Having a quality NFP that focuses on the care so many people need is fantastic. However, getting the word out on all you do and how you improve society takes a bit more effort. While a modern website with all the bells and whistles goes a long way to improving your online visibility, there is another tool you should consider – a blog.
Today’s digital world is chock-full of all kinds of websites and resources. To better stand out, you need engaging content that celebrates your success as a not-for-profit organisation. Great content designed to engage your target audience is precisely how a blog can help.
Benefits of a Non-Profit Blog
When you share stories of the impact about your nonprofit organisation, you are building a bridge that cultivates better relationships in your community. This fosters a stronger bond with your readers and makes your entire NFP more relatable. A blog offers many benefits like:
- SEO Boost – Here’s a fact: companies who blog get 97% more links to their websites. This boosts SEO and elevates your page ranking on search engines.
- Build Authority – By sharing insightful content, your organisation emerges as a thought leader in its domain, allowing you to establish your online credentials further and rise up the search engine results.
- Generate Leads – With captivating content, you can inspire readers to subscribe, donate, or volunteer to your organisation. That is critical if you are operating in healthcare, where there is massive demand for more resources.
Share News/Updates – Communicate with your community and keep them informed about your organisation’s latest happenings, upcoming events, and recent celebrations.
11 Best Practices for a Non-Profit Blog
#1 – Embrace Modern Tech
The world is on the move. Ensure your blog content is easily accessible across all devices, from smartphones to gaming PCs. With modern tech, you can automate many of the mundane tasks necessary to keep the flow of content moving. You also want to integrate plugins that keep your website loading quickly. The faster load time of your blog provides a better user experience. Notably, images comprise almost 75% of the total page weight on most webpages, so ensure they’re optimised.
#2 – Don’t Forget CTAs
Whether it’s newsletters, donations, or volunteering opportunities, clear CTAs guide your readers toward meaningful actions. You want to sprinkle CTAs throughout your blog post as well as at the bottom of the article and along the sidebar. These shouldn’t feel pushy but provide a clear call to action for your readers if they wish to engage more with your not-for-profit organisation. A simple CTA can make the difference between 5 email subscribers and thousands of eager fans.
#3 – Utilise a Sidebar
It’s not just about aesthetics. A sidebar can amplify UI/UX and provide room for cross-promotion of other nonprofit organisation resources. You want your readers to find what they need from your NFP blog as quickly as possible. Also, you never know what accessibility accommodations you are making for your viewers. Being in the healthcare field, additional navigation can go a long way to helping those with disabilities access your information.
#4 – Feature Popular and Related Posts
Showcasing top-performing articles keeps readers on your site longer, enhancing website traffic and customer engagement. Place popular articles on your sidebar and in a grid or carousel on your homepage. Be sure to add a plugin that creates related articles based on the descriptions or tag words used for every post.
#5 – Keep It Simple
Your main goal is clarity. Use short paragraphs, catchy headings, bold hyperlinks, lists, and appealing visuals. Remember, simplicity fosters most engagement. You are not creating an article for a university or fellow medical professional. You are writing to a specific target audience, and they want to be entertained as well as engaged. A simple format with catchy content goes a long way to boosting your conversion rates.
#6 – Make it Sharable
If your readers love your content, they should be able to share it! Integrate easily accessible social media buttons that you can have on your images, links, and content headers. If you have the time, make your first featured image on your blog formatted for Pinterest and Instagram. That way, when it is shared, it says what the post is, who your NFP organisation is, and what your goals are.
#7 – Infuse Positive Stories
Highlight personal accounts of how your not-for-profit – be it healthcare providers or those associated with NDIS in Australia – is creating a difference. Feature stories from the people you help or employee spotlights that better relate the core team of your organisation with the target readership.
#8 – Write Content About Your Mission
Share the heart of your cause. Discuss your NDIS-approved mission, offer resources, useful tips, and maybe even sneak peeks of your behind-the-scenes progress. You want to have highly relatable text that echoes your organisation’s overall goals. This is “niche marketing” because you are showcasing all your benefits in subtle ways without jamming them down the reader’s throats.
#9 – Post on a Consistent Schedule
Consistency breeds trust. Whether you update your nonprofit blog weekly or monthly, keep your schedule so subscribers know when to expect fresh content. Being consistent means you are reliable. It demonstrates you have a system in place that people can see you actively care about maintaining.
#10 – Allow Guest Posts
This strategy builds community and showcases diverse voices and expertise, reinforcing your position among the best nonprofit blogs. It also helps with driving new traffic to your website. When you can feature a guest poster in a related industry or niche, you swap links. They grow their online reputation, and you get a quality backlink to rise higher on Google search results.
#11 – Write for Your Reader
Your content shouldn’t be a monologue. Craft content with your reader in mind, addressing their needs, questions, and aspirations. You want to offer insights about what you do and how your non-profit organisation helps, but also directly address the pain points of the readers you want to attract. It is a delicate balancing act, but one that is well worth the effort.
Wrapping Up
The potency of a blog for any NFP cannot be underestimated. With the best practices outlined above, you have the blueprint to transform your digital presence, boosting awareness, engagement, and impact.
We work with many NFPs like you seeking to leverage NDIS funding for fantastic new websites that are mobile responsive and highly engaging. One of the best ways to do this is to have an updatable blog where content can boost your rankings and get shared across social media. Contact us today, and let’s discuss how our experienced team at WEB 105 can help!
FAQs
Can a blog be non-profit?
Yes, you can add a blog to your not-for-profit organisation. This functions as an excellent platform to share your mission and personal stories that relate well with your target audience.
How do you write a blog for a non-profit organisation?
Writing for a non profit blog starts by understanding your target audience and focusing on your organisation’s mission and impact. You want to have captivating headlines, include lists, fun visuals, and make everything sharable to social media. While you’re at it, sprinkle in some CTAs to grow your email list or donation cycle.
How often should a non-profit post a blog?
The frequency depends on your NFPs goals. The more important factor is consistency. Make a schedule for what works best for your team, and then stick to it!