Nobody’s mad you used AI to draft the email. That’s the job now. What lands wrong is when the draft ships untouched, polished, correct, and forgettable.
Here’s what tips people off, and what to fix before it goes out.

*Download our free tip sheet: 10 Ways to Catch AI Writing Red-Handed

A full-time marketing hire can often cost six figures before they’ve written a single post. A freelancer costs less – but disappears the moment the project ends. So which one actually helps to grow your business?
 
The answer depends on one question most business owners never stop to ask: are you trying to buy time back, or are you trying to buy growth?
 
There’s a third option most owners never get pitched: fractional marketing. A team of specialists working inside your business part-time, for less than either extreme. Here’s how all three actually stack up, and how to tell which one fits where your business is right now.

The three options, fast
Full-time hire. One person, on your payroll, dedicated to your business. You get consistency and full ownership of institutional knowledge. However, you also carry the full cost, the full risk, and the full gap if that person leaves.
 
Freelance contractor. One person, hired for a defined project or task. Fast to bring on, easy to scale down. But you’re usually buying execution, not strategy – and when the contract ends, so does the expertise.
 
Fractional team. A team of specialists, working inside your business part-time, for an ongoing retainer. You get strategy and execution together, without a single point of failure and without a full-time salary with benefits.

A full-time marketing manager runs $85,000 to $130,000 in base salary, but the fully-loaded costs, including benefits, payroll taxes, tools, and the 60 to 120 days it takes to reach full productivity, actually push that closer to $110,000 to $155,000 a year. That’s before factoring in what happens if the hire doesn’t work out.
 
Freelance rates vary widely, from $50 to $300 an hour depending on experience and specialty, with most businesses landing around $75 an hour or a $3,000 to $20,000 monthly retainer. That flexibility is real. So is the tradeoff: you’re typically paying for hands and execution, but not a strategy.
 
Fractional marketing sits between the two. Big Deal Company typically contracts within a range of $500 to $5000 a month depending on the scope of the work and contract, well below what a full-time hire costs and without the ramp-up time. Our team-based model provides more bang for your buck, since you’re not paying for one person’s calendar. Instead, you’re getting a full team’s worth of expertise for one retainer.           

The four questions that actually decide it

1. Do you need someone to execute a plan, or build the plan? If you already have a strategy and just need hands to run it, a freelancer can work. If you don’t have a plan, or the current plan isn’t working, you need someone thinking about the business, not just posting for it.
2. Is the need constant or seasonal? A one-time campaign or a busy season points toward a freelancer or a project-based engagement. Marketing that runs all year points toward a full-time hire or a fractional retainer.
3. What happens if this person quits in 60 days? With a solo hire, freelance or full-time, the honest answer is usually “we lose everything with them.” A team model doesn’t carry that same risk.
4. Are you trying to buy time, or buy growth? If the real problem is “I’m out of hours in the day,” a freelancer can solve that. If the real problem is “we’re not growing,” that’s a strategy gap, and a freelancer alone rarely closes it.

​Where BIG DEAL Company fits
BIG DEAL Company has been Colorado’s fractional marketing and events team since 2006 – a 14-person team, not a single hire, brought in for the price of one. Clients have seen real results from this model. In past contracts, our team doubled an organization’s revenue in its first year as their marketing and development partner.
 
The team-based structure means the accountability of a full-time hire, the flexibility of a freelancer, and none of the single-point-of-failure risk of either. And while BIG DEAL is based in the Front Range, but the team supports clients well beyond  – including businesses and organizations in Arizona, California and Iowa.
 
Three options, three different cost structures. But there’s really only one question underneath all of it: does your business need hands, leadership, or both, right now? Get that answer right, and the budget decision mostly makes itself.
 
If you’re still weighing it, a second opinion helps more than another spreadsheet. Get in touch with BIG DEAL Company for a straight read on what fits your business – no pressure, no script.

FAQ
How much does fractional marketing cost compared to hiring in-house?
Fractional marketing typically runs a fraction of a full-time hire’s fully loaded cost - no salary, benefits, payroll tax, or six-figure risk if the hire doesn’t work out. Most small-business-tier retainers land well below the $110K-$155K a full-time marketing manager costs annually.

What’s the difference between a fractional marketing team and a freelancer?
A freelancer is usually one person hired for a defined task or project – execution, not strategy. A fractional team brings multiple specialists working together under one retainer, covering both the strategic planning and the work itself.

Is fractional marketing only for large companies?
No. Fractional marketing was built for businesses that need senior-level strategy but aren’t ready for a full-time executive salary. It’s most common among small and mid-sized businesses trying to bridge that exact gap.

How do I know if I need a freelancer or a full fractional team?
If the need is a single, defined project with a clear end date, a freelancer usually covers it. If the need is ongoing – ongoing strategy, ongoing execution, or both – a fractional team avoids the gap that opens up when a single contractor’s engagement ends.

What happens if my fractional marketing team member leaves?
Nothing. That’s the structural difference.
A fractional team spreads institutional knowledge across multiple people, so the business relationship continues even if one person’s role changes, unlike a solo freelancer or a single full-time hire.

