What Non-profits Need to Know When Planning a Website Redesign

We all know how important it is for any non-profit organization to have a website that looks good and is easy to use. But sometimes, our websites get a little stale and need a refresh. When that happens, it's time to start thinking about a website redesign. But redesigning a website can be a big project. This means that it's essential to manage the project carefully to ensure everything goes smoothly. Here are a few aspects you should keep in mind during this project.

Create a website redesign plan for your non-profit organization

When it comes to any website redesign, there's a lot to consider. From user experience to visual design, it can be tough to know where to start. That's why we've put together this handy guide on creating a website redesign plan.

Analyzing your Site

First, take a close look at your current website. What's working well and what needs improvement? It would help to list all the areas you want to focus on, then prioritize them based on importance. We added a form for a free website audit at the bottom of this article.

Create your Goals

Next, it's time to start thinking about your goals for the redesign. What do you want to achieve? Are you looking to increase traffic, conversion rates, or anything else? Once you have a clear goal in mind, you can start mapping out your plan of attack.

Finalize your Plan

Now it's time to get into the nitty-gritty details. What type of content will you need? How will you organize it all? And what kind of design elements will you use to bring your website to life? These are just some questions you'll need to answer as you finalize your plan.

Enhancing Usability

By making your website easy to use and navigate, we will encourage visitors to stay on your site longer and explore more of your content. This move will result in increased traffic and improved rankings as search engines like Google favor sites that provide a good user experience. Here are a few things we can do.

Simplicity

We all know that feeling of frustration when trying to find something online and it just seems to be hidden behind a million other links and pages. No one wants to waste their time clicking around aimlessly; we want to find what we're looking for quickly and efficiently. That's why simplicity is essential when it comes to website design. 

Responsiveness 

Of course, responsiveness is crucial too. With many of us accessing the internet from mobile devices, we must make a website responsive to different devices. This action causes the site to scale and adjusts automatically to different screen sizes. It should also be fast when conforming to new heights.

Engagement

To keep users coming back, your website must be engaging. That means regularly writing quality content and keeping it while ensuring it’s exciting and fresh. Your site also needs interactive features such as forums, polls and quizzes. 

Redesign with your Audience in Mind

Regarding our website design, we like to keep our audience in mind. After all, our site is for them, not for us. That's why personal research is such an essential part of the redesign process. By taking the time to understand our users' needs, wants and motivations, we can create a website tailored to their needs. As a result, they're more likely to stick around and continue using our site.

In other words, persona research can help us increase conversion rates and overall satisfaction with our website. If we're thinking about redesigning our site, we should be sure to start with our users in mind. We can create a genuinely user-centered design that will significantly impact our bottom line with little effort.

Non-profit organizations typically target multiple audiences for their marketing efforts, depending on their mission, goals, and specific programs. Here are some typical audiences that non-profit organizations often focus on:

Donors: Donors are crucial for non-profit organizations as they provide financial support to sustain their operations. Non-profits target individuals, corporations, foundations, and philanthropic organizations who are interested in supporting their cause.

Volunteers: Volunteers play a vital role in non-profit organizations. They contribute their time, skills, and expertise to help further the organization's mission. Non-profits often target individuals who are passionate about their cause and are willing to dedicate their time and effort.

Beneficiaries: Non-profit organizations exist to serve a specific group of people or address a particular issue. They target individuals or communities who directly benefit from their programs or services. These could include people in need, disadvantaged groups, or those affected by a specific problem.

Partnerships and Collaborators: Non-profits often seek partnerships and collaborations with other organizations, both within and outside the non-profit sector. This includes businesses, government agencies, other non-profits, and community organizations. These partnerships can provide additional resources, expertise, and reach.

Advocates and Supporters: Non-profit organizations aim to raise awareness about their cause and rally support. They target individuals who are passionate about the same issues and can help spread the word, engage in advocacy efforts, and support the organization's initiatives.

Media and Influencers: Non-profit organizations often seek media coverage to increase visibility and reach a wider audience. They target journalists, reporters, bloggers, and social media influencers who can help amplify their message and generate publicity.

It's important for non-profit organizations to identify their primary and secondary target audiences and tailor their marketing strategies and messages accordingly to effectively engage and communicate with each group.

Post Launch Support and SEO

Many non-profits make the mistake of tasking an already busy person within the organization with maintaining the website. Maintenance means more than updating content. Website maintenance  means testing and improving performance, and always working on search engine optimization.

A non-profit organization should consider hiring a professional company to maintain their website and focus on search engine optimization (SEO) to unlock numerous benefits. By entrusting experts with the task, the non-profit can ensure efficient website management, allowing their staff to dedicate more time and energy to their core mission. A well-maintained website improves user experience, enhancing visitor engagement and satisfaction. Moreover, with effective SEO strategies, the organization's website can achieve higher visibility in search engine results, attracting more traffic, increasing brand awareness, and expanding their reach to potential donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries. Overall, outsourcing website maintenance and SEO to professionals enables non-profits to optimize their online presence and maximize their impact.

Search Engine Optimization

Websites are designed to be found by potential customers through search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. Search engine optimization or SEO makes a website visible on the search engine results pages SERPs. SEO is essential because it helps improve the visibility of a website, making it easier for potential customers to find it. We like to see SEO as a free online marketing tool.

During a redesigning website project, it is essential to consider SEO to ensure that the new website can rank well in the search engines. Several factors, such as keywords, meta tags, structure and content quality, can affect a website's ranking. Considering these factors during the redesign process, we can help our clients' websites maintain their good ranking and continue attracting new visitors.

How to Manage Outsourcing a Website Redesign Project

Anyone who has undergone a website redesign can attest that the process is fraught with perils. One false step and your carefully crafted site can quickly become an unnavigable mess. That's why it's important to consider outsourcing your website redesign to a professional team. Here are a few tips to help you manage the process:

Define your goals

Before talking to potential design firms, take some time to think about what you want to achieve with your redesign. What are your goals? What do you hope to accomplish? What are your must-have features? Knowing what you wish to do upfront will help you find the right partner for the job.

Get organized

Once you've decided to outsource your redesign, it's time to organize. Put together a project brief that outlines your goals and requirements. This will help potential vendors understand what you're looking for and provide the information they need to prepare a proposal.

Keep Communications Open

Remember that communication is vital. Regular check-ins with your outsourced team will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the project is progressing according to plan.

Key Takeaway

By taking the time to understand your goals, target audience and overall website objectives, you can create a plan to make the redesign process much smoother. By working through each process step ahead of time, you can avoid common pitfalls that can trip up even the most experienced web designer. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the thought of redesigning your website, sit down and create a solid plan and outsource the services to a competent web design company like Creative Clover Group. It'll make all the difference in the world.

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