5 Steps to Create an Effective Non-Profit Website
5 Steps to Make Your Nonprofit Website Effective on Squarespace
Your nonprofit’s website is more than just an online presence; it’s a tool to connect with supporters, share your mission, and drive real support. But if it’s not user-friendly, you might lose visitors before they even see what you’re all about. In a world where 94% of donors judge a brand based on its website, it’s crucial to create a site that’s welcoming, effective, and easy to navigate. Here’s how to make your Squarespace site work for you—without the headache.
1. Simplify Your Navigation
Navigation should be simple and intuitive. Visitors need to find what they’re looking for without digging. Squarespace makes it easy to keep things clean and focused by allowing you to prioritize main pages and tuck extra links into the footer. Aim for six or seven core navigation items to keep your mission front and center.
Pro Tip: Nonprofits tend to have high bounce rates, often between 60-70%, meaning people leave without exploring further. A streamlined menu can encourage people to stay and learn more about your work.
2. Design for Mobile First
Most of my clients start designing on a laptop or desktop, so mobile gets overlooked—until problems start showing up. But here’s the reality: 52% of nonprofit site visits come from mobile devices. A mobile-responsive site isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential. Squarespace templates are already mobile-friendly, but go the extra step: test every page and button to make sure it’s easy to navigate, especially donation forms.
3. Make Your Calls-to-Action (CTAs) Stand Out
Your website should invite people to get involved, whether that’s donating, volunteering, or signing up for updates. CTAs like “Donate Now” or “Join Us” should be obvious and easy to click. Squarespace’s design tools let you create buttons that stand out and draw visitors to take action, keeping them in the loop and connected to your cause.
Idea: Craft meaningful CTAs like “Fuel the Mission” or “Be a Part of Change” to make your message personal and inviting.
4. Keep the Design Clean and Focused
When it comes to web design, simpler is better. A cluttered website can overwhelm visitors and make them leave fast—25% of people abandon a site if it takes more than four seconds to load. Squarespace templates make it easy to achieve a clean, modern look without overloading on colors, fonts, or effects. Choose a few strong visuals and a cohesive color scheme to effectively showcase your mission.
Quick Tip: If you’re able to use a .org domain, it can help build trust—68% of online donors feel more secure donating through a .org site.
5. Keep Load Times Fast
Nobody has time to wait on a slow website. Fast load times are key to keeping visitors engaged, especially when they’re deciding whether to donate or explore further. Use web-friendly, compressed images and embed videos from platforms like YouTube to keep your pages loading quickly.
Quick Tip: Testing tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights can highlight any areas where you can boost your site’s speed, which can be a game-changer for engagement.
Ready to Take Your Site to the Next Level?
A well-designed, user-friendly site can make all the difference in inspiring people to support your cause. By keeping navigation simple, prioritizing mobile design, using strong CTAs, focusing on clean design, and optimizing load times, you’re setting up your site to do what it should: connect, inspire, and drive action.
If you’d like an expertly designed website that aligns perfectly with your mission, reach out and receive a free consultation. Let’s create a site that supports your goals at every click!
Statistics sourced from Nonprofit Tech for Good.