Sources: Salary.com, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, PayScale, and industry rate guides (Talo, MarketerHire, GoFractional, Misnomer), 2026 benchmarks. Ranges reflect national averages and will vary by market, scope, and experience.

Because sounding like everyone else is a BIG mistake
Your logo gets people to notice you. Your brand voice gets them to remember you.
No matter what kind of organization you have, the way you communicate matters. Every post, email, web page, and conversation shapes how people view your brand. When your messaging is clear and consistent, it builds trust. If it’s confusing or inconsistent, people may lose interest.
​
For twenty years, BIG DEAL Company has helped organizations strengthen their messaging, marketing, and community ties. We’ve seen that having a strong brand voice can be the difference between being remembered and being forgotten.
Here are our top 10 tips for creating a brand voice that people recognize and remember.

1. Know Who You’re Talking To
Before you write a single word, define your audience. Ask yourself:

• Who are they?
• What problems are they trying to solve?
• What motivates them?
• What language do they use?

Great messaging should feel like a real conversation, not a formal speech. Most branding experts agree it begins with understanding your customers and speaking their language.

2. Define Your Brand Personality
If your brand walked into a room, how would it act?  Would it be:

• Professional and authoritative?
• Friendly and approachable?
• Bold and innovative?
• Fun and energetic?

Pick three to five traits that truly reflect your organization. These will help shape everything from your website text to your social media posts.

3. Create a Simple Voice Guide
A brand voice guide doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with:

• Who you are
• What you stand for
• How you sound
• Words you use often
• Words you avoid

Even a short, one-page guide can make your marketing much more consistent. Keeping your voice and messaging steady is a big part of strong brand management.

4. Focus on Benefits, Not Features
People are more interested in how you can help them than in what you do.
Instead of saying:
“We offer strategic marketing services.”
Try:
“We help organizations connect with the right audience and grow their impact.”
Benefits help people connect with your brand on an emotional level. Features just explain what you offer.
​
5. Stop Trying to Sound Like Everyone Else
A common mistake is copying popular brands or following industry trends too closely. Your audience doesn’t want another generic company that says it’s 'professional and friendly.' They want to see what makes you different. Many marketers agree that brands often sound the same because they try to appeal to everyone instead of highlighting what sets them apart.

6. Keep Your Core Message Consistent
Your social media, website, newsletters, presentations, and sales conversations should all share the same core message. Consistency builds trust. At BIG DEAL Company, we often remind clients that marketing, communications, and events work best when they come together as one system.

7. Develop Key Messaging Pillars
Messaging pillars are the main ideas you want people to remember about your brand.  Examples might include:

• Community involvement
• Exceptional customer service
• Industry expertise
• Innovation
• Reliability

Try to link every piece of content you create to at least one of these main themes.

8. Test Your Messaging
What sounds good to your team might not connect with your customers.
Gather feedback through:

• Surveys
• Customer interviews
• Social media engagement
• Website analytics

If your audience consistently misunderstands what you do, it may be time to revisit your messaging.
For helpful audience research tips, check out the resources available from the HubSpot Marketing Blog.

9. Train Your Team
Your brand voice shouldn’t just stay in the marketing department.
Everyone who interacts with customers should understand:

• Your brand values
• Your key messages
• Your communication style

Everyone, from customer service to leadership, helps shape your brand with every interaction.
​
10. Review and Refresh Annually
Markets change. Audiences shift. Businesses grow. Your brand voice should stay steady, but your messaging may need updates as things change. Successful organizations review their messaging each year to make sure it still fits their goals, audience, and place in the market.

The Bottom Line
Your brand voice is more than just words. It’s about how people feel when they hear from you.
A strong voice helps customers recognize, trust, and remember you. When you combine it with clear messaging, it becomes one of your organization’s most valuable assets. If you need help with your brand voice, messaging guidelines, or communications strategy, we’re here to help.

• Visit the BIG DEAL Company’s Communications Services page to learn more about our marketing and communications support:
• BIG DEAL Communications Services
• You can also explore additional marketing insights on the:
• BIG DEAL Company Blog

 
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between brand voice and brand messaging?
Brand voice is how your organization communicates. Brand messaging is what your organization communicates. Voice is your personality; messaging is your message.

2. How often should I update my brand voice?
Your voice should remain relatively consistent, but your messaging should be reviewed at least once a year to ensure it still aligns with your audience and business goals.
​
3. Can small businesses benefit from brand voice guidelines?
Absolutely. In fact, small businesses often benefit the most because consistent messaging helps build trust, improve recognition, and compete with larger organizations.

For a while now, social media metrics like follower counts, likes, and viral moments have dominated discussions about digital marketing. But don’t forget about one of the oldest forms of online communication: email.
 
While social platforms absolutely play an important role in brand awareness and engagement, there’s one marketing asset that continues to outperform social media in long-term value: your email list.
 
At BIG DEAL Company, we help businesses build strategic marketing systems that create real relationships, drive conversions, and support sustainable growth. One thing we consistently remind clients of? You don’t own your social media audience, but you do own your email list.
 
