What’s the best SEO advice for nonprofits? Do nonprofits even need SEO?

Yes. Nonprofits should care about SEO. Essentially online donations are e-commerce, so best practices apply to nonprofits.

Why should Nonprofits Care about SEO?

Donation sites are e-commerce. They need to be treated in the same way. You wouldn’t put an online store up and then not optimize i? Would you?

SEO isn’t black magic or wizardry. It’s really just intentional writing for your audience. It means being found. It means writing quality content that solves problems for your customers.

For nonprofits, SEO means answering the “why” to your current and potential donor base. What is your mission? Who are you serving? Why are you working so hard for your cause? Why should I donate? Who is my audience? What does my donor base care about?

Thank you so much @GiveWP for a great chat today! #npchat got smarter!!!! pic.twitter.com/JBQfFwD5nR

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

Recap of #NPChat: The Best SEO Advice for Nonprofits

We had a great chat today with some engaged SEO pros and people involved in nonprofit marketing, volunteerism, and website development.

I hope you enjoy the recap.

Q1. How are you currently involved with a nonprofit?

A1 Company offers #content #websites #socialmedia to #nonprofits Personally I work with #schools & #interfaith orgs #NPChat

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) April 19, 2017

I’m webmaster for https://t.co/KHzJGGP4bz,serve on the board & video performances #NPChat

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) April 19, 2017

A1 I am a Prescott Valley @Rotary member and I am Immediate Past President of Prescott Area Leadership #NPChat https://t.co/RiEa9EFFft

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

A1. We are waiting for our 501(c)3 status. We want to promote women speaking in tech and #WordPress #NPchat

— WomenWhoWP (@WomenWhoWP) April 19, 2017

Q2. How do you define SEO?

A2 Search Engine Optimization #NPChat https://t.co/xgMB0uVwWJ

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

A2. SEO: Making EVERY content that you can optimize find-able online. #npchat

— Ruby+Social Success Marketing (@SocialSMktg) April 19, 2017

A2 B. Want to get found, right? Here’s one reason why everyone online, including NPs should optimize content…#NPChat #SEO pic.twitter.com/599AvDyBGE

— Ruby+Social Success Marketing (@SocialSMktg) April 19, 2017

A2. Many people, including our friends at @ByThoughtHouse and @jdevalk refer to #SEO as "findability." #NPchat

— WomenWhoWP (@WomenWhoWP) April 19, 2017

Q2 SEO is visibility on the internet. Which really makes everything worth doing online SEO. 😉 #NPChat

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) April 19, 2017

Q3. How do you determine your keywords?

As @jdevalk of @yoast said in his #WCUS talk on #SEO last year, people search for what THEY call your product, not its name. #NPchat

— GiveWP 💚 (@GiveWP) April 19, 2017

A3 I live to start with real world terms customers use & add reporting tools which show actual search requests to the findings. #NPChat

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) April 19, 2017

A3 I think some #nonprofits miss the boat on key words -highly valuable resource. What is goal of NP and what is call to action? #NPchat https://t.co/7GClAsBgtn

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

A3 B. I write down what I think are my keywords. Then check Google Trends, KW planner and other tools #NPChat

— Ruby+Social Success Marketing (@SocialSMktg) April 19, 2017

A3. We know our main keywords are our mission: Meetups and WordCamps. A lot can be intuitive. #NPchat

— WomenWhoWP (@WomenWhoWP) April 19, 2017

Q4. What tools do you use to optimize your content?

THAT part of the #nonprofit really should be treated like a biz – biz plan, goals and SEO! 🙂 #NPchat https://t.co/qkOgzhZgyF

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

A4 With #Volunteers, it’s tough but doable to create systems that work. It’s vital to have in a #nonprofit #NPchat

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

A4 Brain power & talented volunteers, Yoast on #WordPress sites, Google Apps & Analytics, Buffer #NPChat

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) April 19, 2017

A4. Google products – KW planner, suggest, trends, Yoast and more! #NPChat

— Ruby+Social Success Marketing (@SocialSMktg) April 19, 2017

Q5. What are your strategies to reach your audience?

Q5 Deliver a meaningful experience – in what you do & what you share, whether it’s a post or service project #NPChat

— Jen Miller (@JenMillerMBA) April 19, 2017

A5 key words, different platforms, LISTENING is the best thing I’ve found to see what they want #NPChat systems need to be in place https://t.co/Gg6C89OcnD

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

A5. We blog on our site, have a Meetup Page, but also Tweet, have a Facebook Group and Page. We do a lot of outreach. #NPchat

— WomenWhoWP (@WomenWhoWP) April 19, 2017

Q6. How often do you publish?

A6. If your question includes social media, everyday.

If you mean blog, once a month is how often I publish. #NPChat #SMO

— Ruby+Social Success Marketing (@SocialSMktg) April 19, 2017

A6. We publish recaps after each meetup so once a month. But we post content on social more frequently. #NPchat

— WomenWhoWP (@WomenWhoWP) April 19, 2017

A6 blog -1-2 x month social-every day – but it’s important to TALK with others about YOUR PASSION so it’s not just about publishing #npchat https://t.co/s220Vz7Iw8

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

Q7. What are your favorite SEO tips and tricks?

A7 @PamAnnMarketing hands down, by far the best investment you will make. @BlueSteeleTX for all things website hands down by far #NPchat https://t.co/XQ5nMxFuCG

— Beth Staub (@AdventureGlass) April 19, 2017

And that’s a wrap!

We’d love to have you join us every week on Wednesday at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

On April 26 2017, we will be talking about LinkedIn for nonprofits.

See you there.

Tweets about #NPchat have reached 24,371 accounts https://t.co/4TJj7ZVlEw via @unionmetrics pic.twitter.com/nh044TiZ2Y

— GiveWP 💚 (@GiveWP) April 19, 2017