There are three principles our team recommends for improving digital engagement:

#1. Target posts towards Specific audiences

Viewers are more likely to take action when they feel a post speaks directly to them; therefore, each post should be tailored to the audience it is intended to reach. 

When creating tailored posts, our team suggests creating audience profiles, or personas that embody specific audience groups. This website on nonprofit social media strategy provides examples of profiles that may be applicable to Simple Needs: the advocate, the monthly donor, and the volunteer.

Beyond content, consider the social media platforms each target audience uses. To avoid overextension, focus on two platforms on which Simple Needs can consistently create meaningful content: our team suggests Facebook and Instagram.

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Additionally, inactive social media accounts can have negative effects. A neglected page tells audiences that the organization doesn’t follow through on commitments, decreasing credibility.

#2. Engage with the community

By interacting with others online, Simple Needs demonstrates its care for the community as opposed to simply broadcasting information, which leaves viewers neglected. Interaction can foster trust and strengthen the organization’s authenticity.

One way to engage is through the comment section. Our team noticed that Simple Needs already responds to comments on Facebook. We applaud this effort and encourage more consistent interaction with followers.  

Another way the organization can engage is through its content. Engaging posts invite viewers to interact by liking, sharing, reacting, or clicking a link. For example, one common approach is to encourage viewers to like a post if they find it relatable, or to help spread the message they believe in. Simple Needs could post, “Like and share if you are excited for [an upcoming event]!”

One engagement tool our team urges Simple Needs to utilize is Facebook Events. Rather than relying solely on regular posts to promote events, such as the weekly donation drive, we recommend creating a recurring Facebook event – if the details remain consistent. This gives the community a centralized place to find event information, receive notifications, and engage digitally through RSVP.

#3. Develop a content strategy

When planning social media posts, consider the what, who, when, and where. What is being posted? Who is the audience? When will the content be posted? Where will the content be posted (which platforms)?

Structure is key. Establishing clear structural guidelines allows for a streamlined content process and creates a more consistent and professional visual identity on its platforms.

One suggestion to establish structure is through scheduling posts; assigning certain content to certain days of the week.

Example Weekly Posting Schedule:

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat
	Post most needed donation items.		Highlight a volunteer or group.		Share a fun post to engage.	Recognize a sponsor.

(Depending on team’s capacity and communication goals, Simple Needs could alternatively utilize a monthly schedule.)

One page that could benefit from a consistent schedule would be the Simple Needs Posts page on its website. The older posts are meaningful and well written; however, as stated earlier, neglected pages have negative effects. Our team recommends either building an effective content schedule or removing the blog altogether. 

Utilize quotes and stories featured on the Simple Needs Client Stories webpage. Our team found these stories emotionally impactful and believes they could help attract additional sponsors, donors, and volunteers by demonstrating the organization’s impact on the people it serves.

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By using a design program, Simple Needs can easily find or create templates for posts. Our team sees three major benefits from creating and using post templates:

1. Unified Appearance: Consistent colors, fonts, and layouts can give posts a more professional appearance.
2. Streamlined Workflow: Templates can reduce the time and effort required to create new content.
3. Consistent Branding: Using the same design elements across platforms helps maintain a recognizable and consistent brand identity.

Our team highly recommends Canva, which offers eligible nonprofits access to its Canva for Nonprofits program at no cost. Additionally, Canva provides a wide variety of templates that can be customized to match the Simple Needs brand.

Conclusion: A post analysis

To conclude, we would like to highlight and analyze a Simple Needs social media post from 2023:

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