‘You have to spend money, to make money’ the common English saying is correct. Charities must take this into account when running their online presence. This is both in terms of a website and in terms of marketing.
Marketing has become a ‘dirty word’ within the charity sector. Still, it is essential for charities to bring money and volunteers in and talk about what they do. You only have to look at magazine inserts to see how charities are changing their strategies for generating income.
Digital Marketing is often the last thing that charities are thinking about. Maybe it is time to realise that it should be one of the first. An appropriate budget for both a continued marketing strategy and a website is key to staying relevant, and for income generation.
Small and medium charities don’t have the skill base in place to do this well. They could consider outsourcing this to a dedicated digital marketing company like Factory. We have the skills and knowledge to help charities make the most of their online resources. Many charities are unaware of Google Grants. This gives $10,000 of in-kind Google Ads every month to charities.
Just think what a charity could do with $10,000 per month (£7500) for marketing. They could recruit volunteers, attract donations and share their story globally. If charities want to do this, they really need to invest in having a well managed Google Ads account. This could cost as little as five hundred pounds a month after the initial set up fees.
Setting up Google Grants properly isn't simple. Budgeting for someone to set up and manage your account from day to day is essential. The cost of doing it yourself can be more detrimental in the long run.
Charities looking to take advantage of Google Ads should look for marketing companies who are Google Partners & have proven results. This should mean that charities will get an effective advertising campaign they want. Sometimes it just makes sense to pay for a professional service.
I have worked and volunteered with charities for over 20 years in various roles from being as a trustee, facilitator and even run drama workshops on social issues, I was also employed by one for 6 and half years. I wish in many cases we had known about the Google Grant before now as I can see the value it could add to charities not just in terms of bringing in donations but also in exposure and finding that rare commodity volunteer time.
If you are a charity looking for help with Google Grants why not give Ben a call to talk about setting up an account. We at Factory are a dedicated digital marketing agency who work on helping our clients reach their goals. Read more about how we have boosted revenue for FR Jones and Son.