Here’s why your email audience is one of the most valuable marketing tools your business or nonprofit can invest in.​

Email Subscribers Are Asking You to Communicate With Them
Social media followers may scroll past your content without ever truly engaging. Algorithms decide who sees your posts, when they see them, and sometimes if they see them at all. Over-posting or reaching out through direct messages risks feeling intrusive to your followers, especially if they use social media to manage relationships with friends and family.

When someone joins your email list, they are actively giving you permission to communicate with them. They’re raising their hand and saying, “I want to hear from you.” That level of intent makes email subscribers far more valuable than passive social media followers.

Your email list is made up of people who are genuinely interested in your business, products, services, events, or expertise. Because of that, email marketing often leads to stronger engagement, higher conversion rates, and more consistent customer relationships.

Consistent Emails Build Trust and Reliability
Trust is one of the most important factors in marketing. People buy from brands they recognize, remember, and trust. Consistent email communication helps build that trust and recognition over time.
When your audience regularly sees helpful, informative, or entertaining emails from your business, you stay top of mind. Even if they’re not ready to buy today, your consistent presence keeps your brand familiar and credible when they are ready to make a decision.

The key word here is consistent. Sending one email every few months won’t create momentum. A thoughtful email strategy with regular communication helps establish reliability and professionalism.
At BIG DEAL Company, we often tell clients that email marketing is less about “selling” every single time and more about nurturing relationships and including a variety of Calls to Action (CTAs). The businesses that show up consistently are the businesses people remember.

Tips for Growing Your Email List Ethically
A strong email strategy starts with building the right audience the right way. Buying email lists or adding people without permission may seem like a shortcut, but it often damages your reputation, hurts deliverability, and creates low engagement. Ethical list growth leads to higher-quality subscribers who actually want to hear from you.
Here are a few effective ways to grow your email list organically:

Offer Something Valuable
Give people a reason to subscribe. This could include:

• Exclusive discounts
• Helpful guides or downloads
• Event updates
• Early access to promotions
• Educational content
• Industry insights

Add Signup Opportunities Everywhere
Make it easy for people to join your list by including signup forms:

• On your website homepage
• In blog posts
• At checkout
• On landing pages
• At events
• Through social media links

Use Events to Build Your Audience
As an events and marketing company, we know in-person events are one of the best opportunities to grow an engaged email list. Whether it’s a conference, networking event, fundraiser, or community activation, events create meaningful connections that often translate into long-term subscribers.

Be Transparent
​Tell subscribers what they can expect and how often you’ll email them. Clear communication builds trust from the start.

What Should You Include in Email Newsletters?
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is only emailing their audience when they want to sell something (the same goes for nonprofits asking for donations).
Your email strategy should provide ongoing value. Think about your emails as relationship-building tools, not just promotional blasts.
Here are a few types of content that perform well:
Educational ContentShare tips, insights, tutorials, or industry expertise that help your audience solve problems or learn something new.
Company/Organization UpdatesKeep subscribers informed about new services, team updates, milestones, partnerships, or behind-the-scenes moments.
Event AnnouncementsPromote upcoming events, launches, workshops, or special experiences.
Success StoriesSmall businesses: show real-world results through testimonials, case studies, or customer spotlights. Nonprofits: share stories of the people you’ve helped with your services, and how donors help you help others.
Exclusive OffersReward your subscribers with discounts, VIP opportunities, or early access promotions.
Personal Brand StorytellingPeople connect with people. Sharing authentic stories about your company’s mission, culture, and values can strengthen emotional connections with your audience.
Why Your Email List is a Long-Term Brand Asset
 
As we know well, social media trends change. Algorithms shift, and platforms rise and decline in popularity. Brands on social media are ultimately operating on rented space.
 
Your email list is one of few marketing channels you truly control. Organizations that prioritize email marketing often see stronger customer retention, better engagement, and more predictable results over time. And, at the end of the day, your email contact list is an asset you own.
 
Need Help Building an Email Strategy?
At BIG DEAL Company, we help businesses create marketing strategies that connect with audiences in meaningful ways. From email campaigns and branding to event marketing and full-service promotional support, our team knows how to turn communication into community.
If you’re ready to build a stronger email marketing strategy, grow your subscriber list ethically, and create consistent content that drives results, BIG DEAL Company can help.
For business and nonprofit marketing and event news and tips, follow BIG DEAL Company on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
 
Frequently Asked Questions
 
Why should I spend time on email marketing when social media is so popular?
Social media is excellent for visibility and engagement, but email marketing creates a more direct and reliable connection with your audience. Your email subscribers have chosen to hear from you, making them more likely to engage with your content, support your business, or respond to your calls to action.
 
Do people still read marketing emails?
Yes – especially when the content is relevant, useful, and consistent. Well-planned email campaigns continue to generate strong engagement and conversions because they deliver value directly to subscribers who opted in to receive communications.
 
How often should businesses or nonprofits send emails?
Consistency matters more than frequency. For many businesses and nonprofits, sending emails weekly, biweekly, or monthly works well. The key is setting a schedule your audience can expect and maintaining quality communication over time.
 
