Leveraging Advertising to Amplify Your Cause’s Impact
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Advertising is a powerful tool to raise awareness about your cause, attract support, and build strong connections with the community. By effectively communicating the difference your organization makes, you can garner greater support for your projects and increase interest from potential donors and volunteers. Here’s how to get the most out of your advertising efforts and integrate the iGive message into your campaigns.
Developing a Strategic Advertising Plan
Target Your Message
To maximize the impact of your advertising, tailor your message to your target audience. Consider who you want to reach and where they typically get their information. For instance, if you aim to engage young professionals, focus on social media platforms where they are most active. Show your members in action, making a positive difference in the community to make your ads more relatable and inspiring.
Define your audience segments and craft messages that resonate with each group. Use language and visuals that reflect their values and interests. For example, for an older demographic, emphasize the legacy and long-term impact of your projects. For younger audiences, highlight innovative approaches and immediate community benefits.
Utilize Ready-Made and Custom Ads
Take advantage of ready-made advertising materials or create your own using templates. Customizable templates allow you to personalize ads with your images, content, and branding. This flexibility ensures that your ads are professional and aligned with your organization’s identity.
Gather a library of high-quality photos and videos showcasing your work. Use these visuals to create compelling ads that tell your story effectively. Professional and authentic imagery can significantly enhance the appeal and credibility of your ads.
Tip: You can find some ready-made ads and templates here on the iGive platform to help you get started.
Using Digital Channels
Social Media
Social media is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to get your ads seen by a large audience. Promote your cause by posting ads, images, and videos on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Utilize these channels to share updates, success stories, and calls to action.
Tips for Effective Social Media Ads
- Keep Text Concise: Short, focused messages are more engaging.
- Include a Call to Action: Encourage actions like visiting your website or donating.
- Use Relevant Hashtags: Enhance visibility with hashtags like #SupportYourCause.
- Motivate Sharing: Encourage followers to share your posts to reach a broader audience.
Be sure to watch the recording of our webinar, “How to Use AI to Write Social Media Content.” It provides valuable insights into creating engaging social media content.
Websites and Newsletters
Promote your cause on your organization’s website and in newsletters. Feature ads and updates about your activities and how people can get involved. Use engaging visuals and clear calls to action to drive engagement.
Exploring Print, Radio, and Television
Print Advertising
Print ads in local newspapers, magazines, and community bulletins can effectively reach local audiences. Ensure your ads are visually appealing and contain concise, impactful messages. Highlight your key initiatives and how people can support your cause through iGive.
Radio and Television
Radio and TV ads can reach a broad audience. Utilize professionally produced audio and video content to convey your message. Customizable ads allow you to include your organization’s contact information and specific calls to action.
Tips for Radio and TV Ads
- Use Voice-Overs: Professional voice-overs can make your ads more engaging.
- Localize Content: Customize scripts to reflect local relevance.
- Include Contact Information: Ensure your audience knows how to reach you.
Leveraging Low-Cost Advertising Opportunities
Community Spaces
Utilize community spaces for advertising, such as bulletin boards, grocery shopping carts, and movie theaters. These locations can provide high visibility at little to no cost.
Local Businesses
Partner with local businesses to display your promotional materials. Many business owners are willing to support good causes. Provide them with well-designed posters, flyers, and digital content to share with their customers.
Creative Placements
Think outside the box for ad placements:
- Parking Meters: Place small ads on parking meters in busy areas.
- Taxis: Advertise on taxi cabs to reach a mobile audience.
- Blimps: Use aerial advertising for events and large gatherings.
Integrating the iGive Message
Seamless Integration
Incorporate the iGive message into all your ads. Explain how supporters can contribute to your cause through their everyday shopping. For example, include a message like:
“Support our cause effortlessly by shopping through iGive. Each purchase you make through iGive’s partnered retailers contributes to our mission, helping us achieve more without any additional cost to you. Learn more and join us at [iGive link].”
Tip: Be sure to include your cause’s unique iGive link to track donations. Get that link here.
Highlight Success Stories
Share stories of how funds raised through iGive have made a tangible impact. Use testimonials and case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of the platform. Highlight specific projects funded by iGive contributions to show the direct benefits of supporting your cause this way.
Provide Clear Instructions
Ensure your audience knows how to use iGive. Provide step-by-step guides in your ads and on your website. Use visuals to make the process clear and easy to follow. Offer support for anyone needing help signing up or using the platform.
Conclusion
Advertising is a vital component of your outreach strategy. By developing targeted, compelling ads and leveraging various channels, you can significantly increase awareness and support for your cause. Incorporating the iGive message into your advertising efforts further enhances your fundraising capabilities, making it easier for supporters to contribute. With thoughtful planning and execution, your advertising can drive substantial growth and impact for your organization.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A shopper starts shopping online by first going to iGive.com.
The shopper, your supporter, identifies your cause as the one they support. If your cause is not already on our list of causes either they or you can add it. This tells us where to send the donation. This only has to be done once unless the shopper wants to stop or change causes.
The shopper then identifies the merchant where they want to shop that day from our categorized list of over 1700 merchants. Once they click on that merchant, they are finished for the day with iGive and taken directly to the merchant’s website. If they have shopped there before, they begin shopping. If it is their first time shopping at this merchant’s website, they will have to follow the merchant’s instructions for registering there by providing their name, delivery address, payment method, email address, and perhaps some other information depending on the merchant.
When they are finished shopping, they check out as usual. They are done and only have to wait for their order to be sent to them.
Meanwhile, back at iGive, a message is received from the merchant which documents the transaction. Periodically the merchant adds up what they owe iGive in the way of commission and sends iGive the money. This sometimes takes a month or more after the shopping trip because the merchants want to take into account returns, exchanges or other modifications to the total amount they collect.
iGive then adds up all of the commissions that they have received that are designated to be shared with your cause and sends you the accumulated portion for your cause. This is usually added up on a monthly basis for the period since the last donation to your cause.
There is no cost to the shopper or to your cause.
iGive works with all types of causes — big or small, local or national, and regardless of whether they are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit or not.
Merchants pay iGive a commission from the shopper’s purchase because iGive referred the customer to them. They want customers to shop at their store, and shoppers with iGive want to shop at stores that support their cause. iGive utilizes that commission to facilitate a donation to your cause on behalf of the shopper.
The money sent to your cause is the incentive iGive offers shoppers to use iGive.com as the entry to online shopping at our 1700+ affiliated stores.
This is different from when a cashier asks if the shopper wants to round up or add a dollar to donate when the shopper checks out — in that case, the shopper is paying slightly more to donate to the store’s chosen cause—not the shopper’s. With iGive, the shopper pays the same amount they would if they didn’t use iGive. Your cause receives a donation from iGive for all of your supporters who use iGive.
The amount the cause receives depends on how many of your supporters use iGive and the amount of money they spend shopping online. You can increase the amount of the donation by encouraging your supporters to use iGive.com when shopping online. Your cause does not pay iGive anything.
iGive has a wide range of participating stores. These are listed at iGive.com either by category of merchandise or a comprehensive list of all merchant affiliates. This includes popular online retailers in categories such as clothing, electronics, travel, and more. See the list of affiliated stores here.