10 Top Tips for Nonprofits Launching Mobile Campaigns

"The Times They Are A-Changing"...It's hard to keep up with ever-evolving fundraising technology. Since DonorPro's recent release of DonorPro Connect, our Mobile Marketing Platform, we've been talking a lot about best practices when going mobile. As the text message open rate is estimated to be between 95-98% and the email open rate is around 22%, we are big proponents for nonprofit mobile outreach. As nonprofits work towards understanding how mobile technology can be a successful and useful investment, take a peek at the list below. We've outlined 10 tips to follow as you consider implementing a successful mobile outreach campaign for your nonprofit:

1. Collect Mobile Lists: Collect mobile numbers online, through email, and donation forms. Use all of your typical donor collection methods to capture mobile numbers through one additional field. 

2. Poll Your Audience: Use polling capabilities early on in your mobile outreach to better understand your audience. Ask for opinions on content and interest levels while developing trust.

3. Test Your Effectiveness: Understand your audience and their interests. Test messages with various call-to-actions like a registration form, mobile web link, and other content. Testing with mobile outreach is affordable and easy.

4. Promote Multimedia: More than 85% of cell phones are web enabled. Add a link to your text messages to show of a video, call to action, or event information.

5. Nudge through Mobile: A reminder through text message is the perfect compliment to your traditional mail campaigns, email newsletters, and your telephone appeals. Remind supporters of deadlines, donation drives, and updates.

6. Mobile Donations of Any Size: Through DonorPro Connect, you can capture donations of all sizes - no matter how big or small. This is a perfect tool for special events and dinners when your supporters' energy is the highest.

7. Use the Mobile Web: Mobile web usage is expected to surpass traditional PC web usage by 2015. Do you have a website optimized for mobile use? 

8. Develop a Strategy: Understand your marketing and development objectives before entering the mobile realm. Keep in mind integration with your other marketing channels and the overall goal of your campaigns.

9. Offer Incentives: Your mobile outreach is a great chance to promote events, activities, and drives. Consider sponsoring a mobile contest to generate excitement for your upcoming calendar.

10. START! It's expected that by the end of 2012, 50% of nonprofits will use mobile outreach in some manner. No better time than now to get started!