Promote your blood drive: A focus on cause-driven content

Here’s a content idea that serves a great cause. In fact, it may even help save lives in your community. Why not promote your blood drive in your print publication?

Learning about the critical need for lifesaving blood from the hospital that serves them may inspire people to step up.

Localizing your appeal

When promoting your blood drive, you might tie your article to a related development in your community. That’s what Central Peninsula Hospital, of Soldotna, Alaska, did in their Spring 2023 issue of Pulse. The hospital informed its readers that Blood Bank of Alaska would be establishing a permanent blood donation site, making giving blood easier.

Of course, reminding your readers of the vital need for blood donations, as Central Peninsula Hospital also did, is a critical element of any blood-drive story. The hospital highlighted a few relevant facts—for instance, that 1 in 7 patients will need blood during hospital treatment, and a single blood donation can save up to three lives.

Any blood shortages would be something to mention as well. Central Peninsula Hospital localized their appeal further by noting that they had recently run low on type O-negative blood, which is in high demand because it is a universal blood type that can be given to anyone.

Other details you may want to offer your readers include brief overviews of who can give blood and what to expect during the blood donation process, such as the fact that the collection process itself only takes about 10 minutes and the entire process about one hour. You could also point readers to a blood bank website that has these details.

The next steps

Finally, include an effective call to action that tells readers what to do next. For example, you could provide phone numbers for contacting you or your blood bank partner for details about upcoming opportunities to give blood.