Some easy ways to grow your nonprofit email database
If you’ve witnessed the power of email marketing for your nonprofit already, you know the value of a new contact in your database. You also likely work and work to get that treasured contact info at your events or through signup forms, but did you know that there are some fairly simple ways to grow your nonprofit database through your everyday website visitors? Each time someone comes to your site, there are several methods of capturing their email and enticing them to become a follower of your organization.
How to use apps, forms, landing pages and other tactics to grow your email list:
1. Use SumoMe (or another accredited email collecting app)
At ArcStone and The Nerdy Nonprofit site (as you may have experienced) we use a list building tool called SumoMe. It works with your site as a customizable pop up and then can link with several different email marketing tools to grow your contact lists.
2. Shorten your forms
It’s easy to get carried away with forms. You finally got your site visitor to fork over their email, why not maximize the information you get? It may be tempting, but we don’t recommend it. Oftentimes, people are more willing to give you their email if the form is easy to fill out. Take a look at the examples below and consider what information you really need, versus what you can look up yourself when the need arises.
3. Get specific on your form
Another couple tactics we’ve learned regarding forms: People are more willing to fill out contact information if they…
a. Can specify what information they want to receive back from you
b. Know how often you’ll be sending information
On your form, you can have them check off which information they’re interested in (donor updates, volunteer opportunities?) and how often they prefer to be notified (weekly or monthly?).
4. Place calls to action on targeted pages
If possible, you should try to have your forms be more targeted. Rather than just having one newsletter sent out to everyone, regarding everything about your nonprofit, consider having a few: one for donors, one for volunteers, and one for users of your service. Instead of placing one form on every page of your site, consider placing the form on relevant pages; have a donor newsletter subscription on the “donate now” page or a volunteer opportunity newsletter on a volunteer success story blog, etc.
5. Be transparent
One of the biggest pieces of advice we can offer you is that people like to know what they will be receiving via email and how exactly it benefits them. Specify how often they’ll be emailed and what type of content it will be. You can even place an example of a previous email newsletter on the subscription landing page.
With your CTAs and landing page content, tell your visitor why they should want your emails. Read more in the best CTAs for nonprofits or “Would YOU read your nonprofit newsletter?” to better understand what incentives you could use.
Contact our ArcStone team if you need recommendations on your email marketing campaign or help getting started!
