Here are some guidelines from VolunteerMatch to help your opportunities stand out from the rest. Keep this in mind when sending me your listings!

Guidelines for Creating a Great Listing
Based on the research done by VolunteerMatch on their own listings, listings which include the following elements could have a referral rate of up to 10%.

•Use short succinct sentences. 95% of the successful listings had sentences that were short and to the point but still descriptive. Deliver your message in as few words as possible. Get excited about your organization and the opportunity and relay that to the volunteer in the most expedient way.

•Average about 100 words per listing. Individual paragraphs included no more than 3 sentences each. The listings had an average of 5 total sentences. The successful listings were sure to relay all of the necessary information pertaining to the mission of their organization and the particular volunteer opportunity.

•Accurate task description. 97% of the successful listings had a clear description of the volunteer opportunity. Relay your opportunity in a positive way – get the volunteer excited about working with you.

•Correct grammar. 92% of the successful listings used correct grammar.

Putting the Guidelines to Use: Practical Applications

Guidelines are great, but knowing what makes a great listing does not always tell you how to write a great listing. The following sections help you apply the guidelines to current and future VolunteerMatch listings.

Make the Title Work for You – This is your hook. You need your title to stand out from other titles. Make it compelling, fun and informative. For example, “Unlock the World – Teach a Child to Read” has much more impact than “Volunteers Needed to Teach Reading.”

Keep it Brief – To get a volunteer’s attention ask for help in as few words as possible. Let the volunteer know the exact job they perform without too much detail. Only include information that helps them understand how they are making a difference.

Read more of VolunteerMatch’s great advice … click here.

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