What types of content should I put in email newsletters?
Effective newsletters often include:

• Educational tips and resources
• Event announcements
• Company or nonprofit updates
• Success stories and testimonials
• Promotions or exclusive offers
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Calls to action (CTAs)

What are ethical ways to get more email contacts?
Ethical email list growth includes:

• Offering valuable incentives to subscribe
• Using website signup forms
• Collecting emails at events
• Promoting your newsletter on social media
• Being transparent about what subscribers will receive

Never buy email lists or add people without permission.

Why shouldn’t I buy an email list?
 Purchased email lists often contain people who never agreed to hear from your business. This can hurt your sender reputation, lower engagement rates, increase spam complaints, and damage trust with potential customers or supporters.

​AI Content Is Not the Problem: Low-Value Content Is
AI is everywhere, and there’s no escaping it! There are AI chatbots on webpages, grammar-checking plug-ins, and tools for generating images, video, and written content at a scale that was unimaginable just a few years ago. AI has made it easier than ever to publish blog posts, landing pages, guides, FAQs, and product descriptions quickly. But speed is not the same as quality.
 
At Big Deal, we’ve had to weigh the pros and cons of AI tools carefully – both for our own content and for our clients’ marketing strategies. Our team constantly studies how AI is changing search and how it affects where, when, and how often content shows up. We’ve developed a clear position: AI is a powerful supporting tool, not a replacement for original expertise, brand perspective, or real user value.
 
Google has stated that it does not automatically penalize AI-generated content. Its focus is whether the content is helpful, reliable, and created for people – not for search engines.
 
In plain terms: AI content itself is not inherently bad for SEO. Low-quality, generic, and mass-produced content is the real risk.

What Is an AI Content Generation Tool?
An AI content generation tool is software that uses artificial intelligence to produce written content based on prompts, inputs, or data. These tools can create blogs, product descriptions, meta titles, social posts, email copy, outlines, summaries, FAQs, and more.
 
Common AI-assisted content tasks include:

• Drafting blog outlines and first drafts
• Generating topic ideas and title variations
• Creating meta descriptions and title tags
• Summarizing research
• Rewriting or expanding existing content
• Creating FAQ sections (which support AI search results)
• Producing large batches of similar pages

 
Using AI to support these tasks is efficient and entirely appropriate. The risk comes when businesses use AI to publish large volumes of unedited, unoriginal, or shallow content.
 
Google’s spam policies warn against scaled content abuse – producing many pages primarily to manipulate rankings rather than help users, regardless of whether the content is created by humans, automation, or AI.
 
Simply put, any tool or approach that promises rankings through mass-produced, formulaic content glosses over serious risks. Pages may rank briefly, but the drop, when it comes, can be dramatic.

What Goes Wrong: How AI Content Sites Lose Visibility
AI-heavy websites can gain early traffic by publishing quickly and targeting many keywords. But rankings tend to decline when Google or users determine the content lacks originality, depth, real-world experience, or genuine usefulness. Here’s what drives that decline, and why it also puts your brand at risk.

The Content Is Too Generic
AI tools often produce safe, broad, predictable information. The output may sound polished, but it rarely says anything new. Common examples of weak AI content could include:

• “Top 10 Tips” articles with no original examples or context
• Generic service pages that could apply to any company in any market
• Rewritten versions of already-ranking pages
• Articles with no expert quotes, personal experience, data, or case studies

The Content Misses Search Intent
AI can often answer a surface-level query but miss what a reader actually needs. A user searching “how to choose a roofer after storm damage” probably needs practical steps, red flags to watch for, insurance considerations, local context, and expert guidance – not a generic article about hiring contractors.

The Brand Gets Diluted
When shallow AI-generated pages mix with strong branded content, the weaker pages damage how users perceive your entire site. The downstream effects compound quickly:

• Lower trust and engagement across the site
• Lower conversion rates
• Weaker topical authority
• Pages competing against each other for the same keywords
• A site that feels mass-produced rather than expert-led

 
And if competitors are using the same AI tools to answer the same prompts, your content may sound nearly identical to theirs. The more generic your content is, the easier it is for Google and users to replace it.

Why Losing Google Rankings Also Hurts AI Search Visibility
AI search experiences – including Google’s AI Overviews – rely on high-quality, authoritative, well-structured, and trusted sources. If your website loses organic visibility because of low-quality content, your chances of being referenced, summarized, or surfaced in AI-driven search results also decline.
 
Google expanded AI Overviews in Search in 2024, making it even more important for brands to create clear, trustworthy, and useful content to be selected or cited in AI-enhanced results. If Google no longer views your content as one of the best available answers, AI search systems are unlikely to treat it as a source worth surfacing. AI search, including Google, is more likely to reward content that provides direct, useful, and well-supported answers.

Google Is Moving Toward Content With Genuine Experience and Expertise
Google uses a wide variety of signals when ranking content. After relevance is established, it prioritizes helpfulness – evaluated through the E-E-A-T framework:

• Experience: The writer or brand has actually dealt with the topic
• Expertise: Readers receive accurate, informed guidance
• Authoritativeness: The source is recognized in its field
• Trustworthiness: Users can feel confident in the advice

 
AI can summarize what already exists. Your job is to add what only your business, your team, your customers, and your real-world experience can provide.
 
