Create Meaningful Online Relationships - it’s not all about swiping!
I’m a big believer that you can build valuable relationships online. It can also be extraordinary.
I’ll share a little story.
Back in late 2002, my husband and I were planning to start a family. I was living in Australia at the time, and being curious, and I visited many websites that provided information on how I would accomplish such a feat. I was eager to connect with women who had been there, done that.
I joined an online group at the time - ninemonths (dot com dot au). Back then, it was a pretty basic forum. It was there that I connected with other women around the country who were in the same place as I was. Some had already had their babies, and they shared their stories which gave me a good sense of what it was going to be like to have a baby.
Here’s the extraordinary part.
With many iterations of that group and 18 years running, those women are still part of my life. We have a private group now on Facebook, and we always share stories and pictures and everything in between. We learned about internet trolls; we faced life and death decisions together and also became friends that only met in real life from time to time. These ladies really supported each other. I consider many of them very close friends.
Why am I telling you this story?
You can build valuable relationships for your nonprofit through online channels.
Everything we do has many sides - both positive and negative. I’m here to tell you that it’s possible to have long-lasting relationships with people you only meet online, including donors, volunteers and other community members.
While we await the COVID crisis to settle down, it is time to get back on our fundraising horse and build a strategy that will see us setting up meetings with donors and prospects using Zoom or MS Teams.
Now is the time to set up meetings and chat with your current donors.
Here’s a couple of simple ways to get started:
Step 1: Get a hold of your list of current donors. Email them and ask to set up a call - they can choose phone or Zoom.
Step 2: Check-in and see how they are doing.
*Seek to discover their interest in your organization. Keep it friendly and curious
*Let them know how you are too :)
*Keep your case for support or a story close by to let them know about what you are currently doing
*If appropriate, update their information in your CRM database
*Ensure the info is correct and be sure to update the information if necessary
Step 3: Send a note of thanks once you are done and include links to all your digital channels
*Send the welcome sequence and get them on the roadmap to begin giving.
Rinse and repeat the process at least 5-10 times per week. Watch how you’ll amplify your fundraising now and in the future.
You’ll be surprised how simple it is to build relationships online and how much value you will create for you, your donor, and the organization.
What do they say? The more you put in, the more you’ll get out of it? In this case, it's true.
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#trust #donorlove #share #retention