Unlocking Your Nonprofit Potential

Unlocking Your Nonprofit Potential


Ep 54: The REAL Purpose of Facebook and Instagram

June 29, 2020

Okay, let’s jump into today’s episode… I’m working on creating an online course for you and one of the things I’m focusing on is something so obvious, but doesn’t get talked about much: Why are you posting? What’s the reason? You know you should be on social media, but you’re frustrated by your efforts that aren’t producing the results that they should… Or maybe you’re really unclear about what your next step is… because you ARE working hard! But you’re not seeing results. You’re posting on your nonprofit organization’s Facebook and Instagram pages regularly, but nothing seems to be coming of it. Nothing is happening. Have you ever been there? Or maybe you’re camping there right now… So frustrating, right? In the past, I’ve struggled there, too! It seems like you’re doing everything you’re supposed to be doing, but nothing works. Nothing seems to make a difference. It’s not just you… Facebook and Instagram are challenging! There are all these little nuances and tactics that seem so hard to navigate – but guess what? I’ve been through the fire. I’ve done all the hard part of figuring it out and researching and testing, and I’m sharing in this episode, and every episode of Unlocking Your Nonprofit Potential, what I’ve learned with you!  Why? Because I know what you have to give. I know the GOOD you have to bring to the world… And we need more good in the world - now more than ever! So stop struggling, and start taking notes, because I’m going to help you spread that good. You’re going to help more people who need you. You’re going to raise more money. And you’re going to use social media as a tool to help you accomplish those goals. Let’s take a step back from Facebook and Instagram, get some perspective and ask… What’s the point? What is the point? Why are you posting? Take a second to think about this.  Is it because you know your nonprofit should be on Facebook because that’s the world’s expectation these days – every business and organization should be represented on social media? Is it because it’s what everyone else is doing? Is it because you find it a fun and enjoyable part of your job? Is it because it’s the “new word of mouth” and you know you can reach the people you want to help through Facebook? Or maybe you have a different answer… It’s OK if your answer was one of those or something completely different.  Here’s the answer I want you to remember:  The point of posting on Facebook is to get people in your door. And how do you do that? Use your Facebook posts to direct them to your website so they can make an appointment, to find out directions, to contact you – drive them to your website so they can take the next step and find out more about what you offer.  For some people, just seeing your Facebook post is enough and they call you.  But for other people, they have to find out more about you.  They want to see if they can trust your organization enough to help them. They check out your website because they want to find out more.  They’re wondering… What else do you offer? Is it something that will help me? I have this problem; can you solve it?  Facebook is the first place a lot of people will learn about your organization – use it to steer them into finding out more. Your website has the answers for the people that want to find out more.  Facebook points the way to your website so they can get more information there and take the next step of contacting you. What if you don’t have a website? What if you just offer one thing and don’t need a website?  Then your Facebook posts are going to tell them to call you on the phone so they can make an appointment, or where to find out how to get to you, or how to contact you.  After they see your Facebook post, the next step should be that they contact you. The point of posting on Facebook is to get people in your door. Remember, the reason you use Facebook is to tell people about your service or product – but don’t just tell them about it and leave it at that, guide them s