Examples of experience-rich, E-E-A-T content from the Big Deal perspective:

• “Here’s what we learned after developing content strategies for 20+ local service businesses.”
• “Based on our client work, these are the most common AI content mistakes we see – and how we fix them.”
• “Our team recommends this process because we’ve seen it reduce content revisions and improve performance over time.”

When AI Content Can Be Useful
AI is not something to avoid entirely (and you probably couldn’t if you tried!). Used responsibly, it’s a legitimate efficiency tool. Strong applications of AI in the content process include:

• Brainstorming topics and generating outlines
• Summarizing research or synthesizing source material
• Drafting introductions and FAQ sections
• Simplifying complex ideas for a broader audience
• Generating title tags and meta description variations
• Repurposing existing content for email or social formats
• Identifying gaps in a working draft
• Creating content briefs for human writers

 
AI is strongest as a support tool. It is weakest when used as a replacement for strategy, expertise, research, and editorial judgment.

Common AI Content Mistakes to Avoid – And a Checklist Before You Publish
With great speed and efficiency comes great responsibility (cue Spiderman) – and real pitfalls. Here are the mistakes we see most often when brands lean too hard on AI:

• Publish raw, unedited AI drafts
• Creating hundreds of similar pages without differentiating value
• Targeting keywords without understanding search intent
• Rewriting competitor content without adding anything new
• Using AI to simulate expertise that doesn’t exist
• Publishing content with no author, reviewer, or brand perspective
• Ignoring factual errors or outdated information
• Using the same structure and format for every article
• Creating content only for rankings, not for readers
• Mixing low-quality AI pages into an otherwise strong site

 
Before publishing anything – AI-assisted or not – run it through this checklist:

• Does this page help a real reader solve a real problem?
• Would we publish this under our brand name with confidence?
• Does it include original insight or experience?
• Is the information accurate and current?
• Has a human edited and improved the output?
• Does it sound like our brand?
• Does it offer something better than what currently ranks?
• Are claims supported with examples, evidence, or expertise?
• Does it naturally connect to related pages on our site?
• Would a reader trust us more after reading this?

 
If the answer to most of these questions is no, it is not ready to publish.
The Bottom LineAI will continue to change how content is created, discovered, and summarized. But the core principle of great SEO hasn’t changed: the best content is the content that genuinely helps people.
 
Websites that use AI to produce generic pages at scale may see temporary gains. Brands that invest in real insight, real experience, and real usefulness are far more likely to earn lasting visibility in both Google Search and AI-powered search experiences.
 
At Big Deal Company, we use AI as a tool – not an author. Our content strategy is built on demonstrating real expertise, serving real audiences, and protecting the rankings and trust our clients have worked hard to earn.
 
Want to talk about your content strategy? Let’s connect.
​

FAQs
Will Google penalize my site for using AI-generated content?
Not automatically. Google has stated that it evaluates content on helpfulness and quality, not on whether it was produced by AI. What triggers ranking drops is content that is thin, unoriginal, or clearly created to game search results rather than serve readers. The safest rule: every page you publish should pass the test of genuinely helping a real person solve a real problem.

How much human editing does AI content actually need?
Enough to make it yours. At minimum, a human editor should verify facts, inject brand voice, add original insight or experience, and ensure the content actually answers what the reader came to learn. Think of AI output as a strong first draft – useful raw material that still needs a skilled hand to become something worth publishing under your name.

Can AI content hurt my chances of appearing in Google’s AI Overviews?
Yes – indirectly. Google’s AI Overviews pull from sources it already considers authoritative and trustworthy. If low-quality content causes your site to lose organic rankings, you become less likely to be cited or surfaced in AI-driven results as well. Organic and AI visibility are increasingly linked, meaning protecting one protects both.

What’s the best way to use AI in a content strategy without sacrificing quality?
Use AI for the tasks where it saves time without replacing judgment: outlining, research summaries, draft introductions, FAQ generation, and repurposing existing content. Reserve human expertise for strategy, voice, original insight, and final editing. That balance is exactly how the Big Deal team approaches content: AI handles the scaffolding - people build what matters.

​When shopping for services that help non-profits with data collection, collaboration and marketing software, many companies offer a discount to qualifying charities. Below is a comprehensive list of tools worth considering.
 
Adobe Express
What it is:
Adobe Express is an all-in-one content creation app that offers video and image editing, generative AI services, stock assets, social media scheduling, PDF editing, font collections, and more.
Nonprofit Offer:

• Free access to the Adobe Express Premium plan for up to 10 people in your organization, renewable annually.

Eligibility:

• Must register with TechSoup to verify 501(c)(3) status.

