Hitting fundraising goals is arguably the most crucial factor affecting a nonprofit’s ability to achieve its mission. Without fundraising, most nonprofits simply can’t stay afloat. SMS marketing is one of the effective ways nonprofits can increase awareness and raise funds.
According to a study by ZDNet, Americans spend an average of about five hours a day on their phones. People love interacting with brands, companies, and organizations on their phones. That’s why SMS marketing is the best choice to reach out to supporters.
Tatango partners average a text message open rate of 99% and receive a return of approximately $5 for every $1 spent on SMS marketing. Over the years, Tatango has partnered with nonprofit organizations to create campaigns that garner results every time. However, remember that even though subscribers prefer text messages over any other digital medium, simply running an SMS campaign doesn’t mean the campaign is guaranteed to be successful.
Now is the time to start fresh with new ideas that will attract lifelong donors who want to help your cause. If your organization’s goal is to increase donations, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn about 15 SMS marketing tactics to help you raise more in 2022. We’ve analyzed trends across the board and found proven strategies that support nonprofit organizations to raise more funds.
1. Choose an SMS Fundraising Platform
First, you’ll need to partner with an SMS platform provider to support your fundraising efforts. Tatango is a top choice for nonprofits across the nation. For every $1 they invest in text message marketing, our clients consistently see a return of about $5. Contact us to take advantage of our platform and reap the benefits.
2. Get Familiar With TCPA Guidelines
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Telecommunication Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) guidelines before beginning your SMS marketing campaign. The TCPA protects consumers against unwanted communication like robocalls and text messages. Your supporters must opt in to receive text messages from your organization. Violations could result in a fine of up to $1,500 per message sent. Tatango is versed in the TCPA and can help your organization remain compliant.
3. Decide on a Short code or 10DLC
Short codes are five- or six-digit numbers that brands and organizations use instead of traditional ten-digit phone numbers. Tatango’s platform supports both options and can help you decide which is right for your organization based on your goals.
4. Integrate a Phone Number Into Your Website
Regardless of which phone number you choose, the Tatango platform enables you to integrate short codes into your existing websites. For example, when you install your short code on your website’s donation page, Tatango automatically receives the donor’s mobile number so you can keep the donor up-to-date on your progress and share future donation opportunities. Integrating your SMS number with your website is a sure way to grow your subscriber list quickly.
5. Focus on Growing Your Subscriber List
Organizations should consistently work to grow their subscriber list. Use short codes and keywords so your supporters can easily opt in to receive messages from your organization (e.g. Text DIFFERENCE to 22233 to subscribe to our mobile alerts and make a difference). Offering an opt-in incentive, like free merchandise, motivates many supporters to become subscribers.
6. Create Attention-Grabbing MMS Messages
Multimedia messages, also known as MMS messages, allow text message marketers to use photos, videos, GIFs, and links in their messages. An MMS message can also include a subject line that captures a supporter’s attention and entices them to read further. Tatango’s platform allows up to 5,000 characters of text in MMS messages, way more than the standard 160 characters for SMS messages.
7. Include a Call to Action
Your supporters want to know how to help you. So make sure your messages include a clear and direct call to action so they can do just that. For example, sending an SMS message that says, “Donate $10 now.”
8. Add Measurable Links
Use links to direct supporters toward what you want them to see or do. For example, include a link to your website’s donation page along with the “Donate now” call to action in your text message. With our experts’ help and strategies like memorable keywords, a strong call to action, and links, you can achieve high click-through rates that yield great results.
9. Segment Subscribers to Send Targeted Messages
One of the most innovative things you can do with text message marketing is to send text messages to specific supporters based on their habits and needs. For instance, try identifying subscribers who have yet to donate to your organization and send them a text message thanking them for their continued support. Then, ask them to donate a specific amount and tell them exactly what their contribution will help you achieve. Finally, be sure to link your call to action to your website, and use keywords to track your results.
10. Personalize Messages With Merge Tags
Send a special message thanking individual donors by first name every time they donate to show them how important they are to your organization’s mission. Adding a merge tag to the beginning of the message ensures your supporter’s first name is the first thing they read when they receive their message. You can also use merge tags to mention specific locations so subscribers can make a difference in their community.
11 . Send Messages Frequently
Your subscribers want to hear from you. Text them regularly to keep them in the loop with what’s going on in your organization. Create a schedule to consistently send your supporters mission updates, invitations to events, and other messages.
12. Analyze Results
When you partner with Tatango, you’ll receive a message report to help you analyze each message you send. Analyze things like donations, click-through rates, and unsubscribes so you can adjust your messaging strategy as needed for the best results.
13. Adjust Sending Frequency as Needed
Try adjusting your messaging frequency if your supporters aren’t responding to your messages as you hoped they would. Try not to overwhelm your supporters with too much information. Instead, keep an eye on your sending habit and use Tatango’s message report to identify how often your supporters like hearing from you.
14. Pay Attention to Unsubscribes
If you’re wondering what makes your supporters opt out of your text messaging list, use Tatango’s message report to identify what went wrong and how to fix it. For example, are your messages timely? Does every subscriber need to receive every message? Are you contacting your supporters too often? Before hitting the send button, ask yourself these questions to target SMS messages to the right audience instead of losing dedicated supporters.
15. Work With the Tatango Design Studio
When you choose Tatango as your SMS messaging platform, our Design Studio is available any time at no additional cost to you. Contact your account representative, and we’ll connect you to experts who will help you design results-driven messages. All you need is an idea and a goal. We’re here to support you in implementing tactics that will help your nonprofit reach its goals in 2022 and years to come.
Ready to Begin SMS Fundraising in 2022?
If you’re ready to begin your 2022 SMS marketing fundraising campaign, don’t wait. Contact us today to take advantage of Tatango’s platform and exclusive benefits for Tatango clients. Our team of experts has more than 14 years of experience and is dedicated to helping nonprofits like yours meet their fundraising goals.
