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Keep your timeline updated with crowdfunding plans provided by our donation website. To crowd fund via Facebook means to get in contact with supporters.

Facebook is one of the best resources to ensure that you host a successful online fundraising campaign. Whether you are still in the process of learning how to fundraise or you are preparing to launch your twentieth fundraiser, it is always a good idea to ensure that you are properly utilizing all of your available resources. The following 19 step by steps will walk you through the entire process of leveraging the power of Facebook to help you raise money online for your cause.

1.) Create a Facebook Group

One of the best ways to reach out to donors is to create a specialized Facebook group for your fundraiser. If you do not have a Facebook account already, however, you will need to set one up first. Facebook accounts are easy to setup, but you can visit their help page here if you have any questions about the process. Once your account has been created, you should create a fundraising group. The entire process of properly setting a group up can be found here.

Some people think that it makes more sense to utilize their personal posts and status messages to gather supporters, but this is not the best idea. Consider for example how limited it can be to continuously see or not see updates that often get lost in the sea of status updates (We will explain more on this later – keep reading). On the other hand, if you are interested in a specific product, artist or fundraising project, you are happy to join their page or group and receive regular updates about them. Your fundraising group will allow you to reach out to people, specifically, who have already expressed an interest in your cause, and it will also make it much easier for you to maximize the promotion of your fundraiser and gain support by addressing these people specifically.

2.) Invite Relevant Friends

After you created your group, Facebook’s group feature allows you to invite or add anyone to your group, but you should ensure that you only add people who are going to be interested in your project. Even though you might think it is best to increase your group numbers as quickly as possible, you need to consider the potential negative aspects of inviting or adding people who will not be interested. For example, you probably dislike it when you receive phone calls from a telemarketing company.Therefore, you should make sure that you only add people to the group who will be interested in your message. Once you have decided who is likely to be interested, you should definitely send them an invitation. By sending invite to people who are relevant to your fundraising cause and will show interest this will help your friends and family member to invite their friends in hopes of gaining additional support and going viral. Just remember keep all the invite relevant – don’t invite strangers as this won’t be as effective.

3.) Add Administrators

Administrators are able to invite their friends to join the group, so you should definitely give admin status to some of the group members who you trust the most. When they send out an invite to their friends, it will be seen as them giving your group their personal seal of approval. Consider for a moment how much influence your friends have on the causes you support. Selecting the right administrators can cause their friends to feel just as influenced to give to a good cause.

Make sure that each of the administrators understands that they should only invite people who are likely to be interested in the fundraiser’s cause, though, so that your group can avoid the possibility of annoying people unnecessarily- Remember keep it relevant. Again, it is important to consider the fundraiser’s reputation when group invitations are sent out, and you should never add someone to the group without their permission. Make sure that you continue you to add new admins as your group grows so that you can reach out to a wide group of potential donors.

4.) Create an Incentive to Invite New Members

You created your Facebook group, you are created admins and now its time to provide a reason to join the group! Every person who is a member of the group can send an invite to their friends, but it often takes a specific incentive to get them to take action. For example, you might be very pleased with your cell phone provider, but you probably avoid acting like a walking billboard for their services. If they offered you a credit for each person who you referred, you would most likely begin extolling their virtues to anyone who would listen. Therefore, it is a good idea to attach an incentive to capture the attention of all of your group members – Here is a very specific example below to help.

Consider offering to personally donate $2 to the cause for each new member who joins the group during a specific time frame. Make these easy for yourself by adding a limit to this. Write something like this

“For every person who is added to the group I will donate $2.00. I will do this up until $500.00″

(or whatever budget or limit you want to put in place). Here is a great example to show everyone your motivation and to also set goals to supporters. By putting goals in place this will help encourage supporters to further participate in adding others to the group.

