Social media can be used to increase your web presence, get more traffic to your web page, improve your search engine optimization (SEO), announce events, share pictures and have discussions with your follows. If you don’t have an online presence, you will be interested to know that Target Analytics reports that trends show that multichannel supporters have a stronger retention rate than online or offline donors alone. And if you can keep a multichannel support for a few years retention has been reported to be 75% verses the 59% for offline and 52% for online. This trend shows that multichannel supporters are more loyal and consistent so if you don’t have multiple hooks in your donors you may want to look at ways to do so.

While few will doubt the powers of social networking to bring an online community together, many non profits want to know how it can improve their fundraising revenue. Facebook’s Causes page allows like minded people to come together to promote events and have discussions related to a cause. The cause page can also have a donate button and can advertise for a specific cause goal. The more specific and illustrative the goal, the more likely a fan is going to contribute. These cause pages should also link to your organization’s Facebook page.

To make social media work for your fundraising efforts, you need to have a specific goal with a target amount and an end date. Paint a picture of who is going to benefit from the funds raised and how they are going to be used. But before you can get to this point you have to an engaged audience to receive it and be inspired by it and that will take consistent time and effort.

Ask yourself: what are our objectives? Who is our target audience? Does it fit with our current organization’s culture? Do we have the tools and knowledge to understand how this works? How are we going to measure our success? Who will be responsible for keeping up content, listening to your supporters, and responding? How much time can we devote to these activities?  Are we prepared to respond to a fan’s criticism in a productive way?

Social media will not take the place of face to face interactions. While it can help you reach a wider audience it is important to use Facebook and Twitter more as a communication tool than a fundraising tool. Advertise your next event through Twitter and Facebook and you may get a larger audience turn out. The beauty of social media is that it strikes a two way conversation between your organization and your followers that regular broadcasting and advertising doesn’t allow. People want to feel connected and feel involved and the more you leverage social media the more engaged your followers will be. Even email is becoming an outdated messaging system because of how responsive and engaging places like Twitter and Facebook have become.

Once you decide to run a direct mail campaign our team handles the rest.  The service also integrates personalized web pages for multi-media promotions and provides information to analyze campaign results.

Simply Smart Mail can be used by virtually any type of small business, including retail businesses, service businesses, associations and non-profits just to name a few.  The program is cost-effective too.  Minimum mailing size is 500 pieces per campaign.

It’s called the Flipper Fold Brochure.  Trish Witkowski shares the ins and outs of this fold in this 60-second video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck6Mkzge5fM

The Flipper Fold Brochure is a creative way to spend money on your direct mail marketing pieces.  It’s worth spending the extra money, when you mail to a very targeted list.

Through strategic partnerships with industry experts, PGI Marketing & Communications has expanded their line of web-based services to include:

• Website Design
• Web Marketing and Search Engine Optimization
• Interactive Videos
• Email Blasts and Electronic Newsletters
• Variable Imaged Direct Mail with PURLS
• Integrated Web-based and Social Media Promotions

“We aren’t just offering the mechanics of the services – a number of companies offer that. We are blending decades of fundamental marketing expertise with new technologies to help our customers take their business marketing to the next level,” said Tom Trainor, Director of Sales & Marketing at PGI.

Those interested in developing a powerful business presence both online and off can connect with the company in a variety of ways:

• Get tips on traditional and online marketing by subscribing to PGI Marketing & Communications Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/PGIMarketingCommunications
• Receive company updates and marketing ideas through PGI Marketing & Communications Twitter Feed: http://twitter.com/PGI_marketing
• Receive more in-depth online and offline marketing ideas, strategies, and by subscribing to the PGI blog at: http://www.pgisolutions.com/blog/.

Graphic design, printing and direct mail services in Elmhurst will continue to be the backbone of the company. While these print services play an essential role in business marketing, Tom Trainor says “Companies can no longer ignore the power of the web to drive business.”

“We pride ourselves on being a company that adapts with the times and is constantly evolving, learning, and mastering new areas of our industry — and our goal is to help our customers do the same,” said Trainor.

About PGI Marketing & Communications: PGI Marketing & Communications is an Elmhurst printing services provider with more than 28 years of expertise in developing powerful marketing and sales tools for its customers. PGI was formed in Elmhurst, IL in 1982 by Jim Gullberg, Gregg Markiewicz, and Ron Slunecko, all of whom are still with the company and are a driving force behind the many accomplishments PGI has achieved.

We pride ourselves on being a company that adapts with the times and is constantly evolving, learning, and mastering new areas of our industry.  In addition to our print services and direct mail marketing, we are excited to announce offerings of new online marketing and multimedia products.  We now offer web design, Internet marketing, and video and multimedia productions.

As your company evolves with the times, let our company be there to help build a web page, market your company via the Internet, or produce a video that puts you one step ahead of the competition.

To learn more about our new offerings please visit our new website at www.pgisolutions.com.

We are excited about our new additions and hope you will take the time to check out how we can help your business grow.