It’s not enough to have just a website for your non-profit. There are some fundamental requirements to ensure it is not only serving your organizational needs, but also the needs of your visitors.
Plot a logical roadmap
It is important for your website to have a logical roadmap that defines its functionality. A carefully planned roadmap will deliver an excellent user experience and also increases the likelihood for favorable treatment by search engines.
Provide key information about your organization
This may sound like a no-brainer. However, a large number of non-profit websites lack basic information such as how to contact, directions to the physical location, etc.
This lack of information can create doubts in the minds of your visitors. Use minimal text for your mission statement, about us, etc., and give prominence to key information.
Provide a way to get in contact
Once a visitor lands on your website, it is important that they have a way to get in contact. For instance, you must have a contact phone number (or 2), an email address, and a physical address.
In addition, there should be a simple contact form. Donors and other visitors who want to get in touch with your non-profit should be able to reach you easily. If not, they might move on because your contact information has not been prominently placed.
Email lists
It’s one thing to have people coming to your website, it’s another to have a marketing list to send messages out. People who are engaged with your non-profit are more likely to donate. Think of it as cultivating your audience to donate financially or with their time as a volunteer.
In podcast episode 002, we covered email marketing for your non-profit.
Simplify the navigation
Your website must have clear navigation options. All the pages must come with logical names.
While it is good to think creatively, you shouldn’t make it frustrating for your visitors.
Ensure that you strategically place call-to-action buttons, so visitors to your website will know how they can engage with your organization.
Integrate your social media
There is no shortage of options when it comes to social media platforms to help you communicate with your organization. You should promote your website on all your social media platforms. To do that, you should integrate your social media on your website.
A website that is properly integrated with social media will also get a good SEO boost from search engines.
Make it mobile-friendly
An increasing number of people are using their mobile devices to browse the web – approximately 35-40%. If your website is not friendly to visitors using small screens, it may drive them away.
The best strategy is to design a responsive website that serves both mobile and desktop visitors equally.
Choose a good hosting service
Be sure that you choose a good hosting service provider that doesn’t compromise the speed and the security of your website. The loading speed of your website (or lack thereof) will also affect your SEO ranking. Check out our podcast episode 004, where we talk about how website speed affects your non-profit.
It is also important to include an FAQ page on your website to make the purpose of your organization clear to your visitors.
Lastly, have a donation option
Your non-profit organization relies on funding. Make sure that you have a donation function that is easy to use and provides monthly and annual giving.
Want to know how to raise more money in your communications? Get a free copy of our eBook and learn the 3 simple words to increase your donations by 20%.
By: David Pisarek
Last updated Jan 25, 2023 | Published on Feb 24, 2021
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