Are we doing enough to encourage donors to give?

As Everyclick’s fundraising approaches the £1million mark it makes me wonder if we are doing enough to encourage donors to give?

One of the clearest messages we can take on board from our supporters is that they want to be able to choose how and when to support us. The internet is a perfect vehicle for offering that choice at an extremely low cost and in a format that is accessible 24 hours a day, every day.

First, offer as many ways to pay as you can. Debit and credit cards are a must. If you can't offer direct debits, then offer standing orders. Add PayPal as an option and always include postal and telephone options for those who still won't pay online or have a problem with the form.

Try to include information about alternative ways to support the charity. It costs nothing to add a page explaining how people can support you through eBay auctions and Everyclick, but it makes the choice much wider. Other possible alternatives include in-memoriam services and affiliate schemes.

If you have any donors doing sponsored events, add a page explaining how they can use online tools. Offer a package where you set up a fundraising page, a blog and twitter profile for them – it only takes a few minutes, you get to control the branding and can feed the outcomes to your own website, Facebook and Twitter. Remember that many donors and supporters may not have the confidence or the technical know how to set up a blog, add a fundraising widget and feed it to Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, never forget that volunteering is a way to give. Even if you don't use volunteers in the office, you can use them to run services such as eBay auctions and Social Networking pages.

Engaging with your supporters is critical to retaining their support. Offering them e-communications, easy ways to give, direct routes through the site and multiple options will make it easier for them and will increase your income.