A chatbot is a computer program simulating and processing human interaction and conversation. The main purpose of chatbots is to help businesses get closer to their audience. Chatbots have become increasingly popular in recent years, and more and more businesses use them in order to provide support to their clients and improve customer service.
According to Blue Meta, digital marketing agency in Vancouver, 80% of all businesses in 2020 want to have their own chatbots, and over 60% of young people use them on a regular basis.
7 Ways Nonprofits Can Use Chatbots
Many nonprofits use chatbots to answer FAQs directly and quickly. Responding manually to the same questions from donors over and over again is a drain on resources. In this case, a chatbot is very helpful. It can provide links and information that will help to resolve up to 80% of user problems. It will make the visitors of the organization's website feel at home by providing them answers to their questions instantly. If there is a question that needs a human response, a chatbot can always send a user to an agent.
- Stating the organization's history
Chatbots can be also used by nonprofits for storytelling. For example, they can provide emotional and visual ways to tell the history of the organization and help people to understand its mission, goals, and the real problems that the organization deals with and overcomes. Using a chatbot to share the nonprofit's history is the first rung on the ladder of engagement.
A chatbot is a perfect and effective instrument for gathering data. It is a much faster, more accurate, and less expensive method to collect survey data. For example, several nonprofit organizations in Haiti and Nigeria use chatbots on their websites to ask people about food security and food prices in their communities. The best thing about it is that chatbot does not require high-speed internet, so everyone can access and use it.
It is also possible to use a chatbot for informing community members and donors about different events. For example, a nonprofit can add an option on their website for users to sign up and receive action alerts and updates. However, it is important not to spam users and send only a few messages every week to keep community members and donors updated.
- Fundraising and other nonprofit activities
A key and primary purpose of any nonprofit organization is to attract new donors. A chatbot can make the fundraising process easier and more convenient for both the organization and donors. The main reason why chatbots can be effective in fundraising is their ability to establish an engaging conversation with users. A chatbot can assist in finding new donors and funds by sharing stories and educational materials, linking to a donation page, notifying donors about a need for donations, and others.
Chatbots are effective in marketing because compared to other methods, they are more interactive and able to establish a connection with a user and potential donor, who is visiting the website of the organization for the first time. For example, they can send a welcome notification to a visitor when he arrives to the website. This makes a nonprofit organization seem more proactive, which enhances the organization's reputation and increases interaction. This all has a positive impact on the organization's marketing strategy.
- Donor service and concern
In order to show registered donors how important they are, an organization can use a chatbot on its website to create an exclusive FAQ for those who make donations on a regular basis. It is a great way to show appreciation and encourage them to stay involved with the organization.
Conclusion
A nonprofit organization is already a business that does world-changing work. In order to expand the organization's impact even further, using the power of chatbots can help. Automation is bringing radical changes to the way businesses operate and interact with the audience, including nonprofits. A chatbot is a good example of this automation that can enhance the work of the organization, improve its relationships with activists and donors, and improve the image of the organization in general.
