5 Reasons Why Yes, Yes, and YES It ABSOLUTELY Does

Non-profit work never sleeps. And it’s no wonder—your employees pour their heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into their work, trying their hardest to promote your organization to the best of their abilities.

But sometimes, in your quest to spread the word about your non-profit, it still feels like your marketing department is working on a makeshift dime and scrambling to find new ways to increase your outreach.

Let us tell you a not-so-secret secret.

If you’re still focusing the majority of your efforts on things like mailers, publications, media coverage, and social media, you’re missing out on one of the foremost marketing opportunities at your disposal—the blog.

While nearly 76% of non-profit organizations utilize content marketing methods, only 64% dare to maintain a blog on a regular basis. And we get it— it’s a lot of work!

Needless to say, blogs can help with lead generation and establish a voice of authority for your non-profit organization. Below, we’re breaking down some of the biggest reasons why you should consider creating a blog for your organization.

1. Establishes You as a Leader in Your Industry

One of the most essential aspects of any non-profit organization is the fact that, in and of itself, your organization is a resource to the public. Whether you’re a non-profit animal rescue or an emergency shelter for disaster relief victims, you provide resources that few other places provide in the community.

That also means you possess highly specific and valuable information that the public isn’t always aware of. Undoubtedly, the members of your team have an extensive wealth of knowledge collected from their time working at your organization—and what better thing to do than to make your website an extension of your team’s knowledge?

A blog adds credibility to your non-profit, which is extremely important, especially when trying to instill a sense of reputability and trust among potential donors. By establishing that you are a knowledgeable voice, the benefit is two-fold: you build a sense of trust in the public and provide them with a wealth of resources. And better yet? A blog can also help eliminate the stress of fielding questions from the public—just direct them to your online blog!)

2. Drives Donor Engagement and Support

A well-crafted blog can be a powerful tool for driving donor engagement and support for nonprofit organizations. Firstly, it allows nonprofits to share their mission, vision, and impact stories with a wider audience. By regularly publishing content that highlights the work you do and the difference you make, nonprofits can create a stronger emotional connection with their donors.

Personal stories of individuals or communities positively affected by your organization’s efforts can evoke empathy and inspire action. Donors want to know that their contributions are making a tangible difference, and a blog provides a platform to showcase these success stories, reinforcing their belief in the cause and encouraging continued support.

Secondly, blogs enable nonprofits to keep their supporters informed and engaged. Regular updates on ongoing projects, upcoming events, and organizational developments foster a sense of transparency and trust. Donors appreciate being in the loop and knowing that their contributions are being put to good use.

3. You Can Build a Base of Readers Whom You Can Track

Don’t get us wrong—we love a good newsletter, but… How can you tell if anyone’s actually reading it?

Spoiler alert: You can’t.

With a blog, you can actively see how many people are reading your material with trackable metrics that allow you to gauge your audience reach more easily. You can also see what’s attracting the most attention, allowing you to better hone your efforts into the campaigns that are garnering the biggest viewership. Plus, even if your audience doesn’t have quite as big a reach as press releases seem to, you’re catering to a loyal audience as opposed to painting with a broad stroke and hoping something sticks.

4. You Control the Narrative

Blogging is a form of journalism. Except, you are the journalist—no siphoning your information through other sources who ultimately end up watering your message down or muddling your message with misinformation or false narratives.

Blogging means you can deliver your message to the public exactly as you intend it. You can make that as complex, informative, and in-depth as you want to. Think of it as your platform to dispel rumors, debunk myths, and inform the public of what your actual views as an organization are.

Field your own press questions, write up your own releases, and be the source of news your donors would like to see.

5. Have the Space to Share Inspiring Stories

Social media is great, but rarely is it enough to tell a story in full detail—after all, most people’s attention spans are limited to 30-second clips and paragraph captions.

And let’s face it—a lot happens day-to-day working for a non-profit. Did you help to rehome a family whose house was destroyed in a recent flood? Did you rescue a dog from a horrible hoarding situation only to adopt it out to a loving family? Was a Thanksgiving Drive so inspirational that one of your donors chose to contribute a million dollars toward your organization?

Then give those stories the space they deserve! Consider social media like a trailer reel—sure, they have an idea of what happened, but it can’t capture the emotion and heartbreak of an entire story. Having a long-form blog to link to on those social media posts also attracts clicks to your site—where viewership matters most.

Perhaps those viewers will choose to stick around a bit longer and explore the rest of your site and would even like to contribute to your cause after reading your post. Without a blog, social media has no final destination. That is, it’s only a snippet of what your organization does. But, when your site has a blog, it ensures that people have a reason to come to your site and stick around on it for a bit longer than they intended to!

Final Thoughts

The power of blogging for nonprofit organizations cannot be overstated. From establishing credibility and trust to driving donor engagement and support, a well-maintained blog can be a game-changer in your outreach efforts. It serves as a platform to share your mission, vision, and success stories, connecting with your audience on a deeper level and inspiring action.

Moreover, a blog provides valuable insights into your readership, allowing you to track engagement and tailor your content to their interests effectively. You control the narrative, ensuring your message reaches the public as intended, free from external filters or misinterpretations.

Plus, it also gives you the space to share the inspiring, heartwarming stories that define your organization’s impact. It complements your social media efforts by offering a deeper dive into your work, attracting visitors to your site, and providing them with a reason to stay and support your cause.

While we could sugarcoat the truth, managing a blog is time-consuming and challenging (we’re taking some time off to recover from writing this one). That being said, the rewards of creating your own blog are immeasurable.

If you’re ready to harness the full potential of blogging but need assistance, Tangible is here to help. We specialize in creating and managing blogs that amplify your voice, engage your audience, and drive support for your nonprofit.

Interested to learn more about how we can help? We love working for organizations with a higher cause—let’s chat!