If you think text message marketing is only for businesses, think again. While it's certainly true that businesses have overwhelmingly gone mobile, it's only a reflection of most of the rest of the world has. In the U.S. alone, 95% percent of the population has a cellphone.

SMS marketing, or text marketing, is an affordable way for non profits of all sizes and budgets to boost their fundraising efforts. A fast and effective form of communication, texting also gives you massive outreach potential. In the US alone:

• 95% of people own a cellphone
• 100% o 18-29 years olds own a cellphone

So how can you harness this outreach power and use SMS to drive your fundraising? It’s easier than you think.

Fundraising Events: Use SMS to Spread the Word ​

While social media and email remain popular ways to promote events, the open and read rates of these two methods lags way behind that of SMS. Emails can sit unread in inboxes or spam folders for hours, days, weeks or more. Text messages are checked more frequently than social media invites too. People tend to read texts as they arrive, as they often have their phone to hand, making it a more immediate form of communication. And remember, SMS has a 98% open rate, while email has a only 22% open rate. In fact, it's reckoned that 90% of text messages are opened and read within three minutes! The increase in open rates offered by text means more people finding out about your events, and more funds raised as a result of your efforts.

Increase Your Subscribers​

To broaden your fundraising outreach you want to grow your list of mobile subscribers. Let people know how they can opt in by including your SMS details across all of your other marketing channels. Adding a simple keyword and shortcode at the end of emails, newsletters, posters, flyers and on social media will all help raise awareness. You can also encourage more subscribers to join up by offering them something in return, like a free gift, or exclusive updates.

Raise Awareness With SMS​

Texts are easy to share. Recipients can forward them on to friends and family almost instantly. Make the most of this extensive reach and use it to raise awareness of the problems your non profit tackles. Try including a call to action in your texts, asking people to share the message if they care, text DONATE to your shortcode to make a contribution, or text VOLUNTEER to find out more about how they can help. 

Start your own SMS marketing program today by clicking the link and signing up for free!