Donors are consumers first. As consumers, they receive a steady stream of marketing and sales messages, not all of which grab their attention. The ones that do are successful because they invoke familiarity and trust. These messages share several important characteristics.

They’re personalized across several dimensions. First, the businesses behind them understand the hectic, pressurized nature of daily life. They arrive bearing consistently relevant content at a time of day when they’re most likely to be seen and read. Everything from their design to the overall tone of the content is instantly recognizable. They deliver a smooth, intuitive user experience that encourages interaction.

As consumers, donors have come to expect this level of personalization as part of a positive brand experience. When consumers put their donor hats on, they expect the same level of personalization in their nonprofit communications. Unfortunately, that’s usually not the case.  

Nonprofits that haven’t applied these principles in their digital fundraising communications are missing out on the opportunity to build a transformative level of trusted relationships with donors. 

Building Trust

Roughly 50% of the public has complete trust in nonprofits. That stems in part from stubborn issues like transparency and accountability. Additionally, an important culprit for NPOs is their tendency to provide an uneven, off-putting experience in their digital communications.

It’s common to run into a user experience that’s complicated, counterintuitive, with an inconsistent look and feel. What’s missing is the consistently smooth, intuitive user experience common in the consumer world.

Learning From the Best

A few examples from the consumer marketing world illustrate how businesses mine customer data for insights and combine these with the principles of personalization to build a consistent brand experience in all of their communications.

Apple

The tech and media behemoth wrote the book on brand consistency by creating a seamless experience across every iteration of its brand and products. Likewise, NPOs can cultivate a positive donor experience by establishing and maintaining uniform expectations in all their donor interaction. 

AirBnB

The online vacation rental marketplace uses the airy, clean design of its online presence, including its messaging, to convey clarity, transparency, and trust. This includes answering key questions consumers can be expected to ask before they ask them. For NPOs, the job of establishing trust and transparency can begin with the aesthetic values reflected in design.

Peloton

Peloton demonstrates how intentional and relevant communications can be a game changer in revolutionizing the at-home fitness industry. Its flagship Peloton Bike, an at-home exercise bike, uses video, audio, and live-streaming so customers can dial in their preferred routines.

These are just three examples of how a nuanced approach to personalization, attention to look and feel, and an intuitive user experience combine to forge a distinct customer relationship.

How does your digital user experience compare to the digital experience that donors are using in their daily lives?

iDonate equips NPOs with the tools and processes to strengthen their ties with recurring donors, accelerate conversions, and achieve sustainability. Visit iDonate to learn more.