By: Kayla Walke
Nonprofit Account Coordinator
Knowing how to present your organization online is key for not only conveying and sharing your message with those who are unaware of your organization but also for maintaining current members. When someone visits your website for the first time, the last thing you want is for them to struggle to find information or dig around for a donate button!
Here are a few tips and tricks to remember when working on your organization’s website by focusing on the importance of making a good impression right off the bat.
Homepage Perfection
When visiting your site, unless they are heading to a certain page, the viewer will be taken to the homepage. Visitors should be greeted right away with clear messaging about the amazing work done by your organization. Make sure other pages on the website are linked and easily available for navigation from the homepage. Placing your contact information in a visible, easily accessible and noticeable location as soon as people enter your website is another beneficial key to remember. Something that many people do but might want to avoid is posting their social media links at the top of the page. While posting social media information is a good idea, you do not want to lead viewers off your page as soon as they get there.
Keep Your Website Current
This might sound like a very obvious suggestion, but it is crucial. Keeping your pages up to date with the most relevant and timely information can make or break a relationship with a viewer. This goes for all pages on the website. It may seem like a tedious task but regular posts will help ensure that audience members are getting the most accurate information to stay current and knowledgeable regarding your nonprofit.
Know Your Keywords
This tip goes hand-in-hand with keeping the website up to date. When your pages are consistently updated it signals to search engines that your page would be a good fit in an individual’s next search. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps drive more people to your site so that even if they aren’t looking for your exact page, they might be guided there by their current search.
Showcase Consistent Branding
Something a lot of organizations struggle with is understanding their brand and how to really emphasize who they are via an online platform. Being able to tell the audience your story (this is who we are, this is what we do, and this is how and why we do it) is paramount to the success of an organization. Audience members should be able to recognize posts and missions by the colors, words and pictures being used. Across all platforms, whether it is social media or the organization’s website, using the same overall themes and branding will make viewers remember you and your presence.
It’s The Little Things
It may seem simple, but double-check to make sure items like punctuation and grammar are correct before posting. Think about it from the audience’s perspective: most of the time when someone sees a typo, the post automatically loses a bit of credibility. Making the extra effort to present your organization in the best light possible always comes down to the little things.
3 quick tips:
- This is an ongoing process! Do not get overwhelmed by the thought of trying to redo the entire site. Start with one page and take it link by link.
- Use real photos wherever possible. This makes the website feel more human, more relatable, and can help convey a more personal touch to you and your organization’s mission.
- Imagine the user’s perspective. When upgrading the website, consider the fonts you are using, including color and size. It is also important to review what the website looks like on different platforms. Think about a user on a desktop or phone and consider the layout and how the website is presented.
Your website is an extension of your organization and brand. Have fun with it and make it speak for your organization. Make it work for the messages you want to share and the people you want to attract or impact.