5.) Plan a “Donate Your Status” Event

Now that you have a many people who have been added to your Facebook group you should organize a “donate your status” event. Begin posting about the event one week in advance to gather as much support as possible. This will also give advanced notice and set appropriate expectations. Consider how much more likely you are to follow through with something if you are given advance notice and then reminded when it is time to take action. Therefore, you should make a post about the event once a day for a week. When the event begins, you will provide a status update that each group member can copy and paste into their status. Ask them to keep it up for 48 hours so that it will have the maximum impact.

Here is a very specific example of how you can present the idea of the “donate your status” event to your group members:

“In the spirit of helping Jason Adams raise money online to cover his medical expenses, we are asking all group members to help spread the word about our online fundraising campaign. We hope that our fundraising page, which is located at www.DonationTo.com/JasonAdams, will raise enough money to help Jason deal with this difficult time in his life. In order to maximize our potential for donations, we are asking each of your to donate your status in Jason’s honor for 24 hours. Please post the following status on the 2nd at 9 a.m. and leave it up until 9 a.m. on the 4th. We are suggestion the following post. “My friend Jason Adams needs assistance raising money for a necessary medical procedure. We are using DonationTo.com to collect donations. Please consider donating at www.DonationTo.com/JasonAdams. Thank you!”

Make sure that you encourage your group members to use the same status on Google Plus, Twitter, LinkedIn and any other social networking sites that they belong to. You should also take this opportunity to remind them that they can invite their friends to join the group, and that it will be very helpful if they get their friends to join the 48 hour “donate your status” event.

6.) Utilize Imagery for the “Donate Your Status” Event

In addition to asking group members to donate their status for 48 hours, you should also provide imagery that they can utilize for their cover photo. Keep in mind that photos often have a bigger impact than the written word. For example, it is easy to skim through all of the written content on your Facebook news feed, but images have a way of capturing your attention. Therefore, it is always a good idea to provide an image that has been optimized for usage as a cover photo (learn more here). Make sure that you list the DonationTo.com fundraising page URL on the image to help generate donations.

7.) Make the First Donation

It is important for potential donors to see that your fundraiser is active. One of the first tips of learning how to fundraise is to make the first donation yourself. Consider how you would feel if you were asked to participate in something that no one else had signed up for yet. This would most likely make you hesitant to participate, and it might also make you suspicious of the organizer’s motives. Therefore, it is crucial for your fundraiser to show some forward momentum before you make a major push for a “donate your status” event. If people see that the fundraiser is active, it will be easier for them to make the decision to donate online. Below is an example of how the donation amount is already on its way and shows supporters its time to act!

 

8.) Send out Reminders

No matter how committed to a cause an individual is, it is still possible for them to become distracted and forget to make a donation. For example, consider all of the times that you have planned to attend an event but forgot all about it until it was too late. Your potential donors have a lot going on in their lives, and they need to receive occasional reminders.

You should also send out friendly reminders to your family members and friends who have not accepted your group invite after a few days. You can do this by sending them a Facebook message, talking to them via Facebook chat or sending them a quick email. Make sure that you avoid overwhelming people with reminders, though. If you send out too many, you will only ostracize potential donors.

It is also important to respect everyone’s wishes. Therefore, if someone declines your group invitation, you should not invite them again. Some people might feel uncomfortable about joining the group, especially if they are financially unable to donate online. Regardless of their reasons, however, it is always a good idea to protect your fundraiser’s reputation by allowing them to make the decision that they are unable or unwilling to participate. Therefore, you should place your energy and focus on the people who are committed to helping you move forward with your fundraising ideas. Ultimately, you want your reminders to be helpful and to have value. You don’t want to be annoying and out of context relative to those who are not interested.

