You might have noticed that the DonorLynk website has recently undergone a transformation. As we’ve changed and grown as a company, we realized that we needed our website to reflect the awesome company we’re becoming.
When we were brainstorming what we wanted the new site to look like, we focused on two main questions: Who are we as a company? How can we best showcase what we do? For us, the answer was simple— we help nonprofits raise more money through our services and products, and we wanted our site to display that.
As we move closer toward the end of 2015, it might also be time for your organization to re-evaluate your website. Since most nonprofits raise over ⅓ of their annual donations during the month of December, this will be the time that your website receives the most traffic, so it’s essential that your site look its best before giving season starts.
Does your site need an update?
So where do you start? Maybe you haven’t updated your website since your organization started, or maybe you don’t know how to go about changing to a new site. Don’t panic. We’ve outlined the easiest way to get your website in perfect condition, just in time for the holidays.
There are three essential parts to having a fantastic website: Design, Content, and a Donate Page. Your website doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should reflect your mission and who you are as an organization.
Design
The layout and overall design of your website can say as much about your organization as the text. We are all naturally visually-oriented people, so site visitors will evaluate your site first on how it looks, and second on what it actually says. Pay attention to how you’re using space, colors, images, and fonts. For example, when creating your site’s layout, having “white space” (space without content) is just as important as having images and text. Open space on your site lets visitors’ eyes rest as they scan, and also helps to emphasize the text you have. Large, high-quality images are also great when designing a site— visitors love to see what you do, so creating amazing visuals of what your organization is doing to change the world can help them better connect to your mission.
In addition to space and images, also consider color. Keep the colors of your site consistent (and maybe only use one or two). For our site, we decided to emphasize three colors: black, white, and green. We specifically chose colors that would be relaxing and weren’t too bright, so that visitors would be able to focus on content instead of being visually overwhelmed (same goes for fonts- stick to one or two throughout your site, and make sure they are readable both on your computer screen and on your mobile site). However you design your site, ask yourself does this design accurately portray my organization? and what feelings do these colors/fonts evoke? These questions will help you create a site that visually reflects who you are and what you do.
Content
Once your design is beautiful, it’s time to focus on the actual text of your site. Before you begin, think about your voice and your audience. It can be helpful to create a general profile of the type of person who might be visiting your site. What might his or her background be? What are his/her interests? Knowing who you are writing to will affect how you convey information on your site.
Once you have a picture of your site visitors, make sure to refine your writing voice so that it’s most suited to your audience. Writing to millennials? Feel free to throw around casual language and Justin Bieber jokes. Older audience? You may want to dial down the pop culture references. Whatever writing style you choose, make sure that it’s consistent. Remember, developing your writing voice is also how you develop the way your organization is perceived, so make your words count.
Before you publish, make sure to proofread your site. Having excessive typos and grammatical errors can cause viewers to have a negative opinion of your organization, so always scan your content before it goes live on your site. If you’re not sure if your content is correct, try reading it out loud— it may help you catch mistakes you missed the first read-through.
Donate Page
As fun as the writing and designing parts of a site can be, the most important part of your site is probably that little “give” button on the top of your site. We’ve said it before— your donors are your lifeblood. They are the reason that you’re able to help others, so it’s imperative that you make it as easy for them to give as possible. Having a specific, branded giving page where donors can give online can make a huge difference in the amount of funds your organization can raise.
For example, one of our clients, Steps of Faith (read their story here), used our fundraising software to create an easy-to-use giving page that donors could connect to on their phones or on their site. Steps of Faith also made a large button on their homepage that links to the donate page. A large, visible donate button on your homepage will allow supporters to quickly access the page, instead of having to hunt through your entire site.
Need help? If your fundraising needs a boost, check out GiveSuite, our three-in-one fundraising software that gives you the power of online giving, crowdfunding, and event registration in one amazing platform— for only $99 a month. Learn more here.
Bring it together
A good website gives visitors the information they need. A great website presents that information in a way that’s visually interesting, concise, and user-friendly. When you have your design, your copy, and your donate page created, make sure that the elements work together to create a holistic picture of who you are as an organization.
We want you to feel as great about your site as we do about ours, so let us help!
We can help you redesign your existing website (including creating a great logo and great content), or build you an entirely new site that’s as unique as your organization. Get in touch with our team— let’s do good together