If you’ve been using social media for a while, you’re probably already well aware of the impact that networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can make for your non-profit.  When used as part of a strategic marketing and fundraising plan, each of these platforms makes it easier to connect with potential supporters of your mission and develop relationships. Each of these platforms accomplishes this a bit differently, so each requires a tailor made approach in order to successfully engage with others and get your message across.

For example, Facebook is really great for providing a central online location for people to learn more about your organisation and it’s a great place to start conversations about your mission and progress. Since posts are limited to 140 characters, Twitter’s best to quickly share breaking news and other alerts with your existing supporters. Instagram is a great way to connect with supporters on a more visual and emotional level since the main focus of the posts is literally an image.

Why Your Non-Profit Needs LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media network that’s been primarily used as a way for users to create a virtual resume where they store information about their experience, education, interests and background and connect with current, former and prospective co-workers, supervisors, mentors and companies.  LinkedIn, however, is not just for businesses and job seekers.

LinkedIn can be a great tool to educate others about your non-profit’s mission so you can attract greater attention and support from the public. LinkedIn can also make your non-profit’s fundraising and recruiting efforts easier, faster and more cost effective.  The following are the top three ways that creating a LinkedIn profile can benefit your non-profit.

Expand Your Network

It’s only natural that most of us will share at least a few common interests with our friends, and with LinkedIn you can connect with volunteers and donors that have supported your non-profit in the past, as well as their connections that share their interest in helping others and advancing the common good. You can also use the platform’s search feature to find others that are concerned about similar causes and reach out to them.

Because LinkedIn has a reputation as being a site with a more professional and polished attitude, you are also more likely to reach and connect with those that will have a genuine interest in learning about your cause and helping your non-profit to reach its goals.

Expand Your Recruiting Efforts

Most of us lead very busy and hectic lives, so no matter how dedicated your volunteers, board members, staff and donors may be; there will be times when you need to search for additional help. Sudden and unexpected needs and vacancies tend to crop up at the most inopportune times, put LinkedIn removes all of the hassle of finding replacements!   Just search by interests and experience to find potential new volunteers or donors, or you can use the board member connect feature to search for new members to serve on your non-profit’s board.  Rather than having to wait to receive an application before you begin the interview process, LinkedIn allows you to be more proactive and quickly screen potential new recruits and send them an invitation to learn more about your non-profit before they contact you.

Expand Your Reach

LinkedIn isn’t just about expanding your network and making it easier to find support, it is also a great platform to expand the reach of your messages. Similar to Facebook, the platform allows you to create and post content about your non-profit and its mission so that supporters within your network can like and share it. Unconnected users that share similar interests can also easily see and discover the content that you post about your cause and the progress that you are making, all of which expands the reach of your message and strengthens your ability to gain support for the good work that you do!

The important thing to keep in mind about LinkedIn is that it works best when added to your existing social media strategy. Rather than using LinkedIn to replace any of your other social media efforts, think of it as a separate, yet equally important tool that can build upon and increase the success of your non-profit’s current marketing efforts.