9.) Create a Few Images to Promote Your Fundraiser

It is a good idea to continue to utilize imagery even after the “donate your status” event has passed. If you consider how much more likely you are to click on a photo than a long status update, you will instantly understand how powerful imagery can be on Facebook. In order to quickly connect with your audience, you will need to make your fundraising ideas clear and eye-catching. There are three key elements that each fundraising image should have.

a.) Select an image that is relevant to the cause. In the example of Jason who needs money for medical expenses, you could select an image that shows how ill he is.

b.) Make sure that the image has a simple but powerful call to action. For example, it could say, “Jason has cancer, and he needs your help. Please donate online today.”

c.) Unfortunately, the image will not be clickable. However, you should still list the URL of the donation page such as www.Donationto.com/JasonAdams. It is also a good idea to list the URL in the description of the image when you post it. That way, if people share the image, they will also be sharing your description which will include a clickable link.

Once you have all of these elements in place, you should post the image. Consider making multiple images so that people will have the opportunity to share the information multiple times. Below is a quick example of creating an image that can be posted and share your message at the same time. Consider how the message is simple and to the point. Photo of the person, stating what is going on and where to take action.

10.) Create a Profile Photo

Your profile photo is seen every time you comment on anything, so it is a very powerful tool for getting the word out. For example, you can probably easily identify each of your closest friends based on their profile pictures, even if they are not in the photo. Whenever someone changes their image, it instantly stands out. You can utilize this to draw attention to your fundraising efforts. Make sure that you consider the size limitations of Facebook’s profile photos, though, or else your message will get lost. It is also a good idea to make sure that your profile picture meshes well with your cover photo. When in doubt, it is always best to keep things simple. Finally, you should suggest that other people switch their profile pictures too. When multiple people are using the same profile picture, it captures a lot of attention from their family and friends. You can turn this level of attention into new group members and donations.

11.) Promoted Posts

Facebook has a new feature that will help you ensure that more people see your most important posts. Studies have proven that only 12 to 16 percent of your followers will actually notice your posts, so it is important to increase your visibility. Consider how often you actually visit individual pages as opposed to simply looking at your news feed. For the vast majority of Facebook users, if a post does not appear in their news feed, they are never going to see it.

Although promoted posts do cost money, they still might be the best method for obtaining the maximum amount of donations. Before you start promoting all of your posts, however, you should pick a sample post and monitor how it impacts your donation activity. If the total amount of donations that you receive within the next 24 hours is way beyond the amount that you paid to promote your post, then you might want to consider promoting additional posts in the future. On the other hand, if you receive zero donations, then you should consider whether or not your posts have a strong enough call to action. After all, it makes no sense to pay to promote a post that has been poorly written or fails to connect with your target audience.

In order to learn how to best utilize the promoted posts feature, you should read the information posted here.

12.) Give Updates

It is always a good idea to give regular updates, especially when you hit a milestone such as 50 percent. Consider how helpful it is to receive updates on a business project that you are working on. Your potential donors will view updates about the fundraiser in the same light. In addition to helping donors see that their efforts are providing measurable results, they might also feel compelled to donate again if they understand how close you are to reaching your fundraising goal.

Anytime you post fundraising updates, you should also encourage everyone who has donated to share the information with their Facebook friends.

Everyone likes to be involved in a successful project, and learning that your medical fundraiser is only $2,000 away from being fully funded is likely to convince new people to make a donation. In fact, you will probably notice that the closer you get to your goal, the quicker the donations roll in. In order to keep this momentum going, though, you must remain committed to posting updates on a regular basis. Remember that creating a sense of urgency is the best way to obtain donations. For example, if you inform people that you are half way to your goal and you only have a week left, they will dig deep to push you across the finish line.

13.) Take Screenshots of Your Results

Anyone can make a post about a milestone, but providing a screenshot image is a much better way to celebrate your success. After all, many people tend to doubt things that they have not seen with their own eyes. Consider for instance how many times someone has posted something on the Internet that you ended up searching for verification about. Instead of prompting your donors to question if they can trust your milestone updates, you can simply provide them with visual proof.

