Feeling a bit nervous to share on Facebook? Don’t worry, that's completely normal. We’ve figured out that using Facebook post templates makes sharing on Facebook easy, and it's one of the best ways to get the word out about your GoFundMe. You can do this by going to your Facebook account, or by writing the post directly from your GoFundMe dashboard.
What do I say?
Each post should include the following:
- A short message to your friends & family. Even just a “Hi!” will work.
- Your GoFundMe link
- A request for them to donate/ share your GoFundMe.
Here are some templates you can use.
Beginning of your fundraiser:
Hello! I’m excited to announce that I’ve created a GoFundMe to help with [Insert reason here]. You can check out my GoFundMe and donate here: [Insert GoFundMe link here]
Friends & Family- I’ve created a GoFundMe to help with my [Insert specific reason here] bills. Please read my story and donate to my GoFundMe here: [Insert GoFundMe link here]
Halfway through your fundraiser:
Thank you so much to everyone who has helped by sharing my GoFundMe so far. If you haven’t donated yet, please do so by visiting my GoFundMe here: [Insert GoFundMe link]
Wow! Thanks to all of you, we’ve raised [Insert how much you’ve raised here] in only [insert how many days here] days. I’m truly thankful for your generous support. I’m only [insert amount here] from my goal, so I kindly ask that you share my GoFundMe with your network. Each share gets me closer to my goal, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
End of your fundraiser:
Please help me reach my goal of [insert how many donors you want here] donors by making a small donation- even $5 helps get me closer to my goal of x donors! [Insert GoFundMe link]
Hello friends & family- I’m sharing my GoFundMe in hopes of reaching my goal of [insert goal here]. Even after [insert number of GoFundMe shares] we still have [insert amount to go] to go! If you haven’t donated yet, please do so at my GoFundMe here: [insert GoFundMe link]
Facebook message
Though Facebook posts are one of the easiest ways to share your GoFundMe, Facebook messages are the most effective ways to share. In a very digital world, Facebook messages act as the “personal touch” that is often lost in social media posts written for the masses.
How to send a Facebook message
To send a Facebook message, go to your Facebook account and select the 'Message' icon, as pictured below.
Once in the message, you can add your recipient’s name, and start typing the message in the box below. You’ll know you have correctly entered your recipient’s name when the name is highlighted in a blue box.
Direct messages are best
While group messages might seem easier, individual messages are the true way to show people how much your GoFundMe means to you- and how thankful you are for their donation. When you’re writing a message to multiple people, people feel like they don’t need to donate because they think the other people in the message will. This is true for a message from three people all the way up to 300 people!
We’ve put together enough outlines and examples to ensure that you’ll feel comfortable sending anyone and everyone a Facebook message. Your Facebook message should always include:
- The "What"
What are you raising money for? Be as specific as possible here! - The "Why"
Why is this important to you, and why should it be important to the person you're sending the message to? - The "Ask"
Be sure to ask for a donation at the end of the message! Though it can seem uncomfortable, people often won't feel inclined to donate unless they're specifically asked. If you don't want to ask for a donation from everyone, then be sure to ask them to share your fundraiser, and ask their friends and family to share as well.
When to share
It’s important to post on Facebook during a “high traffic hour,” which is the time that most of your friends and family will be scrolling through their news feeds. While each community is different, you want to avoid posting late at night, or during a time when you know most of your friends and family are already at work. Think about your Facebook habits as a model for your community.
It’s important to send Facebook messages during “regular” hours, otherwise, your friend might read it in the middle of the night while half asleep! The key is to know your audience and send the message when you know they’re likely to be online and have time to look at your GoFundMe.
Consistency is the key to sharing
Remember to share your fundraiser consistently- as one Facebook post will not reach your entire friend group. Sharing your GoFundMe on different days each week opens you up to a larger audience!
What if I already sent it?
Don’t worry! The good news is that you can always follow up with your original message at a better time, as follow-ups are just as important as the original message. Following up 3-5 days after your message without hearing back is encouraged. You can do this through another Facebook message, text message, or even in person.
The important part of the follow up is that you remind them about your GoFundMe, and share how much it would mean to you if they were able to make a donation. Remember, honesty and vulnerability are best when it comes to these things! If they can tell that you’re emotionally invested, they will be too.
If you’d like to find more ways to make your fundraiser a success, our GoFundMe blog is a great place to start.