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Jean O'Brien - Digital Charity Lab

Email is one of the best and most consistent digital marketing platforms – the Direct Marketing Association has found that every €1 spent on email marketing brings in a €42 return. For charities, email presents a great opportunity:

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Email is one of the best and most consistent digital marketing platforms – the Direct Marketing Association has found that every €1 spent on email marketing brings in a €42 return. For charities, email presents a great opportunity:

  • It’s a cheap and easy to adopt form of digital marketing

  • It creates a personal, direct relationship with each subscriber and supporter

  • Email is great for conversions – it’s hugely effective for driving online donations, campaign actions, event registrations and much more

  • It’s easy to track and measure – you can see the results and return on each email campaign

  • Unlike social media, you’re not reliant on a third party or on unpredictable algorithms

This course is all about getting your charity started with the incredibly effective digital marketing channel that is email.

In this course, you will learn:

  • Why email marketing is still so effective

  • How email compares to other digital channels

  • How to make the case for email marketing in your organisation

  • What you need to get started with email marketing

  • How to choose the email marketing platform that’s right for your charity

  • Best practice for data protection and privacy

  • How to build your first mailing list

  • Crafting attractive, engaging emails

  • How to write email subject lines that work

  • Laying out your emails and choosing images

  • The email metrics you need to watch

  • How to evaluate and improve your emails

  • Free ways you can grow your email list

  • Paid email acquisition

  • How to encourage email signups on your website

  • How to segment your subscribers for better results

This course does not cover technical setup instructions for different email marketing platforms – you can get those for free when you sign up for a platform. This course is all about learning best practice and strategy for effective emails.

You will get:

  • Multiple videos and articles

  • A checklist for setting up your email marketing programme

  • A template for creating your email strategy

  • A guide to creating an effective mailshot

  • A data protection checklist

  • A guide to diagnosing issues with your email performance

  • A template for planning email journeys

  • And much more.

This course is suitable for:

  • Charities, non-profits, NGOs, community groups, campaigns

  • Fundraisers, campaigners and communications teams in non-profits who would like to use email marketing to promote campaigns, bring in donations and raise awareness

  • Digital and marketing teams in charities and non-profits

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to get started with email marketing for charities and non-profits
  • Why email is one of the most effective digital channels for charity fundraising, campaigning and events
  • How to research and choose the right email marketing platform for your charity
  • How to build and grow your non-profit's mailing list
  • How to stay compliant with data protection and privacy law while using email marketing
  • The secrets to creating engaging emails that will result in donations and conversions for your charity
  • What metrics you need to measure to ensure your emails are performing, and how to benchmark
  • Using segmenting to improve your list's performance
  • Why welcome journeys deepen engagement with your subscribers, and how to create them
  • How to use split testing to improve your email performance
  • How to write an email strategy for your non-profit organisation
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Introduction
Why email?
Making the case for email in your charity
Getting started
Read more

How to get started with email marketing. Includes a comprehensive downloadable checklist with all the tasks you'll need to carry out.

Choosing your email marketing platform
Data protection
Deliverability - how to avoid spam traps
Building your first mailing list
Setting up your first list for importing
Creating emails that work
Crafting emails that work
Mailshots vs newsletters
Subject lines and sender names
Laying out your emails
Writing your email copy and using imagery
Guest article by Simon Scriver: what’s the point of personalisation?
Evaluating and improving your emails
The email metrics you should be measuring
Using split testing to improve your emails
Growing and managing your list
Channels you can use to grow your mailing list
Gathering subscribers on your website
Segmenting your subscribers for better results
Bonus content
Creating email welcome journeys
Writing an email strategy
5 things to do when you've finished this course
Create and share a mailshot for your organisation

If you need to update your colleagues about best practice in email, this video does it in just under 4 minutes. The video is also available on YouTube: see the linked resources for this lecture.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on email marketing strategies tailored for charities and nonprofits, which often operate with limited budgets and resources, making it highly relevant
Explores data protection and privacy law compliance, which is crucial for charities and nonprofits to maintain trust and avoid legal issues when engaging with donors
Teaches how to segment subscribers for better results, which allows charities and nonprofits to personalize their messaging and improve engagement with different donor groups
Does not cover technical setup instructions for different email marketing platforms, so learners may need to seek additional resources for platform-specific guidance
Includes a checklist for setting up an email marketing program, which can help charities and nonprofits systematically implement effective email campaigns
Examines email deliverability and how to avoid spam traps, which is essential for charities and nonprofits to ensure their messages reach their intended audience

