Did you know that 55% of those who engage with nonprofits via social media have been inspired to 
take further action? (Source: Waggener Edstrom)

That’s an amazing statistic, however, social media is like any other marketing tool; you need a strategic plan, dedication and follow through to see results. To help you get your strategy on-track, here are 6 steps you can implement right away.

1. Set Goals

Before you post anything on social media you need to have a clear vision of what you are trying to accomplish. Do you want to increase traffic to your website by 20%? Do you want to increase online donations by 35%? Set measureable goals.

2. Make a Plan

Create an annual editorial calendar to plan out and schedule your content to your social media channels, e-newsletters and blog posts. Share this with your team and discuss at meetings to open the conversation for new ideas, inspiration and successful content.

3. Be Social

Social media is meant to be social, however, many organizations use it only as a platform to broadcast messages. Take time to talk to your community, build relationships, interact and engage with them. This helps develop a personal connection and level of trust.

4. Show Gratitude

You can never say “thank you” too much! Let your supporters and volunteers know how much they mean to your organization; show your gratitude regularly. UNICEF has a great example of this.

5. Measure Your Progress

Keep a simple excel spreadsheet to measure your progress on a monthly basis. If one of your goals was to increase online donations by 35%, track that progress monthly. See how your progress is matching up with your goals.

6. Be Open to Change

If you’ve measured your results and aren’t happy with your progress, make some changes, try new things and see what happens. You may have to experiment a bit to find out what works best with your online audience. You can also just ask them—either by posing thoughtful questions on social media or by using an online survey tool like Survey Monkey.

Let’s connect on social media! Share what you’re doing, and if you have any questions about implementing this strategy, let me know. Tweet me at @abrodydesign

And here’s the infographic I designed to show these tips in a shareable way. If you like it, please share it.