprofit. Don’t just only talk about your mission statement. You can write a blog post on your work, your goals, and your values in a variety of ways and use email marketing and social media to share the content.

You are more than just your mission statement. Prove it by creating different engaging content consistently around necessary topics to strengthen your brand identity, making it even easier for new potential supporters to find you!

Sharing the content you create will not only help increase your audience but provide value to your audience. 
Now that you know why nonprofits struggle with marketing, avoid these situations and follow the abovementioned steps. If you want more effective marketing hacks for your nonprofit, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @socialsrunway.