🔗  Register for Adobe Express Premium for Nonprofits
 
Airtable
What it is:
Airtable is a flexible database-meets-spreadsheet platform great for project management, content calendars, CRM, and collaboration.
Nonprofit Offer:

• 50% off Team plans for qualifying nonprofits and educational institutions

Eligibility:

• U.S.: Must submit 501(c)(3) IRS determination letter.
• International: Certification from a relevant governing body.
• Excludes government, political, religious, and healthcare nonprofits. 
• See the Airtable website for a complete description of qualifying nonprofits.

🔗  View Airtable’s Nonprofit Plans
 
Canva
What it is:
Canva is a graphic design platform with drag-and-drop tools for creating social media graphics, presentations, flyers, and more.
Nonprofit Offer:

• FREE access to Canva Pro, including premium templates, brand kits, and team collaboration tools.

Eligibility:

• Must be recognized as a charitable or a nonprofit organization by the local regulator in the country where you are registered
• Excludes legislative, political, governmental, educational, professional sports, and other nonprofits.
• See the Canva website for a complete description of qualifying nonprofits.

🔗 Explore Canva for Nonprofits
 
Constant Contact
What it is:
Constant Contact is a digital and email marketing platform offering user-friendly templates, reporting, and automation features.
Nonprofit Offers:

• 20% off standard pricing when prepaying for 6 months
• 30% off standard pricing when prepaying for 12 months

Eligibility:

• Must prepay; monthly plans not eligible.
• U.S. organizations must provide a digital copy of their 501(c)(3) determination letter.
• International organizations must provide a 501(c)(3) equivalent document.

🔗 Get Constant Contact for Nonprofits
 
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
What it is:
ChatGPT is an AI-powered assistant that can help with writing, brainstorming, and research.
Nonprofit Offers:

• 20% off ChatGPT Team plans (monthly or annual)
• 50% off ChatGPT Enterprise for large-scale implementations

Eligibility:

• Must be a verified nonprofit through OpenAI’s program
• Excludes academic, medical, religious, or governmental institutions.
• See the ChatGPT website for a complete description of qualifying nonprofits.

🔗 Get ChatGPT Nonprofit Pricing
 
DonorSearch AI
What it is:
DonorSearch AI is a specialized AI fundraising tool for nonprofits that helps you figure out who is most likely to donate and how much.
Nonprofit Offers:

• Enhanced CORE plan designed for smaller nonprofits.
• Free demo, consultation, and custom proposal.

🔗 Request DonorSearchAI Pricing
 
Fundraise Up
What it is:
Fundraise Up is a nonprofit fundraising platform designed to help organizations collect more donations online—and increase how much people give.
Nonprofit Offers:

• Only fees: 4% transaction fee and Stripe or Paypal fees

🔗 Explore Fundraise Up
 
FundRobin
What it is:
FundRobin is an AI-powered fundraising tool designed specifically to help nonprofits find grants and write better applications faster.
Nonprofit Offers:

• Comprehensive onboarding
• Sector-specific training materials
• Access to our grant writing experts

🔗 Start FundRobin Free Trial
 
HubSpot
What it is:
Hubspot is a CRM platform for marketing, sales, service, and content management.
Nonprofit Offer:

• 40% off on all HubSpot tools, including SEO, analytics, and audience engagement features

Eligibility:

• Must be a new HubSpot customer
• Must be based in North America, Australia, or New Zealand
• Must be a registered nonprofit and sign an annual contract.
• Eligible nonprofit organizations must have a mission to benefit the community.
• Excludes colleges and universities (with exceptions for foundations or nonprofit research initiatives); hospitals, professional and semi-professional sports organizations; governmental and political organizations.
• See the HubSpot website for complete eligibility requirements and exclusions.

🔗 HubSpot Nonprofit Criteria
 
Instrumentl
What it is:
Instrumentl is an all-in-one grant platform that helps nonprofits find funding opportunities, write grant applications, and track deadlines and progress.
Nonprofit Offer:

• $299/mo for your first 10 projects
• 14-day free trial

🔗 Trial Instrumentl for 14 days free
 
Mailchimp
What it is:
Malichimp is an email marketing platform that can be used for newsletters, donor communications, and outreach campaigns.
Nonprofit Offer:

• 15% discount for verified nonprofit organizations

Eligibility:

• U.S. organizations must provide a digital copy of their 501(c)(3) determination letter.
• International organizations can submit their website for review.

🔗 Mailchimp Nonprofit Discount Information
 
Monday.com
What it is:
Monday.com is a project management and team collaboration platform.
Nonprofit Offer:

• Nonprofit Plan: First 10 seats free + 70% off additional seats
• Enterprise Plan (minimum of 25 seats): 33% off per user

Eligibility:

• Must be a registered nonprofit, charity, NGO, or social change org and provide supporting documentation.
• Excludes healthcare, religious, economic development, government, professional sports, educational and other organizations.
• See the Monday.com website for a complete description of eligibility requirements and exclusions.

🔗 Monday.com for Nonprofits
 
Neon One
What it is:
Neon One is an all-in-one software platform for nonprofits that helps you manage donors, fundraising, events, and communications in one place.
Nonprofit Offers:

• Unlike other CRM providers that charge per record or user, Neon One’s pricing is based on your organization’s total revenue.

