Magazine Fundraising Ideas
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One of the best magazine fundraising ideas around can be found on the worldwide web. Selling magazines online is one of the simplest and most effortless ways to raise money for nonprofits, schools, youth groups, and clubs; and in most cases, there are no fees or upfront costs. The Internet has fast become the premier way to generate income. Online advertising has the potential to reach millions of consumers on domestic and foreign shores. And almost anyone over the age of 18 can capitalize on a soaring consumer trend to shop online. Although magazine and newspaper publishing companies have experienced a decline due to the popularity of the Internet, the web can be utilized to boost sales and drive consumers to subscribe. People still like to read; and studies indicate that more than 80 percent of U.S. households subscribe to one to four publications per year. Savvy fundraisers can take advantage of America's love for reading and trend for surfing the web by selling subscriptions effortlessly on line. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30).
The process for implementing magazine fundraising ideas that include online sales is relatively easy. Church groups, schools, committees, groups, and clubs simply sign up on vendor sites to start an online subscription "store." Picture a digital store as a virtual newsstand full of popular publication titles. Hundreds of issues are available that appeal to all ages and interests -- from children's magazines, senior adult gardening and travel rags, women's health and beauty books, and men's mechanics and golf tabloids. A wide range of brand name issues appeals to a broader audience. Once the virtual store has been created using the fundraising group's logo, text, and unique password-protected identification code; sellers can drive potential subscribers to the site.
Unique online magazine fundraising ideas can include sending out emails to everyone on participants' address books; posting campaign information in church or school bulletins and flyers; advertising fundraisers in direct mail and e-newsletters; or even printing and handing out cards advertising the online store from door to door! People are always interested in a bargain, and subscriptions offered through sites that promote online magazine sales may be discounted by as much as 80 percent. Subscribers can save over buying publications at newsstands, neighborhood grocery stores, or through existing subscriptions. And in a woeful economy, cost-conscious consumers are watching every penny.
Other great magazine fundraising ideas include visiting local doctors' offices, hospitals, health clubs, lawyers' offices, and dentists to offer discount online subscriptions for use in their lobbies. While some businesses may have even thought to curtail waiting room literature to cut costs, offering discounted publications that can be purchased online is a win-win situation for fundraisers, supporters, and business owners. Hospitals, doctors, dentists, and lawyers have the opportunity to continue providing popular publications for clients at a considerable savings. Area businesses may also consent to point-of-purchase displays of popular tabloids or allow fundraisers to post flyers or post cards directing customers to the online store inside of each issue in the waiting room.
Once fundraising groups establish an online store and invite supporters and potential customers to subscribe, the process becomes even easier. Interested parties simply log onto the web-based store, select from several hundred titles, and sign up for subscriptions online. Cyberspace vendors process the orders, collect payment electronically, ship the magazines, and pay the fundraising group a certain percentage of sales; 40 percent is not uncommon. By utilizing online magazine fundraising ideas, groups simply pocket the cash while continuing to generate subscriber sales via emails, blogs, direct mailers, newsletters, bulletins, or any other method of letting people know about the online store.
What's the advantage to electronic sales? By implementing successful magazine fundraising ideas, such as selling subscriptions via an online store, nonprofits, churches, schools, youth groups, and other fundraising organizations can make money with very little effort. There are no door-to-door encounters that lead to negative results; no expenditures for gas driving all around town to hawk subscriptions; and no handling orders, making telephone calls, or collecting money. Fundraising groups never have to have face-to-face contact with subscribers; and there are no stressful moments having to collect initial payments or trying to convince disinterested parties to order subscriptions that they may not want. Supporters that subscribe at the fundraiser's virtual store do so willingly and not with coercion, high-pressure sales techniques, strong arm tactics, or bait-and-switch schemes. Subscribers can leisurely browse through titles and decide to order as few or as many publications as they wish. Payment online with a major credit card enables individuals to have orders processed promptly with little delays; and vendors are totally responsible for timely delivery of each issue.
Magazine fundraising ideas also include forming competitive teams and soliciting the aid of family members and friends to advertise and sell online subscriptions. Teams can compete for prizes for generating the most sales. Winners can be awarded cash incentives, free T-shirts or ball caps, or treated to complementary meals at fine dining establishments. Some team members may want to compete for a small percentage of overall sales for the month; or a chance to have their photo displayed in the group newsletter or bulletin. Family and friends can also have the opportunity to receive cash incentives or prizes for referring someone to the fundraiser site. The key to making magazine fundraising ideas work is to explore options and vendor offerings online; make sure that the percentage of profits is well worth the investment of time and energy; stay well organized; keep up the momentum of fundraising; and provide incentives for team members to exert their best effort in driving potential subscribers to the virtual newsstand.
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