Only around 50 percent of all nonprofit organizations are ultimately successful. And while there are many reasons why a nonprofit might fail, poor or incomplete marketing strategies factor into the mix.
Here’s what digital marketers need to know about implementing a successful SEO strategy for nonprofits.
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Why Should Nonprofits Do SEO?
A solid SEO strategy isn’t strictly about closing sales and making lots of money. It’s about meeting goals and achieving objectives.
A nonprofit may not be selling anything in a traditional sense, but it still needs volunteers and a steady stream of donors willing to reach for their wallets. A successful SEO strategy in marketing your nonprofit organization can ensure you have plenty of volunteers and benefactors.
You can gain a competitive edge
A nonprofit may not be competing for sales, but even charitable people only have so much time and money to give away to great causes. Well-executed SEO can help make your organization visible to those looking to support causes like yours.
You can establish a reputation
Brand recognition is just as important for nonprofits as it is for any other business working for profit. People are more likely to invest in names they know – names associated with exceptional integrity, transparency, and honesty.
SEO delivers a steady stream of supporters
Paid advertising and promotions can be great for producing quick traffic bursts when needed. But SEO is about playing the long game and working toward your nonprofit’s lasting success. When executed correctly, SEO for nonprofits generates a constant influx of new visitors, donors, and interested volunteers.
In other words, SEO helps your organization make a difference and raise awareness of human suffering, so you don’t want to miss out.
5 Hands-On SEO Tips for Nonprofits
Ready to dive into SEO and get your nonprofit more attention? Here are five quick-start tips that will get you moving steadily toward your goals.
1. Research effective SEO keywords for nonprofits
Cleverly chosen keywords are the heartbeat of any successful nonprofit SEO campaign. To optimize your website, you must include frequently used keywords that your target audience uses when searching for organizations like yours.
However, it’s not enough to pepper your content with a few good keywords and call it a day. You also really want to pay attention to factors like:
- Relevancy: Solid SEO strategies may incorporate broader key terms, but long-tail keywords drive long-term success. They’re more specific, relevant, and generally easier to rank for.
- Search Intent: A search engine user can have more than one ultimate intent regarding a particular keyword. Always consider probable intent when building content around your keywords.
And don’t make the mistake of thinking that keyword research is something you only have to do once. Search engine algorithms, industry trends, and consumer tastes are always changing, so your SEO strategy needs to, as well.
2. Make mobile-friendliness a top priority
Mobile access to the internet isn’t just a novelty anymore.
In 2022, more internet users accessed the web via smartphones or tablets instead of computers. Mobile accessibility is also a key Google ranking factor, so prioritizing it is a simple way to reach the top of the search results.
Make finding you easy for people out there who might be searching for an organization like yours on the go – for the services you offer your community and for opportunities to donate their time or money.
Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test can help you assess how well your site measures up.
3. Embrace social media marketing
As with mobile devices, social media has evolved into something people can’t imagine their lives without. In addition to using it to keep in touch with friends, people use it to research purchase decisions and charities to support.
And social media is getting more nonprofit-friendly all the time by including special features like “donate” buttons, and other options to help organizations like yours gain traction.
Plus, social media has the power to make great posts go viral, which means that more people will see your posts.
That is why it pays to establish and maintain a strong social media presence for your nonprofit. Use all the features available to you, engage with your audience, and look for creative ways to inspire them to get involved.
4. Don’t forget about local SEO
Any business with ties to its community should prioritize local SEO, but it’s especially important for nonprofits. Remember, people often look for events and other local opportunities on the go, which can be a great way to attract volunteers or promote special events.
Get started by claiming and updating your organization’s Google My Business profile. Add location pages to your website where appropriate, and research local SEO keywords to inspire future content.
5. Invest in quality original content
Content is still king when it comes to any SEO. SEO for nonprofits included. Google loves frequently and consistently updated websites with top-tier, helpful content that answers people’s questions accurately.
All content marketing material should adhere to Google’s famous EAT standards. EAT stands for:
- Expertise
- Authority
- Trustworthiness
Ensure all your standalone pages and blog posts include all three elements. Pay attention to good on-page SEO practices like formatting and correct heading usage. Finally, keep evergreen content updated to please search engine algorithms.
Wrap-Up
One of the nonprofits’ most important SEO factors is investing in high-quality content. The expert content creators and SEO experts at WriterAccess can help you scale your content-creating efforts.
Sign up for your free two-week trial today, and experience how easy it is to get great, original, and correctly SEO-optimized content for your nonprofit website.