🔗 Explore Neon One
 
Notion
What it is:
Notion is a workspace for notes, task management, documentation, and collaboration.
Nonprofit Offer:

• 50% off the Plus Plan
• FREE access to nonprofit-specific templates (fundraising, donor management, volunteer tracking, etc.)

 Eligibility:

• Notion works with TechSoup to validate 501(c)3 registration. This usually takes 3-5 business days and a one-time admin fee. 

 🔗 Explore Notion for Nonprofits
 
Sprout Social
What it is:
Sprout  Social is a social media management platform offering tools for scheduling, engagement, analytics, and team collaboration.
Nonprofit Offer:

• Lower rates for Sprout Social’s Professional and Advanced plans with an annual subscription. 

 Eligibility:

• Must be a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization and commit to an annual subscription

 🔗 Sprout Nonprofit Pricing
 
Tips:

• Look beyond the pricing page. We found that while most services offer nonprofit pricing, the offers aren’t always prominently featured. You might need to dig deeper into the FAQ or support pages.
• Be prepared to provide proof of your nonprofit status. Most services will require proof of US 501(c)(3) status (in the U.S.) or comparable certification from other countries.
• Know the exclusions. Be aware that each service may exclude certain types of nonprofits (such as political, religious, or healthcare nonprofits). Some offers have geographic restrictions.
• Don’t be afraid to ask. If you don’t find clear documentation on a brand’s website, reach out to their customer support or sales team and ask about available discounts.

 
BIG DEAL Company makes business personal by bringing JOY to the job in everything we do. As purveyors of fun with BIG DEAL, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! Serving Colorado & Wyoming. We travel too!

At BIG DEAL Company, we know social media isn’t just a platform – it’s a stage. For nonprofits and businesses alike, every post, story, and comment is an opportunity to connect, inspire, and build lasting relationships with your audience. Truly standing out calls for creativity, authenticity, and strategies that turn followers into active participants in your mission or brand story.
 
In this post, we’re sharing a collection of unique, actionable ways you can engage with your social media audience – ideas that go beyond likes and shares to spark conversations, build community, and create memorable experiences (read more about experiential marketing). Whether you’re a nonprofit looking to rally support or a small business aiming to deepen customer loyalty, these tactics will help your social presence feel less like a broadcast and more like a conversation.

​1. Polls & Quizzes
 Interactive polls and quizzes are a fun way to engage followers while learning more about them. From quick yes/no polls to personality quizzes or content quizzes related to your brand or cause, these tools encourage participation and can provide valuable insights to direct your marketing strategy.
 
Example: A local nonprofit asked followers, “Which sustainability tip will you try this week?” Poll results drove engagement and informed their next campaign.
 
Visual Suggestion: Colorful poll graphics with “Swipe to Vote” or interactive Instagram story templates.
 
2. Mini Challenges
 Encourage followers to participate in small, shareable actions, like posting a photo using your product, trying a DIY tip, or completing a charitable task. Mini challenges create excitement, foster a sense of community, and give followers a reason to tag friends, expanding your reach organically.
 
Example: A small bakery ran the #BIGDEALBakes challenge, inviting followers to post photos recreating a signature recipe. Featured posts boosted visibility by 40%.
 
Visual Suggestion: Branded challenge templates for followers to post or tag friends.
 
3. Behind-the-Scenes or Day-in-the-Life Posts
 Show the human side of your organization. Whether it’s a volunteer sorting donations, a team member preparing for an event, or a peek into your creative process, behind-the-scenes content builds trust and personal connection, and audiences feel like you’re letting them in on a secret.
 
Example: A nonprofit shared a reel showing volunteers prepping for a fundraiser, generating hundreds of heartfelt comments.
 
Visual Suggestion: Short video clips or Instagram Reels with playful captions.
 
4. Interactive Infographics
 Transform facts and statistics into swipeable (like an Instagram carousel) or clickable graphics (like a Facebook story) that invite followers to engage. Nonprofits can highlight impact numbers, while businesses can share industry insights, making learning fun and visually appealing.
 
Example: An animal rescue posted a carousel of “5 Ways Your Donation Helps Animals,” resulting in a 25% increase in shares.
 
Visual Suggestion: Carousel posts with bold icons, numbers, and animated elements.
 
5. Photo Contests
 Encourage your audience to share their own photos related to your brand or mission. Highlighting participants in your feed or stories not only rewards engagement but also builds a library of user-generated content you can use for future campaigns.
 
Example: A community fitness brand ran a #FitForChange photo contest, showcasing top entries in weekly stories. Engagement doubled during the contest period.
 
Visual Suggestion: Branded announcement post with clear instructions and deadline.
 
6. Live Trivia
 Host a live trivia event relevant to your cause or industry. This is a playful way to educate followers, foster friendly competition, and keep your audience tuned in for real-time engagement. Ideal platforms include Facebook and Instagram stories or polls.
 
Example: A local museum hosted “Art Trivia Tuesdays” on Instagram Live, drawing 50+ viewers each session and sparking lively discussion.
 