In addition to building trust, screenshots are a great way to make people more excited about participating in your fundraiser. You should post milestone screenshots to your Facebook group and on your DonationTo.com fundraising page. Everyone will be happy to share in the success of the fundraiser, and the screenshots will make it easy for them to also share the excitement with their family and friends. It is only natural that people want to feel like they are backing a winner. By posting screenshots of each major milestone, you will enable your supporters to feel more confident about asking other people to match their donations. As a reminder, imagery is a powerful tool to use on Facebook, and milestone screenshots definitely fit into the category of imagery that will have an impact on viewers.

14.) Contact People and Ask Them to Support Your Cause

There are a lot of people who fail to accept group invites, but that does not mean that they are uninterested in your fundraiser. In fact, if they are not online when you send them a group invitation, they are much more likely to be unresponsive. For example, think about your reactions to event and game invitations on Facebook. If you are online when the invite pops up, you will probably interact with it on the spot. However, if you log in and find multiple notifications, you are much more likely to simply skim through them without taking action on the majority of them. Your friends and family utilize Facebook the same way that you do, so it is important to reach out to them to ensure that they are aware of your fundraiser.

Facebook’s messaging system is a robust tool for contacting people, and it also indicates whether or not someone has read your message by telling you what time the person read it. If they get your message and fail to respond, you can take that as a sign that they are probably uninterested. However, you might want to follow-up with them one time if they are signed into chat. After all, a lot of people intend to respond to messages later, but they end up forgetting to do so. A live chat, on the other hand, has a much greater sense of urgency, and most people will feel compelled to respond immediately.

15.) Tag Your Supporters

As previously mentioned, approximately 84 to 88 percent of your friends will miss your status updates. To make sure that they receive your most important posts, you should consider tagging them to get their attention. For example, you are highly likely to interact with any photos that someone tags of you. On the other hand, if someone posts a photo of you without tagging it, there is a high likelihood that you will never see it. Even though your fundraiser posts are not about your friends, it is still considered to be suitable Facebook etiquette to tag someone in a post that you think they will be interested in. As a reminder to tag a person, you will want to type out your post like you would a normal status update. One you start to type add the ‘@’ symbol and as you start to type letters again after ‘@’ Facebook will automatically fill in friends names alphabetically– give it a shot is very easy.

In order to avoid annoying people, you should only tag your friends who have become supporters of your cause. Facebook can have limits on tagging friends per post, so you will have to rotate which people you tag. When you tag someone who is already a supporter of your cause, it will help remind them to make additional donations, and it will also help your cause go viral. You should also ask your donors to help you spread the word by sharing posts and tagging additional supporters. As the message spreads around Facebook, you are certain to gain additional group members and donations.

16.) Make a Video

It is extremely easy to make a video nowadays, especially because almost every smartphone has a built-in video camera. Even if your video is low quality, it is virtually guaranteed to capture some attention. Consider for example how often you click on the videos that your friends post. If you can harness the powerful draw that most people feel towards online videos to get the word out about your fundraiser, then you will have a greatly increased chance of meeting your goal.

It is important that you focus more on the message than on creating the perfect video. In fact, simplicity often presents a much more memorable message than a video that is packed with special effects. Use the video to introduce your cause and explain why you need support. You should also mention that your fundraiser is being hosted by DonationTo.com and provide the URL to your fundraising page. Make sure that you tag some of your supporters when you post the video, and encourage everyone to share the video on their profile.

Want to learn more about making videos, read our post specifically addressing videos here:  and checkout how to make videos from The Book on Fundraising. 

17.) Get Local Companies Involved

It is always a good idea to try to obtain a business donor. They will be able to provide you with a larger donation than most individuals, and they can also provide you with access to a wider group of potential donors. Businesses will also enjoy the perks of supporting a local fundraiser. For example, most international businesses make it a standard practice to make charitable donations because it makes them look better to their customers. Local businesses especially need the positive word of mouth that comes from being associated with a fundraiser, so they will usually be happy to help out.