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Email Marketing for Charities & Non-Profits with these activities:
Review GDPR and Data Protection Basics
Reinforce your understanding of data protection regulations to ensure compliance when building and managing your email lists.
Browse courses on GDPR
Show steps
  • Review the key principles of GDPR and other relevant data protection laws.
  • Identify the specific requirements for obtaining consent for email marketing.
  • Understand the rights of individuals regarding their personal data.
Review 'Permission Marketing'
Understand the principles of permission marketing and how to apply them to your email campaigns.
View This Is Strategy on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the key chapters on permission marketing and building trust with subscribers.
  • Reflect on how you can apply these principles to your charity's email marketing strategy.
  • Identify ways to improve your email signup process and ensure subscribers are genuinely interested in receiving your emails.
Review 'Email Marketing Rules'
Deepen your understanding of email marketing best practices and compliance regulations.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters focusing on email deliverability and compliance.
  • Take notes on key strategies for improving email engagement.
  • Identify actionable steps to implement in your charity's email marketing.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
A/B Test Subject Lines
Practice writing and testing different subject lines to improve open rates and engagement.
Browse courses on A/B Testing
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a list of potential subject lines for a specific email campaign.
  • Use your email marketing platform to A/B test different subject lines.
  • Analyze the results and identify the most effective subject lines.
  • Document your findings and apply them to future email campaigns.
Develop an Email Marketing Strategy Template
Create a reusable template for developing email marketing strategies tailored to different campaigns and objectives.
Show steps
  • Define the key components of an effective email marketing strategy.
  • Research successful email marketing strategies used by other charities.
  • Design a template that includes sections for goals, target audience, content plan, and metrics.
  • Present the template to your team for feedback and refinement.
Design a Welcome Email Journey
Craft a series of automated emails to welcome new subscribers and introduce them to your charity's mission and activities.
Show steps
  • Map out the key messages you want to convey in your welcome journey.
  • Write compelling email copy that engages new subscribers.
  • Design visually appealing email templates that reflect your charity's brand.
  • Set up the welcome journey in your email marketing platform.
Create a Data Protection Checklist
Develop a checklist to ensure your email marketing practices comply with data protection regulations.
Browse courses on Data Protection
Show steps
  • Research the key requirements of GDPR and other relevant data protection laws.
  • Create a checklist that covers all aspects of data protection, from obtaining consent to managing data securely.
  • Share the checklist with your team and ensure everyone understands their responsibilities.
  • Regularly review and update the checklist to reflect changes in data protection laws.