Visual Suggestion: Branded slides with questions, countdown timers, and live polls.

7. Live Q&A
 Give your followers direct access to your team or experts in your field. A live Q&A allows for authentic, real-time conversations where you can answer questions, address concerns, or share insights. Ideal platforms include Facebook and Instagram stories or polls, Reddit AMAs (“Ask-Me-Anything”), or LinkedIn Live and LinkedIn Audio.
 
Example: A nonprofit CEO hosted a Reddit AMA about an upcoming campaign, resulting in 50+ meaningful questions and increased email sign-ups.
 
Visual Suggestion: Live session overlay graphics, pinned comment box for questions.
 
8. Virtual Workshops or Classes
 Teach a skill or share knowledge via live or pre-recorded sessions. Whether it’s a cooking demo, a craft tutorial, or a training on your nonprofit’s mission, workshops provide tangible value and encourage repeated engagement. You can create always-accessible videos on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, or TikTok, or go live to create a limited-time experience for viewers.
 
Example: A craft store hosted weekly virtual DIY workshops. Attendees shared completed projects, creating UGC (user-generated content) and recurring engagement.
 
Visual Suggestion: Step-by-step video clips, carousel instructions, or downloadable PDFs.
 
9. Interactive Stories
 Both Instagram and Facebook offer “Ask me anything,” polls, or sliders in stories. These tools let followers participate actively rather than passively scrolling, and they offer a quick, informal way to connect.
 
Example: A local bookstore asked followers to vote on the next book for their online book club, increasing story engagement by 35%.
 
Visual Suggestion: Branded story templates with prompts and stickers.
 
10. Partnership Takeovers
 Invite a partner organization, influencer, or community member to take over your account for a day. Takeovers bring fresh perspectives, expand your audience, and showcase collaboration authentically.
 
Example: A food bank partnered with a local chef to take over Instagram stories, sharing a behind-the-scenes cooking demo while promoting a fundraiser. Engagement surged, and new followers joined.
 
Visual Suggestion: Split-screen graphics highlighting guest hosts with your logo.
 
11. Badges or Rewards
 Gamify engagement by offering recognition or digital badges for participating in campaigns, attending events, or completing challenges. This creates motivation and encourages followers to come back for more. Instagram creators can offer badges to viewers during Live videos, and Reddit allows users to give badges or rewards to others’ posts and comments.
 
Example: A nonprofit recognized top donors with #BIGDEALStar badges shared on social media, boosting repeat engagement and online donations.
 
Visual Suggestion: Branded digital badges or icons displayed in stories or posts.
 
12. Feature Audience Stories
 Highlight the people behind your community: supporters, clients, or volunteers. Sharing their stories not only celebrates them but also strengthens the sense of belonging and trust in your organization or brand, plus tagging their accounts expands your post reach for free.
 
Example: A local pet shelter shared a follower’s adoption story, accompanied by a heartfelt photo. The post received 3x more comments than typical updates.
 
Visual Suggestion: Quote cards with photos and short captions.

13. Facility or Event Tours
 Bring followers into your space, whether it’s an office, a warehouse, or a local event. Similar to BTS (behind-the-scenes) content, live or recorded tours make your organization more transparent, relatable, and engaging while showcasing your work in action. These posts are popular for giving your audience a glimpse into areas that are often off-limits to the public.
 
Example: A nonprofit hosted a live tour of their community garden before a fundraising dinner, sparking excitement and driving RSVPs.
 
Visual Suggestion: 360° video clips, Instagram Live, or guided photo tours.
 
When used effectively, social media is a tool for connection, storytelling, and relationship-building. Download our FREE Content Marketing Simplified printable to get started.
 
At BIG DEAL Company, we love helping organizations craft dynamic campaigns that leave a lasting impact. Start small, test what resonates, and watch your followers become an active, enthusiastic part of your story.

​Frequently Asked Questions
 
1. What social media platforms are best for unique engagement tactics?
 
A: Most tactics can be adapted for multiple platforms. Instagram and Facebook are ideal for polls, quizzes, stories, and live sessions. LinkedIn works well for professional Q&As, workshops, and industry-focused content. Reddit AMAs are perfect for deeper, text-based interactions, while TikTok and YouTube are great for challenges, behind-the-scenes videos, and tutorials. Choose platforms based on where your audience is most active.
 
2. How can nonprofits and small businesses measure engagement success?
 
A: Engagement isn’t just about likes or shares. Track comments, poll participation, story interactions, click-throughs, and conversions (like sign-ups or donations). UGC (user-generated content) and repeat participation in challenges or events are also strong indicators of success.
 
3. How can BIG DEAL Company help my business or nonprofit create these types of engaging social media content?
A: BIG DEAL Company helps you plan, create, and manage interactive social media campaigns. We design eye-catching graphics, polls, quizzes, and videos, schedule posts and live events, engage your community, and track results to optimize future campaigns. Our goal is to turn followers into active participants who connect with your mission or brand.

BIG DEAL works hard to stay on top of the trends in all things events and marketing. Digital marketing is constantly changing. Below are the top 7 trends to make note of for 2026.