Volunteer management ideas in the

Ultimate Ideas Newsletter

How to lead, recruit and retain more volunteers and members!

Issue 13

Volunteer Management Part 1 and Part 2

Buying the Volunteering Experience!

10  Volunteer Recruitment Ideas on

Selling to New Recruits (continued)

The Whole Package

People buy your organization, your paid staff, your leadership - in fact the whole package. Recognize that first impressions count. It is said that in the first 4 minutes of meeting someone we form an impression that can take a lot to change. What first impressions are potential volunteers getting of your organization? Are they of a shabby, unwelcoming or stress-filled environment? Or are they of a welcoming, friendly ‘can do’ atmosphere? You only get one chance to make a first impression – always aim to make it a good one for your volunteer management and volunteer recruitment plan.

Another Opinion

People buy other people's opinion of you and your organization. That’s why someone’s opinion of you becomes so important. The opinion of your current volunteers in recruiting new volunteers is the reason why ‘word of mouth’ is the most powerful volunteer recruitment method of all time. What are your current volunteers saying about your organization?

Problem Solved

People buy solutions to problems. Of all the myriad of reasons why people buy, it is this one that is often the most important of all. The question then is 'what problems are you solving for your potential volunteers?'  This is a vital part of motivational buying in volunteer recruitment. It may be a solution to feeling lonely and isolated or it might be a solution to feeling valued by making a contribution or a range of other reasons. Look again at your volunteering opportunities and become more solution-focussed in your volunteer recruitment messages.

Think About It

Throughout my previous tour of The 'Ultimate Ideas' Workshop: 1002 Ideas on Recruiting, Retaining and Recognizing Volunteers I also reinforced that no matter what volunteering experience you are selling, people do not always buy it on the first contact. Many people take five to nine times to hear, see or think about your message before buying your product in volunteer recruitment.

Follow Me

Often you give people information, you inform them of your volunteering opportunities and if they do not say yes there and then - well that's the end of it. Some people never use the power of follow-up selling that we discussed in a previous volunteer management newsletter and just assume that these prospects are not interested. Many people need to be courted, they need to think about it, to discuss it with others and then they need you and your organization to follow-up and contact them again so they can say "yes, now I’m ready to volunteer".

Adapted from The High Five Workshop Tour and The Ultimate Ideas Workshop Tour now on a 4CD Workshop Package Set

Enjoy!

Judy

Dr Judy Esmond is the leading expert on how to gain, sustain and retain volunteers and members. Join up and receive FREE membership to her 'Ultimate Ideas' Mastermind Group and get the FREE E-Book and newsletter filled with 100s of ideas on volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, retention and volunteer recognition at www.morevolunteers.com

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