It is no secret that to be successful, any organization needs a strong online presence. This is especially true for charities and nonprofits, who rely on donations and support from the public. So, here are some tips on how to build an online presence for a charity.
Create a solid website.
Creating a website is one of the best ways to build an online presence for your charity. A website allows you to reach a wider audience and share your mission with the world. Plus, a well-designed website can help you raise more donations and connect with other like-minded individuals and organizations.
Unfortunately, many charities have websites that are either outdated or poorly designed. If your charity’s website is in need of a makeover, don’t worry – it’s not as difficult or expensive as you might think.
Domain name
The first step is to start with a strong domain name. Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet. It’s what people will type into their browsers to find your site.
When choosing a domain name, avoid using dashes or numbers, as they can make it more difficult for people to find your site. You should also avoid using acronyms, as they can be confusing for visitors who are unfamiliar with your charity.
Next, choose a reliable web hosting provider. A web hosting provider is a company that provides the technology and services necessary to create a website and make it accessible to the world.
Web hosting provider
When choosing a web hosting provider, be sure to choose one that offers excellent customer service and uptime guarantees. Uptime is the percentage of time that a server is operational; the higher the uptime guarantee, the better. A good web hosting provider will have an uptime guarantee of 99% or higher.
Mobile-friendly site
Also, design your site with mobile users in mind. More and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to browse the internet. In fact, mobile devices account for over 50% of all web traffic worldwide.
That’s why it’s so important to design your site with mobile users in mind. Be sure to use large fonts and imagery that will look good on small screens, and make sure your site loads quickly on all devices. You should also consider creating a separate mobile version of your site.
Charity story
In addition, your website should tell the story of your charity – what you do, why you do it, and how people can get involved. Use engaging content (text, images, videos, etc.) to bring your story to life and make it easy for visitors to understand what you’re all about. Be sure to also update your content regularly so that people always have something new to read or watch when they visit your site.
Call-to-action
Finally, your ultimate goal is probably to get visitors to take some kind of action – whether that’s making a donation, signing up for your newsletter, or taking part in one of your campaigns. So, whatever action you want visitors to take, make sure it’s easy for them to do so by including prominent calls-to-action (CTAs) throughout your site.
A CTA could be anything from a “Donate Now” button on your homepage to a “Sign Up” link in the header of each page on your site. The important thing is that CTAs are clear and visible so that visitors know exactly what they need to do next.
Consider hiring a digital marketing company.
Digital marketing companies help charities build and maintain an online presence through various means such as content creation, social media management, Google Ads, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Content Creation
Content is king when it comes to SEO and building an online presence, and digital marketing companies can help create blogs, infographics, videos, or any other type of content that is relevant to your charity. Creating high-quality content will help improve your SEO ranking and make your charity more visible online.
Social Media Management
A digital marketing company can also help manage your charity’s social media accounts. This includes creating posts, engaging with followers, and monitoring comments and messages. As an absolute essential in today’s online landscape, social media is a great way to connect with potential donors and raise awareness for your cause.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the process of optimizing a website so that it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). A digital marketing company can help improve your charity’s SEO by optimizing your website’s content, structure, and design. Higher rankings in SERPs will result in more traffic to your website and increased visibility for your charity.
Google Ad Grants
Google Ad Grants is a program that provides eligible nonprofits with free advertising on Google AdWords. A digital marketing company can help you set up and manage a Google AdWords account so that you can take advantage of this program and get free advertising for your charity.
Creating a solid website and hiring a digital marketing company can be great ways to build and maintain a digital identity. By following these tips, you can ensure that your charity has a strong online presence that will help you reach your fundraising goals.
