Web

Is Your Nonprofit Website Helping You Grow? If Not, Here’s How We Can Help!

August 25, 2022

4 mins

Nonprofits are always looking for ways to save money. Fewer overhead expenses mean more dollars flowing into your organization’s mission and vision. And while there are many ways that nonprofits can limit operating expenses and do more with their donor dollars, cutting corners on nonprofit website design and development isn’t one of them.

We’ve worked with multiple nonprofits over the years, and they all agree that you never save money by skimping on your website. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. When you commit to investing in professional nonprofit website development, you actually make more money in the long run.

Keep reading to find out why and learn more about the many benefits of working with a website design and development agency specializing in nonprofit websites.

1. A Website That is Beautiful and Effective

When you work with a nonprofit website agency, you have access to a team of professionals who are on your side, looking for ways to go above and beyond to help you accomplish your goals. If your website visits are not translating into donations and volunteers, something is definitely not right.

Have you been on a bad website lately? Sure we all have—and the knee-jerk reaction is to click the back arrow as fast as you can. Unprofessional websites don’t exactly lend themselves to instilling confidence or trust, especially when you’re asking someone to make a donation. A pretty website is important, yes, but there is more to it than that. Your website has a job to do, and if it’s not performing, you are missing opportunities to grow. Your website should reflect who you are as an organization and all the ways your work is making a difference in the world.

This goes beyond the basics of branding. It’s about showing your website visitors that you are an organization they can trust with their time and their dollars. The relationship you build with potential donors through your website is invaluable and can take your organization further than you can without it.

Read More: Learn Why a Strong Visual Rebranding Strategy Can Help You Get Unstuck

2. An Optimized Website that Delivers Qualified Traffic

As stated above, your website needs to produce results. One way that a professional web development agency can help you do this well is by bringing in the right traffic from the right places.

Traffic for traffic’s sake is nothing more than vanity metrics. Only qualified leads will turn into donors. A website design and development agency will help you ensure that the leads visiting your site find their way to the donate button through clean site navigation and clear calls to action (CTAs). This is a calculated investment that will yield more donations.

Website optimization is a term that takes on several meanings within the context of design and development. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Technical Optimization. A professional website design company will ensure that your website is technically optimized, meaning that there isn’t anything wonky going on behind the scenes making your website load slowly or not perform as expected.
  • Mobile Optimization. Professional website companies also understand how to implement best practices for responsive website design and development. This means that your website will be easy to read and navigate on mobile devices, tablets, and desktop computers.
  • Search Engine Optimization. Pro developers will ensure that your website is properly organized and indexed for web crawlers, increasing your chances of landing on page one of the search engine results page (SERP).
  • User Experience Optimization. The usability and flow of your website will make or break its overall effectiveness and impact on your bottom line. Web design experts will work to ensure that your nonprofit website is designed and built in an intuitive and user-friendly way.

3. Content that Communicates Your Message Clearly

Another benefit of working with a nonprofit website design team is that they will help you write great content. Not all website agencies offer professional writing services, but many of them do. If your agency of choice does not offer this service, they should be more than willing to help you find a copywriter to get the job done.

Not only can a website agency help you with creating content, but they also can provide clarity around the exact content that is needed. You see, writing for websites is an art unto itself. You can’t just open a Word document and hammer out content. You need specific kinds of content in specific places.

For example, the headline of your website needs to clearly communicate what you do in three seconds or less (affectionately known as the grunt test) and should also include a relevant keyword. This is crucial for search engine optimization, click-through rates, and conversions. If a visitor lands on your site and can’t clearly understand what you do, they will bounce back to the SERP, and you lose the lead.

By clarifying your message and showcasing your work, you can attract new donors and volunteers and build a stronger sense of community around your cause.

Of course, creating quality content takes time and effort. But it’s worth it! Not only will good content help you grow your nonprofit, but it will also make your website more engaging and informative for everyone who visits it.

Read More: Thinking of Switching Website Developers? Here Are 5 Things to Do First

4. Regular Updates and Maintenance

Nonprofit website upkeep can be a daunting task. Many nonprofit organizations lack the in-house capacity to keep their websites up-to-date on a regular basis. This is where a website development agency can help. By outsourcing routine updates and monthly maintenance, nonprofit organizations can free up valuable time and resources to focus on their core mission.

In addition, a website development agency can ensure that your website is always running smoothly and efficiently. This can give you valuable peace of mind knowing that an expert is watching over technical maintenance and keeping your website secure so you avoid unexpected hiccups such as expired plug-ins, a lapsed domain registration, or server updates.

Finally, a website agency can help you track the effectiveness of your website by reviewing traffic metrics from Google Analytics and making recommendations as to how you can get even more out of your website.

Read More: Are You Prepared for Google Analytics 4? Here’s What You Need to Know

Your Nonprofit Website is a Worthy Investment That Will Pay Off

In a world where all things are digital, nonprofit websites must make online communications a top priority—especially website design and development. If you’re like most nonprofit professionals, you are stretched thin and don’t have time to do everything yourself.

Don’t waste valuable time and energy trying to do this on your own. Find a trusted team of professionals to do the heavy lifting and ongoing monitoring needed to ensure your website’s success.

Our team of website development experts can help you create a beautiful and effective website that delivers qualified traffic and communicates your message clearly. We’ll also keep your site updated and running smoothly so you can focus on what you do best —helping others. Schedule a meeting today to learn more about our services and how we can help your nonprofit achieve its goals.

Cross & Crown

About Cross & Crown

Cross & Crown is a team of creatives who are passionate about solving problems through design and technology, taking what is there and making it better. Based in Chambersburg, PA, we strive to help educate, advocate, and thrive in a digital world.

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