Viral fundraising campaigns have taken the world by storm. From the famed Ice Bucket Challenge to nationwide crowdfunding campaigns, there have been countless fundraising efforts that have gone viral globally, nationally, or even within smaller local communities.
If you have a cause you support, the best way to bring notice to it is by making sure it gets the exposure and attention it deserves. You want to start a campaign to make a change on a national level, or you might simply want to help raise money for someone in your local community.
But no matter how moving your cause is, you won’t be able to entice people to participate in your campaign without one crucial factor: an effective promotional strategy and action plan. For your fundraiser to be successful, you have to fulfil three basic goals:
- Raise the required amount of money
- Reach new donors through your efforts
- Raise awareness for your cause
Here are some effective tips on how you can get the ball rolling on your own fundraising campaign and help raise money for the cause you support.
How to start a viral fundraising campaign
1. Start with a compelling story
If you want to raise money for an important cause, you need to make people empathize with the cause. It’s integral for your campaign to have a backstory that is compelling enough to move others and make them want to donate.
Appeal to people’s emotions by starting off your fundraiser with a heartfelt backstory related to the cause. If it’s based on a singular person, form a story out of their hardships and form a compelling reason for their need for donations. If it’s for a bigger cause, look for specific examples of those who need attention and funds and help them make their story viral.
Adding a deep, moving backstory to your cause not only helps evoke a sense of care within your audience, but also moves them to act on this feeling and help you move your cause forward.
2. Create a hook that engages your audience
Once you have a compelling story to set the foundation for your campaign, you need a hook. This is something that makes your campaign stand out and encourages people to interact with it and share your message.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a good example of an exciting hook that went viral and caught the attention of celebrities around the world. It made people want to take up the challenge and share it on social media for others to follow suit.
Think of a fun hook that you can add to your campaign. Remember to make it something that relates to your cause and attracts the audience you want it to attract. This will not only garner attention, but will encourage people to send it forward online and help it gain the traction it deserves.
3. Engage with those closest with you
One common mistake many people make is thinking they can make a campaign viral without getting their current audience and donors involved in the process.
If you’re looking to start a campaign to raise money, the first step is to engage those in closest proximity to you and your movement. Much of the early money and buzz you get for your campaign will come from those who are closest to you and most likely to listen to your cause.
One great way to do this is by spreading the word around your local community and audience through vibrant campaign flyers. If you’re worried about a tight budget, the internet has tons of solutions for you.
With online design tools like PosterMyWall, you can get free access to a wide variety of design templates that you can customize according to your needs. All you need to do is create a free account, choose the template you like, and hop onto the editor to add your own personal touches.
An ideal flyer should have the name of your campaign and your non-profit –if you have one– on it. It should include facts about the cause as well as a moving hook that engages your audience and helps them empathize. Include details on how people can help take this cause forward.
Add a moving image that relates to your cause to enhance emotional appeal. Add a catchy hashtag to encourage people to share it on social media. Finish off with a QR code that takes your audience to an online page where they can make easy donations.
4. Partner up with micro influencers
Influencer marketing is a growing trend in almost every industry. Many people and organizations reach out to trusted influencers on social media to share their content and help promote their message.
Start off by looking for influencers who you know will relate to and support your cause. If you’re raising awareness for Breast Cancer in women, it would be beneficial to reach out to influencers in your area who are vocal about women’s rights or other similar issues. If your goal is to raise money for a child’s education, try reaching out to educationists or parent bloggers who would relate.
Share your most engaging resources with them, including the hook you’ve planned out, and have them do it live on an Instagram live video or post a video on their feeds to encourage their followers to check out your campaign.
5. Make sure your campaign has amazing visuals
Once you’ve engaged your followers and your immediate audience, the next ultimate step is to make sure your cause is being shared and followed on social media. And an essential component of a viral fundraising campaign is great visuals.
People love to share vibrant social media posts on their Facebook feeds and Instagram stories. Make sure your campaign is promoted through enticing fundraising posters and other visuals.
Use online design tools like PosterMyWall for budget-friendly ways to create your own fundraising graphics. Include your campaign details, fun, bold colors, and engaging visuals that show your hook in an enticing way.
Get the most out of your designs by resizing them and sending them out through multiple platforms. Use email campaigns, Instagram posts, and Facebook stories to get the word out online, and print out poster versions of your graphics to spread around your locale.
Final thoughts
Kicking off a fundraising campaign is no easy task. If you want to launch a successful campaign that raises enough funds for the cause you support, it is absolutely essential for you to focus on your marketing. The key here is to build momentum and maintain it throughout the duration of your campaign.
Learn how to get started on creating your own fundraising campaign with these 5 effective tips and get ready to make your efforts go viral.
