Mobilizing Community Engagement through Versatile Touchpoints

How to find creative and effective ways to engage with supporters

Image source credit: Forbes

As organizations continue to navigate the challenges of connecting with their communities post-pandemic, it's more important than ever to find creative and effective ways to engage with supporters. One solution that has proven successful is the use of versatile touchpoints, which can help you connect with people not just through social media (what is considered the now-traditional form of advertising).

Versatile touchpoints are a variety of different ways to reach out to your community and build relationships with them. These touchpoints can be anything from email newsletters to virtual events to experiential marketing. The key is to find the right mix of touchpoints that work for your organization and your audience.

One of the benefits of using versatile touchpoints is that it allows your organization to radiate energy across multiple channels. By utilizing a variety of touchpoints, you can create a buzz and generate excitement around your cause AND make sure that you’re getting new eyes on your work through various venues. This can help inspire donors to support your organization and get involved in your mission.

The key is to find the right mix of touchpoints that work for your organization and your audience.

Here are some tips for using versatile touchpoints to engage your community and inspire donors:

1. Know your audience

Take the time to understand who your audience is and what touchpoints they are most likely to respond to. Are they active on social media? Do they prefer email communication? Use this information to tailor your touchpoints to your audience.

2. Be consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to using versatile touchpoints. Make sure you are regularly engaging with your community and providing them with valuable content

3. Create a sense of urgency

Use your touchpoints to create a sense of urgency around your cause. Highlight the impact your organization is making and why it's important to support your mission now.

3. Be creative

Don't be afraid to get creative with your touchpoints. Consider hosting virtual events, launching social media campaigns, or creating interactive content to engage your audience in new and exciting ways.

Images source credit: Pexels

We’ve listed some above, but here’s a list of some potential touchpoints to start experimenting with:

In-Person:

• Experiential advertising. Create a unique participatory experience that helps connect and inspire people. (A video specifically on experiential advertising to come on our Youtube channel!)

• Workshops with other nonprofits/community leaders. Lean on those in your community who lead like-minded causes and suggest doing a swap so their audience can learn about you, and vice versa! You’ve already got the connection, so you might as well use them!

• Day-themed get-togethers to bring in the community. This could be like utilizing Earth Day to bring people together to plant a garden in the community, or writing letters to inmates together. Create a bonding experience that gives back in a way that is connected to your mission as well.

Digital:

• Email newsletter series. Highlight a specific area of your business and sharing the ins/outs of it in-depth.

• Social media campaigns. These are great ways to create urgency. Tie your campaigns to a donation-matching day, or use the time to share lots of hard-hitting statistics about your cause.

• Paid advertising. Never underestimate the power that a little bit of PDM (Paid Digital Marketing) can do. Test your advertising in different markets, age ranges, locations to see who you’re connecting to most.

• Short + long form video. Utilize videos to share your goals - they are so powerful to captivate an audience. Whether you’re about showing your face or not, there are various ways to show what you do and get others excited. Make note of the type of content you’re drawn to, and try to replicate it with your own spin.

By using versatile touchpoints, your organization can build stronger relationships with your community and inspire donors to support your mission.

Take the time to understand your audience and find the right mix of touchpoints that work for your organization. With a little creativity and consistency, you can make a big impact and radiate energy across multiple channels.

If you need any help, we're here for you. You can join our bi-weekly newsletter to get more tips like these, or send us an email to ask us any questions about types of touchpoints!