If you’re like most nonprofits, Facebook is your top social network to engage supporters and increase awareness about your nonprofit.
However, like most nonprofits, you’ve probably had your fair share of frustrations with Facebook.
Dramatically declining reach is the biggie. Facebook giveth and Facebook taketh away.
Here’s the thing: Facebook and (Instagram) are where most of your supporters hangout and talk about the causes they care about. You need to be part of those conversions, but it shouldn’t stop there.
If you’re engaging supporters on Facebook but NOT inviting them to join your email list, your marketing strategy is woefully incomplete. It’s like you’re building a house on rented land.
How important is email? Very.
- Email is a marketing asset that you own and control.
- Email contacts have more skin in the game. They’ve permitted you to take up precious space in their inbox, which says way more than a Facebook like.
- Email analytics helps you understand which topics engage supporters the most, and who’s interested in those topics.
- Email segmentation is a superpower! Email allows you to send the right message, to the right person, at the right time. Facebook can’t match the awesome personalization of email.
- Email converts the most online donations. Completion rates via email consistently dwarf those of Facebook by 4X.
How to Grow Your Email List with Facebook
So how do you use Facebook to grow your email list with Facebook?
1. Use these Facebook Page features
Make joining your list simple and easy with these default Facebook Page features:
- Add a call-to-action button: People visiting your page will see this button displayed prominently below your Facebook Cover (on desktop and mobile) https://www.facebook.com/help/977869848936797
- Add a subscribe link in your Page’s short description.
- Use your Facebook cover image: Create a Facebook cover that visually sells your email offer, including a link in your cover description.
2. Market your marketing
Sell the value of your joining your list. That value needs to outweigh the pain and cost of joining. “Join our email list” offers no value (who needs more emails?). “Join the community” at least offers the value of belonging.
Additionally, bullet-point the benefits of joining. Things like breaking news, action alerts, useful and timely resources, impact stories, etc.
3. Remove the friction
When someone decides to join your email list, make that joining as easy as possible. Removing the need to fill out a name and email is one way to do this.
The Lead Ads feature (within your Facebook page) pre-populates a users information, making joining your email list as easy as a thumb tap. Yes, you have to invest in Facebook ads to use this feature. But, the cost of acquisition can be much lower than a poorly converting landing page.
4. Market multiple magnets
If your email newsletter is your only offer, your list growth will reach a point of diminishing returns. Offering super tactical e-books, action alerts, or petitions create the diversity you’ll need for consistent list growth over the long term.
5. Post content upgrades
Your highly useful ebook won’t sell itself. Take useful tips and snippets from the ebook and repurpose them in Facebook posts, Facebook stories, and of course Facebook Live broadcasts. And don’t forget to include a link to your ebook landing page!
6. Invest the dollars
Once you develop a list-building strategy, invest more in Facebook ads. Again, most people will not see your organic content, including your creatively enticing email offer. One of the best list building strategies for Facebook is to create a lookalike audience based on your current email subscribers!
Bottom line
Facebook is an excellent place to engage your community. But don’t stop there. Instead, invite supporters to join your email list where you can deepen those relationships.
This post was originally published on John Haydon’s website. Read the article here.