Nice web site design retains folks on-line!
Driving folks to your web site is simply half the battle; as soon as they’re there, you need to make sure that your web site design invitations them to remain some time. The longer somebody is in your web site, the higher your odds are of changing them from a web-based customer to a supporter.
That is what we name a “sticky” web site. The longer you will get guests to browse round, the higher on two fronts: One, they’re extra prone to take some type of motion (which hopefully results in a donation), and two, your “common time on web page” stats shall be higher, which tells Google and different serps that your web site is a worthwhile supply of knowledge—and that results in extra site visitors.
Making a sticky web site doesn’t must be an enormous endeavor; in actual fact, a number of small strikes can add as much as a huge impact. Let’s have a look at 10 of them you can begin implementing immediately.
Ten methods and web site design greatest practices that can enhance your bounce price:
1. Incorporate movies into your web site design.
Individuals love them, and for those who embrace a video in your homepage that options folks speaking about your mission, what you’ve been as much as these days, or introducing the folks behind your model, it is a surefire technique to get folks to stay. Simply don’t make it a film—save that for Netflix. Attempt to maintain it round 1-3 minutes, then give viewers a name to motion on the finish (join our e-newsletter, donate now, volunteer, and many others.).
2. Have the performance that your guests want in an effort to interact with you.
In the event that they need to make a donation, can they try this proper there in your web site with out having to go to a third-party cost platform? In the event that they need to register for an occasion, can they full the entire course of with out having to depart? Incorporating instruments and options that interact and empower your guests will considerably enhance your bounce price.
3. Make your CTAs (calls to motion) clear and simple to search out.
“Donate Now.” “Signal Up for Our Publication.” “Volunteer for an Occasion.” “Change into a Member.” There’s no query with any of those CTAs what you desire a donor to do or the way you need them to reply. Typically we get shy or nervous about making an easy ask, however on-line guests are busy and movin’ and groovin’, and you need to be clear and compelling in an effort to seize their consideration. Don’t beat across the bush or make issues complicated.
4. Be certain your web site design is mobile-friendly.
With a lot on-line site visitors coming from cellular customers lately, your web site design have to be adaptable to a smartphone or pill. If it isn’t, don’t count on folks to stay round—the times of clumsy pinching and zooming round a clumsy web site on a cellular system are over. Individuals will depart in case your web site doesn’t play properly with small screens.
5. Preserve your content material recent.
You probably have a weblog, create a content material calendar and follow it, making certain that your weblog is often up to date with new, worthwhile content material that’s helpful and authentic. This alerts to each your guests and serps that somebody is at work delivering worth to the individuals who go to your web site. Be taught extra about creating an efficient content material plan with our article on editorial calendars.
6. Use clear headlines and brief blocks of textual content to maintain your net content material scannable.
Lengthy paragraphs of textual content are a giant turn-off; ain’t no one acquired time for that. Talk with sensible headlines, brief paragraphs (suppose 2-4 sentences), easy-to-read textual content bins and fast blurbs.
Hardly ever will folks learn the whole lot in your web site word-for-word; most individuals scan. Break up your content material so it’s simple for folks to get the gist of who you might be and what you do by scanning.
7. Use social proof or testimonials.
This can be a nice technique to up your road cred, as a result of folks love to listen to from different folks about your org. Are you reliable with integrity and transparency? Let a present donor inform them. Do you fundraise ethically? Let a loyal supporter say so. Are you engaging in your mission with the cash you increase? Use a testimonial from somebody you’ve served. Let others discuss your group in an effort to give it credibility and maintain folks searching round your web site, hoping to study extra about you and the individuals who assist your trigger.
8. Preserve your navigation easy.
If I’ve to click on round an excessive amount of in an effort to get the place I need to go, yikes—I’ll simply depart earlier than I get there, as a result of prefer it or not, we’re a nation of brief consideration spans and low persistence. It’s vital that your web site design is clear, uncluttered, and simple to navigate in order that your guests can get from level A to level B in only a few clicks.
9. Consider your web site load time.
Does it take a minute on your full web site to look, whereas your customer is tapping their fingers impatiently on their desk? You will have principally three seconds to persuade somebody that your web site is price sticking round for. Not solely do folks count on velocity at the moment, however they make lightning-quick choices, and in case your web site is taking too lengthy to load, they’re prone to bounce away simply as shortly as they landed. There are a number of instruments you should utilize to judge your web site’s load time, or you’ll be able to discuss to certainly one of our web site specialists for a fast eval, as nicely.
10. With each web site design determination, maintain your finish consumer in thoughts.
Too typically our web site design choices mirror our private preferences as a substitute of what appeals to most people. We spotlight our accomplishments and showcase our abilities and provides ourselves a giant ol’ digital pat on the again. It’s fantastic to inform the world concerning the nice belongings you’re doing—however make certain that you’re touting the great things on a web site that’s been created and constructed for the people who find themselves taken with supporting your nonprofit, not on your employees, your board, your management, and many others.
Right here’s the TLDR model:
Ultimately, you need to captivate and interact potential supporters, volunteers, members, constituents and anybody else who desires to return alongside you to additional your trigger and attain your mission—these are the individuals who deserve a web site that’s constructed to allow and empower them.
To find extra ideas and methods about web site improvement, storytelling, on-line fundraising and different advertising and marketing matters, take a look at our weekly webinar schedule right here.
This text is courtesy of Firespring.
