Engaging Websites

The purpose of your website is not to give out information.

The purpose of a nonprofit website is to engage.

This subtle difference changes everything!

Your website is your platform.

Your platform is the thing you have to stand on to get heard. It's your stage. But unlike a stage in the theater, today's platform is not built of wood or concrete or perched on a grassy hill. Today's platform is built of people. Contacts, Connections. Followers.

Michael Hyatt

Style Guide

A style guide is a plan that helps attract donors to you and your mission and fosters a positive perception of you and your organization.

Your website begins with this plan that covers its colors, fonts, use of logos, images, and any other relevant aspects. This style guide will be used for all your mission collateral.

Wireframing

Wireframing is the technical term for dreaming and planning out your website before it is built. Your website will consist of pages. Each page will have sections (or strips). Each page can have an unlimited number of sections. Pages are usually highlighted and clickable at the top.

Front Landing Section: Header

This is the first thing visitors see when they arrive at your website from a search engine such as Google. Think of your website as valuable property or land, and this section on the home page is THE most valuable real estate on your website.

About Us Page

This is typically the second page of your website where you tell short stories about yourself and your team.

This page holds significant importance, second only to your header section. Your About Us page often receives the most visits but can have the highest bounce rate. The bounce rate represents the percentage of visitors who leave after viewing only that page.

Giving Page

65% of donors who visit nonprofit giving pages leave (bounce) without giving a gift. Engaging nonprofit giving pages never just ask donors to give to their organization, they give the donor a problem, with a specific price point, to solve.

First Page

In addition to the header, the first page of an engaging nonprofit website will have the following sections:

Value proposition
Engagement
One-liner
Stakes section
Introduction
Success/failure
Lead generator
Values
Services

Blog Page

Your stories and your organization's ongoing messages are published on this section of the website. Every time you write a beneficiary, donor, or other story, publish it here first.

Contact Us

Your Contact Us page should be inviting and engaging with positive text and pictures.

Social Media Profiles

Your social media profile pages should match your website/organizational branding. This inspires donors trust when they see consistency across platforms.