Let’s be honest—running a charity is busy enough without worrying about whether your website is up to scratch. But don’t worry! I’ve put together some easy, actionable tips to help you make sure your site is working for you, not against you. Whether you're looking to attract new donors, connect with volunteers, or raise awareness for your cause, these simple changes can make a big difference.
So grab a cuppa ☕, get comfy, and let's look at what really makes a good charity website. Let’s get your site looking fab and doing its job!
1. Have a secure and trustworthy site:
Please, please, please, please make sure your charity website is HTTPS. Seriously, don’t skip this! If your site isn’t secured, not only will they not donate - but they won't take your seriously and will leave your site.
HTTPS basically creates a secure tunnel between your users and your website, protecting sensitive info like passwords and card details. It keeps everything safe from prying eyes and makes sure your visitors feel confident engaging with your site.
To check if your site is good to go, just look at your web address. If there’s a little padlock icon next to it—congrats, you’re all set! If not, it’s time to take action and get that HTTPS sorted.
2. Use captivating headlines:
Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will only read the headline copy (most likely you are one of them) and only two will read the rest of the copy. This makes the headline one of the most important elements on your page. So, take your time to make them persuasive and informative. Headlines are also a great way for breaking up your content and making it easier to read.
Headings help to provide a structure for the text on a page, organising the content into smaller sections so that it is easy for your visitors (and search engines) to navigate and understand.
3. Make it look like you:
Visual consistency helps build recognition of your brand. By making your website look and feel like you, you build trust and engagement with your audience so be consistent with your colours, tone of voice, fonts and visual elements. A strong brand identity will help you stand out from your competitors. Through visual elements like logo, typography, and especially colour palette, you can create a unique user experience that will differentiate your website from your competitors.
Take a look at Abbie's Army, who have a very eye catching visual style.
4. Add powerful visuals:
Pictures are worth a thousand words. Be sure to select visual elements that make an impact, relate to your audience and add to your charities story. For more tips on selecting images for your charity website, take a look at this blog post.
5. Optimize for mobile:
Most people now browse the internet on their smartphones. So, it’s helpful if you adopt a mobile-first approach to developing your layout and functionality.
6. Share your impact:
Charities play a pivotal role in transforming lives and communities, yet often their impactful work remains hidden. Sharing your impact not only amplifies your achievements but also inspires others to contribute and participate in your mission.
One powerful way you can showcase your impact is through compelling storytelling. By crafting narratives that highlight real-life transformations or success stories, you can engage audiences emotionally, making the impact tangible and relatable.
A super easy, yet powerful way to show your impact is by sharing your statistics as infographs. Providing concrete numbers and measurable outcomes add credibility and transparency to your efforts.
When charities share their impact through storytelling, data transparency, and strategic communication, you not only elevate your visibility but also inspire a ripple effect of positive change.
For example, check out Women & Children First who do a fantastic job of showng their impact.
7. Have a prominent Call to Action:
Make sure your primary call to action button like 'donate now' is front and centre, big and clearly visible. Try making this button stand out with a different colour or shape to make it really tempting to click on.
8. Don’t rely on one donate button:
Scatter opportunities to donate throughout your site like a breadcrumb trail allowing your users to click in to your donation form at the spur of a moment.
9. Have easy-to-fill forms:
Don’t make the process of donating or contacting you a pain. The form needs to be as short as possible. This means only collecting information you truly need. Otherwise, the form will get long, and people will leave the page, promising to donate later when they have more time.
10. Offer multiple ways to give:
The popular options are PayPal, credit card, stripe, and bank transfers.
11. Increase trust:
You can do this by telling donors how you spend your money, having a secure donation page, and providing proof of others who have donated to your cause.
12. Test and refine your pages:
Finding the right combination of winning elements that will create a high-converting donation page takes a lot of testing. So don’t give up. Test different headlines, images, colours, etc.
13. Keep navigation clean and simple:
Keeping navigation clean and simple on a website is essential for ensuring a seamless user experience. Streamlining navigation involves organizing information in a logical and intuitive manner, minimizing clutter, and prioritizing ease of access to key sections or features.
By employing clear labeling, intuitive menus, and a consistent layout, users can effortlessly find what they're looking for without feeling overwhelmed or lost. Simplicity in navigation enhances user satisfaction, encourages exploration, and ultimately contributes to higher engagement and retention rates.
Embracing a clean and straightforward navigation structure not only benefits users but also reflects a commitment to user-centric design, fostering a positive and efficient interaction between individuals and the digital platform.
14. Put your visitors needs first
Create a more user-focused experience by prioritising your content to meet the needs of your visitor first.
Understanding the audience's intent and preferences allows for tailoring content that resonates with their interests, questions, and goals. By conducting thorough research into user demographics, behaviour patterns, and frequently asked questions, you can strategically prioritize content on your website and make it more compelling.
This involves prominently featuring information that directly addresses visitors' primary concerns or provides solutions to their needs. By placing high-value content prominently and ensuring easy access to it, you can enhance user satisfaction and engagement. Prioritizing content this way demonstrates a commitment to providing relevant and valuable information, fostering trust, loyalty, and a positive user experience.
Need help to maximise the impact of your charity's website?
Is your charity ready to take its website to the next level? If you're looking to improve your website's performance and user experience, we have the perfect solution for you.
At Made by Katie, I specialise in web design services for charities and understand the unique challenges and needs you face. Let me help you make a bigger impact by creating a website that engages your audience and drives more donations.
Contact me today to discuss how I can transform your charity's online presence and increase your effectiveness in making a positive change in the world. Your website should work as hard as you do to make a difference.
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