Building an Effective Website Tips

[Tip Sheet]

Many nonprofits know they need to have a website, but either attempt to develop it without professional guidance, or overlook some key components of a good website. Here are a few hints.

Be sure to list your contact information-address, city, state and zip code; phone number. (You would be amazed at how many websites lack this basic data, leaving visitors to the website clueless as to their location.)
List key staff people with their email addresses so people can easily find the right person to contact with questions/comments.
List your mission statement on the home page, as well as your vision statement. These are key ingredients to telling visitors who you are and what your goals for the future are.
Make your website easy to navigate.
Use uniform logos, colors, and images so your organization is easily identifiable.
Spend some time reviewing other nonprofit websites to see what you like best/least about them. And, of course, incorporate the good and delete the bad from your website.
Use photos effectively: large group photos are hard to see, photos appropriate to your mission can help draw the visitor into your organization.
Provide helpful links to information your visitors may be seeking.
Provide an opportunity for donors to contribute through your website.
Update your website frequently. Visitors will not return if the same information, or worse, outdated information, is there month after month.