5 EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR NONPROFIT WEBSITE SERIOUSLY USER-FRIENDLY
Your nonprofit website is an essential tool that connects your organization with your intended audience. It can also be a powerful tool in your fundraising arsenal. Still, if your website isn't user-friendly, it can cause visitors to leave your website even before they can explore your value proposition. As a nonprofit leader, it's essential to invest time and effort into optimizing your website's usability.
Here are some actionable tips on how to make your nonprofit website more user-friendly.
Simplify Navigation:
Visitors should easily find what they're looking for when they land on your website. Therefore, prioritize simplicity in your website's navigation menu. Avoid overcomplicating it with too many pages or navigation items. Limit your website's main navigation to six or seven items and ensure they're appropriately labeled for clarity. I like to put the b team pages in the footer and use the footer as an index of everything on the website. Leaving the main navigation as clean and concise as possible.
Mobile-First Design:
Most internet users today browse through their mobile devices. Therefore, having a website that's optimized for mobile is not negotiable. Optimize your website for mobile devices to ensure that it can be easily accessed regardless of the device or screen size. The best part about my favorite webbuilder- Squarespace is that they are always Mobile Friendly and optimized.
Clear Calls-to-Action:
One of the critical functions of your nonprofit website is to drive engagement, and a clear Call-to-Action (CTA) is essential in achieving that goal. A CTA can be in many forms, such as "Donate Now," "Volunteer," or "Join our mailing list." Ensure that it appears prominently on your website and that it's easy to use or interact. I have some fun ones you can steal here.
Keep it Simple:
You know what I like to say… STUPID SIMPLE. Simplicity should be your watchword when designing your nonprofit website. Avoid using too many colors, fonts, or design elements that can make the website appear chaotic. Also, use high-quality images and videos to add some appeal to the website. Still, ensure they're optimized for the web and don't slow down your website's loading speed.
Optimize Website Loading Speed:
Let’s face it, no one has time for that any more. Visitors' attention span on the internet is limited, and if your website takes too long to load, it can cause them to lose interest and move to a different website. Ensure that your website's loading speed is optimized, and images and videos are optimized for web use.
A user-friendly website could be the difference between driving engagement or losing potential donors/visitors. Streamline your website's navigation, ensure it's mobile-friendly, use clear calls-to-action, keep it simple, and optimize website loading speed. By taking these actionable steps, you'll make your nonprofit website more user-friendly and improve chances of conversion.
