❖ Heads up! This article is intended for agency managers.
You've set up your Agency, created Needs, and started sharing them with your community. Hopefully, you’re already receiving volunteer responses! But what if your agency is newly established on a volunteer site and you don’t have a built-up volunteer base yet?
Regardless of where you stand—newly established or already cemented in the community—you can use these tips to create your own buzzworthy volunteer Needs!
Think Like a Marketer
When crafting titles for your Needs, avoid anything vague or generic—like “Volunteers Needed” or “Help Wanted.” Instead, go for fun, engaging, and specific titles that grab attention. Here are some real-world examples:
Volunteer Crisis Counselors Needed – Help Make a Difference in Someone’s Life!
Tutors Needed for English Literacy and Math Students – It Feels Good to Give Back!
Our Residents Need You!
Be a Part of Something BIG! Seamster Park Playground Community Build
Want to include a pun? Go for it! For example, if you're looking for volunteers to stuff envelopes for a campaign, you could say: Help Make This Year’s Campaign Be the “Stuff” of Legend!
Knowing your audience is key when crafting compelling Needs.
Appeal to Your Volunteers
Understanding what drives your volunteers will help you create Needs that stand out. The description field of your postings is where you want to make your case:
Explain how volunteers’ contributions make a real impact.
Show them the bigger picture and why their help is essential.
Appeal to their interests, causes, and skills.
Highlight how their efforts help achieve goals.
Don’t forget to mention the perks!
What’s in It for Your Volunteers?
Are you offering swag—like t-shirts, hats, bags, or keychains? Make sure to mention it! Providing snacks, coffee, or other treats for volunteers on duty? That’s a great incentive—let them know! Does your volunteer site have achievement benchmarks? Gamification can be a great way to keep volunteers engaged and coming back for more.
Keep Your Needs Updated
Volunteers are more likely to sign up for Needs with specific dates and times. Use different duration types like Recurring Shifts, Happens On, and Custom Shifts to provide clear scheduling details.
To boost visibility, update your Needs periodically—this pushes them back to the top of the list. Just keep in mind that Needs marked as Ongoing or Runs Until won’t automatically appear at the top as you add more listings.
Share, Share, and Share Some More!
Promote your volunteer Needs across multiple channels:
Share links via emails, newsletters, and social media posts.
Create QR codes linking to your Agency profile, events, or specific Needs for use on flyers and business cards.
This is just the beginning—there are many ways to boost volunteer engagement.
Track Your Success
Use My Agency > Stats to analyze what’s working and refine your approach. If you need more guidance, reach out to your site manager for tips on making your Agency and Needs stand out.
Whether you’re new or well-established, these strategies will help you create compelling, buzzworthy volunteer Needs that attract and engage volunteers!