10 Ways to Generate Topic Ideas for Your Nonprofit Blog Posts
On average, nonprofits raise around eight percent of their annual revenue online, with around 30 percent of that total online revenue coming in during the month of December. Yet they could earn even more revenue and online support through compelling blog posts.
Hosting a captivating blog on your website is critical for your nonprofit. According to Capterra, nonprofits that blog generate more brand awareness, have more control over their missions and stories, and generally, drive more people to visit their websites – which means they garner more leads and land more donations.
Not sure what to write about for your nonprofit blog? Below are ten ways you can generate topic ideas.
1. Monitor Google Keywords and SEO Trends
Google is the world’s most powerful and popular search engine and handles millions of search queries every single day. If you are struggling to find popular and trending topics relevant to nonprofits or the work that your nonprofit does, sign up for Google Alerts and Monitor Google Trends. You will receive daily emails with trending stories and content relevant to the keywords and topics you care about. Draw inspiration and get insight into what people around the world or in your local region are already searching for and reading about.
2. Scan Social Media Posts and Headlines
To get ideas for your own blog posts, scan social media sites that have a profile for interesting headlines and content. See what nonprofits like yours are writing about and sharing. See what type of content seems to resonate with your target audience, and what type of content receives the most likes and shares. Use this as inspiration to come up with your own unique take on those topics. Or, find timely topics and current events that you can write about. For instance, if see that it’s breast cancer awareness month and your nonprofit works to help cancer patients, then write blog posts about that relevant topic.
3. Search for News Stories and Real-Life Events Relevant to Your Nonprofit’s Mission
Scan your local newspaper, or even national news sources, to see what is going on for topic ideas for your blog posts. For instance, if there was a shooting at a local school and your nonprofit works to end gun violence, write about what happened in your community, how the work your nonprofit does helps prevent gun violence, and why it’s important. Or if there was a recent tsunami on the other side of the world and your nonprofit helps with global natural disaster relief, write about what happened and how your nonprofit is planning to help. Try to find ways to connect the work of your nonprofit to real-life events that are happening in the real world.
4. Interview Your Staff and Volunteers
People love behind-the-scenes stories. They make them feel as if they are a part of your nonprofit and the work it does. Personal stories also build greater empathy and generate more donations and support. Interview your staff and highlight why they enjoy working for your nonprofit, the type of day-to-day work they do, etc. And periodically interview your volunteers, too, and share blog posts about the work they do and why they think its valuable. Not only will these types of blog posts help you secure more donations, but they’ll also help you attract more dedicated volunteers.
5. Share Stories about Individuals Your Nonprofit Has Helped
People also love success stories and stories that promote hope, and they want to know how your nonprofit actually works to help people in real life. So, if you’re a nonprofit that helps homeless women in urban areas, for instance, you can share a story each week or month about an individual you have helped and how your nonprofit helped changed her life for the better.
6. Unpack Relevant Research and Key Findings Relevant to Your Nonprofit’s Work
If your nonprofit’s mission is to end opioid addiction, you can share blog posts about new research on how opioids affect and alter the human brain. And if your nonprofit offers relief after natural disasters, you might want to consider writing posts about recently-released climate change research. And so on. Writing about topics that cover research in your nonprofit’s field further proves the value and importance of the work your organization does. So, constantly monitor outlets for research that your nonprofit and its supporters would want to know about.
7. Answer FAQs
Scroll through your nonprofit’s main email inbox for inquiries, or read its frequently asked questions page, and then write blogs posts that address what people want to know. For example, if you work for a nonprofit that handles finding scholarships for recent high school graduates, you could write helpful blog posts about how to apply for student financial aid and how students can find scholarships that are right for them.
8. Cover Event Highlights
If your nonprofit sponsors or takes part in an event, write a blog post that highlights how the event went, who attended, what happened there, and more. And then provide additional information about how your work will impact target beneficiaries and supporters. And be sure to write posts prior to programs that your nonprofit participates in. This is a great way to encourage attendance or even procure volunteers. Be sure to include logistics, relevant agendas, and need-to-know information about upcoming events.
9. Disclose Press Releases
Always share up-to-date press releases in blog posts. For instance, if your nonprofit recently issued an announcement about a new chief executive officer or a very generous grant or donation, you could repurpose the press release into a blog, detailing how this news will impact your organization and its operations.
10. Encourage Others to Submit Guest Blog Posts
Ask volunteers and partner organizations to submit guest blog posts. You can also invite writers from reputable publications who regularly cover nonprofits to contribute a guest post. Let others who value your nonprofit’s mission help you generate unique and helpful blog content.
Coming up with topic ideas for your nonprofit blog doesn’t have to be tedious or time-consuming – just remember these tips. And for even more information on running a successful nonprofit blog, read 15 Tactics to Set Your Nonprofit Blog Apart and The Ins and Outs of Link Building for Your Non-Profit Website.
Feature image: Pexels