Long gone are the days when websites were just a nice to have for nonprofits, it has become a must-have for nonprofits that want to grow beyond borders and increase their impact. There’s a reason why some nonprofits are consistently getting funding, grants, and donations that empowers them to increase their capacity and reach more people with their cause and there are others, who get stuck and are struggling to keep their organization’s lights on. What is the reason you may ask? It’s simple, it’s the power of a fully functional and optimized website. 

Yes, that is what differentiates a thriving nonprofit from a struggling one. 90% of what your supporters and donors need to see to convince them to give to your cause lies on your website. If you’re currently not getting the visibility you should as a nonprofit, here are 5 mistakes you should avoid so your nonprofit can get the attention it deserves.

• Poor Navigation and User Experience

Have you noticed that when people visit your website, they leave almost immediately? Poor navigation and user experience is the leading cause of that. When your website looks messy and disorganized, it becomes hard for your target audience to stay because they can’t find pieces of information that are needed to take necessary action. A website that is well organized into logical and subcategories, each section labeled clearly is what you need. Additionally, you want to make sure your website is optimized for the mobile experience because people visiting your website would most likely be using their phones.

• Lack of Compelling Visuals

What we see as humans is what drives our emotions and our decisions, this also applies to your supporters and target audience scrolling through your website. They want to see quality images, videos, and infographics that tell them stories about your work and impact. It gives them a deep insight without even saying a word about the incredible work that your nonprofit is doing. Using high-quality visuals will help your nonprofit stand out and communicate your impact.

• Incomplete or Outdated Information

Information through content is everything and it’s needed for making quick and important decisions. Making sure your website’s content is up to date is key to building trust and credibility. If the information on the website appears incomplete or broken, it makes you seem flaky and unprofessional in the eyes of potential supporters and partners. So make it a priority to update any outdated information like your about us, mission and goals, your work, broken links, or missing pages to attract your audience and be one step closer to becoming visible to your potential supporters.

• Ignoring Search Engine Optimization

There’s a reason why certain organizations show at the top results when you search about their cause or things related to it. That’s the power of search engine optimization and why you need to pay attention and utilize it for your nonprofit’s visibility. The key to SEO and becoming visible is to incorporate relevant keywords to your cause into your website’s content, optimize your page titles and meta descriptions, and build quality backlinks to your website. 

• Unclear Call to Actions

As a nonprofit, is your audience taking the desired action you want on your website? If that is not the case, take a second to look at your call to action. Is it clear and precise on what action needs to be taken next? Your supporters will take any desired action you tell them only if you tell them the right way, in context, and clearly. For example, “Donate Now” or “Join us” are specific call-to-action prompts to your target audience about the next step you want them to take. Additionally, don’t forget to place them in visible spots.

• Unclear messaging

Very similar to an unclear call to action is unclear messaging. Are you making the mistake of using vague or confusing language that does not communicate your nonprofit’s purpose or impact? It’s time to take another look. You want to make sure supporters and donors understand what you are trying to achieve and how their contribution will help them make a difference. This will help them take the desired action.

• No Donation Page Integration

A donation integration page is a dedicated page that should be on your nonprofit’s website. It  allows donors to easily and securely donate online. Without this, your nonprofit may miss out on potential donors and supporters who prefer to donate online. It also becomes difficult to properly track your donations and know what is coming from where. You can avoid this mistake by adding a donation integration page on your website. You want to be sure that this page is easy to find and access and has the necessary information that the donors need to know.

In conclusion, having a website as a nonprofit is simply not enough to get you in front of your target audience and supporters, there are several things from navigation and user experience to clear calls to action that need to be properly planned and organized in the right places. By avoiding these mistakes, you are better equipped with a website that effectively communicates your mission and impact on the world.

Are you looking for a way to make a bigger impact with your NGO? We’ve got you covered.

Our team at Hexa Media can create a fully functional website for your NGO in just 7 days! 

You’ll get a fully functional website that aligns with your organization’s mission and goals. We’ll make sure your website is safe and secure from external threats.

But that’s not all! We’ll also help you integrate a donation page and optimize your website for search engines, so your NGO can reach more people and increase your impact. You also get 6 months of support and updates, a video and image gallery, and a live chat feature.

So what are you waiting for? Click HERE to learn more about our services and here to schedule a free consultation with us today!