Career center

Learners who complete Email Marketing for Charities & Non-Profits will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Marketing Specialist
A Marketing Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies to promote an organization's products or services. This role uses a variety of channels to reach target audiences, and this course, with its focus on email marketing, a key digital channel, is highly relevant. The course teaches how to craft engaging emails, write effective subject lines, and use segmentation strategies, which are crucial for a marketing specialist to succeed. Understanding email metrics, evaluating campaign performance, and growing an email list, as taught in this course, are essential skills for this role.
Fundraiser
A Fundraiser is responsible for generating financial support for charities and other non-profit organizations. Email marketing is a key tool for fundraisers, helping them connect with donors. This course is helpful for learning how to use email to drive donations, raise awareness, and engage supporters. Understanding email analytics and knowing how to improve email performance are key for any fundraiser, as is learning how to create segmented lists. This course teaches the strategies and techniques required to be effective at fundraising through email.
Communications Officer
A Communications Officer manages the flow of information between an organization and its various audiences. They craft messages that support the organization's goals. Email marketing is a critical communication tool, and this course provides training beneficial to a communications officer. The course provides guidance on creating effective email campaigns, managing mailing lists, and ensuring compliance with data protection laws. The skills and knowledge gained from this course are immediately applicable to a communications officer's daily work. A communications officer who seeks to improve their email communication skills should strongly consider this course.
Marketing Coordinator
A Marketing Coordinator supports the efforts of a marketing team by carrying out marketing campaigns and activities. This course is useful for marketing coordinators who are tasked with email marketing duties, because the course will teach them how to choose an email platform and carry out best practices. This course provides a comprehensive guide to email strategy, and the creation of email content. Improving email performance through tracking metrics is taught in this course. A marketing coordinator with an eye on improving their email marketing skills will benefit from this course.
Development Officer
A Development Officer works to secure financial resources and build relationships with donors, foundations, and other stakeholders for a nonprofit. Email marketing is a key tool for donor engagement, and this course can help a development officer better utilize email to generate donations and maintain strong donor relationships. This course gives a comprehensive overview of email marketing for nonprofits, including list building, creating effective emails, and evaluating performance. This course has specific application to a development officer's work.
Digital Marketing Manager
A Digital Marketing Manager develops and oversees digital marketing campaigns for an organization. This role requires a broad understanding of different digital channels and their effectiveness, and this course on email marketing provides valuable insight into one of the best of those channels. The course provides a detailed look into how to choose a platform, build a list, create effective emails, and analyze results. This course helps build a foundation for a digital marketing manager's comprehension of email's role, and how to make use of it to grow an organization. Using email to drive donations, campaign actions, and registrations is very relevant to a digital marketing manager's work.
Campaign Manager
A Campaign Manager oversees marketing campaigns, and this course will give you a foundation in using email for campaigns, with specific attention paid to nonprofit organizations. The course will teach you how to develop and implement email strategy, in addition to best practices in subject lines, layouts, and subscriber behavior. The skills learned in this course are immediately applicable to a campaign manager role. If you are a campaign manager looking to expand your digital marketing skills, and learn how to best make us of email, this course should be helpful.
Nonprofit Program Coordinator
A Nonprofit Program Coordinator oversees and manages specific programs or projects within a nonprofit organization. They may be involved in various aspects of program delivery and outreach, and email is an effective way to communicate with participants and stakeholders. This course provides insight into creating and managing successful email marketing campaigns. This course gives a program coordinator the information needed to make efficient use of email, including growing subscriber lists and creating email journeys. The course's emphasis on effective communication, engagement, and data analysis aligns with a program coordinator's responsibilities.
Membership Coordinator
A Membership Coordinator manages an organization's membership program, and email marketing is a key tool for communicating with members. This course provides a foundation in email marketing fundamentals that can help a membership coordinator engage their audience. The course teaches how to grow an email list, create welcome journeys, and use segmentation, all of which help a membership coordinator reach their members. If you are a membership coordinator seeking to refine your email strategies, this course is a good one to take.
Public Relations Specialist
A Public Relations Specialist manages an organization's public image and communications. This role utilizes a range of channels to convey the organization's message, and email is a useful tool for reaching specific audiences. This course will help the public relations specialist learn how to use email effectively to connect with stakeholders. The course teaches how to craft engaging emails, write strong subject lines, and manage subscriptions. This course may be useful for a public relations specialist to learn how to leverage email to enhance their external communications.
Nonprofit Consultant
A Nonprofit Consultant provides expert advice and guidance to nonprofit organizations. This course provides valuable insight into the world of email marketing for nonprofits. A consultant who has a thorough understanding of this topic will be able to offer a wider range of solutions to their clients. This course will cover email strategy, platform selection, best practices for content, and the process of growing a subscriber base, all of which will assist a consultant in their work. This course will broaden a consultant's expertise.
Social Media Manager
A Social Media Manager oversees an organization’s social media presence, and this course may be useful to their work. While this course focuses on email, it provides the social media manager useful strategies for building and engaging with an audience. List segmentation, creating email journeys, and best practices for writing effective content, all of which are taught in this course, are transferrable skills that enhance a social media manager’s work. A social media manager who is hoping to expand their digital marketing skills would find this course useful.
Content Creator
A Content Creator develops content for a variety of media. While this course is focused on email, the principles of creating engaging written content are widely applicable. This course is useful for honing one's writing skills, and applying them in the context of effective email marketing. The best practices taught in this course can be adapted to many channels and are applicable to a content creator's work. A content creator who is looking to broaden their skills would benefit from this course.
Event Planner
An Event Planner coordinates and manages events for organizations, and email marketing can be a powerful tool for driving registrations and promoting events. This course provides training on how to use email to engage and convert potential event participants. This course provides insight into best practices for subject lines, email layout, and subscriber segmentation. An event planner who wishes to improve their event attendance through email marketing may find this course useful.
Volunteer Coordinator
A Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for recruiting, training, and managing volunteers for an organization. Email is a tool that helps them communicate with volunteers. This course provides a guide to effective email marketing, from list building to crafting engaging messages, which may be helpful to a volunteer coordinator. The course also covers data protection and privacy, which is essential when managing a list of volunteers. A volunteer coordinator looking to improve their communication and engagement with volunteers may benefit from this course.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Email Marketing for Charities & Non-Profits.
Provides a comprehensive guide to email marketing best practices, covering everything from strategy and design to deliverability and compliance. It's a useful reference for understanding the nuances of effective email campaigns. The book is particularly helpful for understanding the rules and regulations surrounding email marketing, ensuring your charity stays compliant.
Emphasizes the importance of building relationships with customers through permission-based marketing. It's a valuable resource for understanding how to create email campaigns that are welcomed and valued by subscribers. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference. It provides a strong foundation for ethical and effective email marketing practices.

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