1. Defining the Purpose of Your Website
Similar to a mission statement, your website’s purpose is its primary reason for existing. Whether it’s for education, advocacy, service provision, or community organizing, the purpose guides the design and content decisions.
2. Identifying Target Audiences
Instead of trying to cater to everyone, it’s crucial to identify your top two target audiences. Designing with these specific audiences in mind increases the likelihood of achieving your organization’s goals.
3. Setting Clear Site Objectives
Establish clear objectives for your website that align with your organization’s goals. Consider the actions your target audiences would want to perform and the actions you want them to take. Regularly assess if your objectives are being met during the design and content creation processes.
4. Implementing Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Design
Ensure your website has a responsive design that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. Retrofitting an existing site can be challenging, making a complete redesign more cost-effective. Separate websites for different devices are no longer necessary.
5. Providing Fresh and Engaging Content
Regularly update your website with fresh content to keep visitors coming back. Just like museums change exhibits to maintain visitor interest, websites should offer new and interesting content. Focus on shorter blocks of text, multimedia, and engaging visuals to capture attention.
6. Optimizing for User Engagement
Recognize that people tend to read only a fraction of the text on a web page. Optimize engagement by using shorter blocks of text, incorporating visuals and multimedia, and leveraging user-generated content with easily accessible tools such as smartphones.
7. Incorporating Dynamic Features
Integrate dynamic features that enhance user experience, such as donation buttons, online forms, embedded media, quizzes, and social media integration. Plan these features in advance to ensure a cohesive design and avoid potential layout conflicts.
8. Enhancing Search Engine Visibility
Optimize your website for search engines to improve its visibility. While professional SEO services may be expensive, there are several DIY tasks you or your web developer can undertake to enhance search engine optimization.
9. Considering Site Maintenance
Websites involve both initial design and ongoing maintenance costs. While design is typically a one-time expense, maintenance costs can vary. Consider using an open-source content management system like WordPress, which allows nonprofit clients to update their own websites easily. Determine who will be responsible for maintaining the site after launch and clarify their roles and responsibilities.
10. Prioritizing Accessibility
Nonprofits have a moral obligation to ensure their websites comply with accessibility guidelines, such as Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Inclusive design principles should align with the sector’s commitment to social justice and equality.
11. Utilizing Intuitive Navigation
Effective website navigation is essential for guiding visitors through your site and helping them find the information they need. Utilize intuitive navigation menus that are easy to understand and navigate. Place important navigation elements, such as the main menu or search bar, in prominent positions on the page to ensure they are easily accessible.
12. Designing for Readability
The readability of your website’s content plays a significant role in engaging visitors and conveying your message effectively. Choose fonts and font sizes that are easy to read, both on desktop and mobile devices. Maintain appropriate line spacing and use sufficient contrast between the text and background colors to enhance legibility.
13. Ensuring Fast Page Load Speed
In today’s fast-paced digital world, users expect websites to load quickly. Slow-loading pages can lead to high bounce rates and visitor frustration. Optimize your website’s performance by minimizing file sizes, leveraging caching techniques, and utilizing content delivery networks (CDNs) to ensure fast and seamless user experiences.
14. Testing Cross-Browser Compatibility
With various web browsers available, it’s important to ensure that your website functions consistently across different browsers and platforms. Test your website’s compatibility on popular web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer to identify and address any compatibility issues that may arise.
15. Incorporating Visual Consistency
Visual consistency is crucial for creating a cohesive and professional website. Maintain consistency in terms of color schemes, typography, button styles, and overall design elements throughout your site. Consistency not only enhances the visual appeal but also helps users navigate your website more easily.
16. Optimizing Contact Forms and Calls to Action
Contact forms and calls to action (CTAs) are essential elements for user interaction and engagement. Optimize your contact forms by keeping them simple and easy to fill out, while still gathering the necessary information. Place strategic CTAs throughout your website to guide visitors towards desired actions, such as subscribing to a newsletter or making a donation.
17. Incorporating Social Proof
Social proof, such as testimonials, reviews, and client logos, can significantly influence visitors’ trust and confidence in your organization. Incorporate social proof strategically throughout your website to showcase positive feedback and experiences from clients, donors, or users. This can help build credibility and encourage further engagement.
18. Integrating Analytics and Tracking
Implementing web analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, allows you to gather valuable insights about your website’s performance, visitor behavior, and conversion rates. By analyzing this data, you can make data-driven decisions to optimize your website, improve user experiences, and achieve your objectives more effectively.
19. Implementing Security Measures
Website security is crucial to protect user data, maintain trust, and safeguard against cyber threats. Implement security measures such as SSL certificates, regular backups, strong passwords, and vulnerability scanning to ensure the safety of your website and the information it handles.
20. Regularly Evaluating and Iterating
A website is not a static entity but an ongoing project that requires regular evaluation and iteration. Continuously monitor and analyze website metrics, gather user feedback, and stay updated with the latest design trends and technologies. Use this information to make informed decisions and implement improvements to enhance your website’s effectiveness over time.
By considering these key principles and factors for effective website design, you can create a powerful online presence that engages your target audiences, achieves your organizational goals, and delivers a positive user experience. Remember to adapt and evolve your website as your organization grows and changes, ensuring that it remains a valuable asset in the digital landscape.