When you post videos and status updates about the fundraiser, you should tag any businesses who have made a donation. This will both allow their customers to learn about your fundraiser and it will make the business look good. If the company is well-respected by its customers, then their decision to support your fundraiser will definitely lead to additional donations. Therefore, it is truly a win-win scenario for you to reach out to local businesses.

For additional fundraising tips for working with companies for B2B fundraising take a look here:

Ask businesses for fundraising help:  - Corporations help fundraising: - Networking for better fundraising: - 3 steps to better – networking part 2:

18.) Set up a Facebook Event

For whatever reason, most fundraising organizers fail to utilize the power of Facebook’s events feature. This is a big mistake, because creating an event is the best way to help people remember to make a donation. Events are also a great idea because it is very easy for your supporters to invite people to participate in your fundraising by adding them to the event. Consider for example how often you have learned about an interesting local event because someone sent you an event invitation on Facebook. This same simple process can be used to quickly drum up a lot of support of your fundraiser.

Whenever someone accepts an event invitation, it shows up in their events area, and they also get a reminder on each day of the event. This is a powerful tool that is much more likely to capture a potential donor’s attention than a status update. Getting someone to commit to the fundraising by clicking “I’m going” on the event may not guarantee that they will actually donate, but it makes the odds much higher. To learn more about successfully utilizing Facebook events to increase your donations, visit our blog post here

19.) Provide Contextual Communication

It is important to provide communication that stays within the context of where you are at in the fundraising process. In other words, if you are at the beginning of the fundraiser, you should make that clear from the language that you use. As the end of the fundraiser gets closer, you will need to utilize the language in your status update to provide a greater sense of urgency. Consider how the messages that you receive from your boss have an impact on how quickly you take action. If you get a message that says you have a month to complete a project, you are probably not going to rush into action. When you have one week left, however, your boss’ sense of urgency is certain to cause you to take action. The same process is true for people who are planning to donate to a fundraiser. Even if they strongly support your cause, they are much more likely to make a donation when the clock is about to run out.

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your end date approaches without the goal being met. DonationTo.com enables you to change fundraiser’s end date, but you should always communicate with your supporters to let them know why you have chosen to do so.

To learn more about contextual communication during fundraising take a look at some additional posts here:

Communication tips with supporters: - Stay in contact with supporters:

Overview

As you can see, Facebook can be a powerful ally for your fundraising efforts. Even if you are new to Facebook, it is possible to set up both your personal profile and a fundraising group within a very short period of time. Once your group is in place, it will be important to invite people who are likely to be supportive of your cause. You should also name at least a couple of group administrators to make it easier to spread the word about your efforts. Once your group has a large base of supporters, you can hold a “donate your status” event to reach a large amount of people at once.

The key to successful fundraising is to make people feel like they are supporting a cause that will become fully funded. Therefore, it is important to make the first donation so that your fundraiser does not look like it has no forward momentum. Once the donations begin to roll in, you will want to capture screenshots of major milestones such as hitting the 50 percent mark. Sharing this screenshots is a great way to excite people and encourage them to make additional donations.

In addition to screenshots, you will want to create powerful imagery that explains your fundraiser. It is a good idea to make images that conform to Facebook’s size restrictions for cover photos and profile images. Each time someone uses one of these images, it will help others learn about your fundraiser. A video is also a good way to spread the word while going viral. Finally, make sure that you provide regular updates throughout the entire fundraising process, and utilize your updates to create a greater sense of urgency as the deadline draws near. By following all of these tips, you have a great chance of hosting a fully funded campaign.

Looking for additional fundraising tips check out these other links: How to Do Fundraising Mobile, How to Do Fundraising on Facebook, How to Do Fundraising and Follow Up With Supporters, How to Control Image Quality for Better Fundraising in 4 Tips

Thanks again! From the DonationTo Team!!

The Fast Way to Fundraise Online

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