Can you think of a website you recently visited that was beautiful and easy to navigate? How did it make you feel? It probably caused you to stick around longer, browse a little more, or consider adding a few extra things to the shopping cart.
Now recall a website you visited that was of poor design or quality. Did you stick around? Did you find what you were looking for? Did you trust the content or products?
Websites are increasingly essential for the success of any nonprofit and for-profit business. A useful website provides important (and engaging) information, reinforces an organization's credibility, and helps the fundraising efforts.
In the same way that a good website can build trust and help get the word out about your mission, a bad website can actually be harmful for your organization!
The great news is you don't have to be tech-savvy or hire a full-time web designer to have a beautiful, high-quality website! You also don't need to shell out thousands of dollars for a custom website design right away (though we do recommend that down the road).
With the help of a website builder, or a content management system (CMS), even the most tech-challenged people can create a functional website without breaking the bank. We've rounded up three website builders that are easy and cost-effective for nonprofits who want to build a basic website to tide them over until they can invest in a custom website for their organization.
[fundraising-newsletter-cta][/fundraising-newsletter-cta]3 Website Builders Nonprofits Should Consider
We chose four website builders that are cost-effective and easy to use. Before we go any further, we'd like to point out that a website is an investment. It's rarely a good idea to skimp on quality. These website builders are great places to create a good-quality website that will get you up and running quickly until you can invest in a professionally-built website for your organization.
WordPress
WordPress is one of the most well-known website content management systems, and is great as a nonprofit website builder. More than 80 million websites use Wordpress (by some estimates, that's up to 40% of all the sites on the internet)! It's very customizable, and users can either use pre-built templates or create their own customized website.
WordPress began as a standard blogging platform but quickly grew to a full-fledged website builder. Whether you want an eCommerce site, chat forum, or a simple informative landing page, WordPress can do it all.
It's important to note that there are two versions of WordPress. WordPress.com is a "fully-hosted version" that manages your hosting for you (it stores your website information and content online so people can see it when they type in your web address). Web hosting is like renting space on the internet that anyone can visit. For a small monthly fee, WordPress.com will take care of the hosting for you.
WordPress.org, on the other hand, is a "self-hosted version," meaning that you control all the aspects of hosting the website, including the technical parts of owning, operating, and maintaining the site. This option is not always for the faint of heart!
WordPress is "open-source" software, which means you can change things and customize your website. You can add extensions and plugins for different functions. If you're a little more tech-savvy, you can even add or change the code.
Overall, WordPress is an easy option for beginners who want to use a template to design their site. The biggest drawback for nonprofits is that WordPress does not offer a "donation" platform for its basic accounts; however, there are great online fundraising tools that integrate directly with WordPress to take online donations for you.
Check out the WordPress 101 course to learn a bit about WordPress and how to use it. These tutorial videos will teach you everything you need to know to get started.
You should consider using WordPress if you plan to blog regularly, and if you want to develop your website building abilities over time. It's also helpful to have a "website wiz" on your team who can install and maintain the plugins and keep your website running smoothly.
Squarespace
Squarespace has become very popular in recent years, thanks to their extensive marketing campaigns. And we must admit, their websites are sleek, beautiful, and easy to navigate. Squarespace allows you to leave out all the extras to create a website with good content and a clear call to action.
Squarespace offers plenty of templates that are ready for publication! All you have to do is drop in your own photos and content. It's easy to adjust the templates to match your style and content needs.
Because the "backend" of Squarespace is easy to use, this website builder is especially attractive to people who are less tech-savvy. The admin section is easy to figure out, even if you've never used a website builder before. You won't have to worry about plugins, widgets, or apps because everything is built into the Squarespace builder.
It even includes website analytics that tells you vital information, like how many people are visiting your website and which pages they navigate to. If you run into trouble, Squarespace customer support is available 24/7 with email tickets and live chat service (unfortunately, there's no phone support). Users and "regular folk" have made helpful video tutorials for people who like a little extra "how-to" guidance while they build their Squarespace website.
While Squarespace is a great all-around website builder for anyone who wants a simple, accessible website solution, it lacks advanced marketing tools. It also does not support third-party apps, plugins, and extensions. These generally aren't major disadvantages early on, but as you grow and do more advertising, you might find it difficult to incorporate more advanced SEO (search engine optimization). Some Squarespace customers also report that it can be difficult and time consuming to add new pages or edit the website design down the road.
Overall, Squarespace is an excellent option for nonprofits who want a simple, all-in-one website builder that handles everything for you in one location. It's a little more expensive than WordPress, but worth it for the extra convenience.
Google My Business Website Builder
Google might basically own the internet, but they're the new kids on the block for website design. However, if you have a Google My Business page for your nonprofit, then you can build a very simple website with Google's Website Builder.
Google launched this service in 2017 and did very little advertising (probably because it's free). It's an excellent option for nonprofits who want a simple website. Customers report that it's easy to use and doesn't require much time, effort, or money to set up. Plans start at just $5 per month!
The drag-and-drop editor makes adding content and features easy and intuitive. Another advantage to Google Websites Builder is that it's simple to add content from other Google platforms, like YouTube and GoogleMaps.
While Google Website Builder is a good option for nonprofits with very small budgets and extremely limited resources, we cannot recommend this platform for organizations that want a full-featured website. Google websites have limited eCommerce functions and minimal design features.
It boils down to how much time you have to dedicate to the project and how involved you are willing to be in its day-to-day running. Choosing to build your website on WordPress, for example, requires a relatively small financial investment but will probably demand more of your time and energy.
Squarespace, on the other hand, charges more for their basic packages but requires less time and energy once the website is up and running. We recommend Google Website Builder for nonprofits who just need something to get them started. It's not a long-term solution, but it will at least provide some credible online presence for your organization.
Other excellent nonprofit website building options to consider include the following.
Nonprofit website essentials
As you are designing your organization's first website, focus on including the essentials. Your nonprofit website should be user-friendly, easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and provide essential information about your nonprofit.
Use your website to make it easy for people to find out about your mission and get involved by donating or volunteering. Make sure it's easy to share your website by connecting to your social media pages.
Finally, make sure it's easy for people to contact your organization. Whether it's someone from the media, an individual in need of your services, or a generous donor, you want to provide several ways for people to reach you. Publish your mailing address, phone number, and an email address that someone in your organization checks at least once a day.
If you add a "contact us" form or a subscribe box, make sure you test it and that it goes to an email address that you check daily. You would be surprised at how many businesses and nonprofits have broken "contact us" forms on their websites (or the information goes to an email address that nobody checks).
There are plenty of other essential features to include in a great nonprofit website, but these are the essentials that every nonprofit should include on their website.
Integrate online fundraising with your website
One of the unique benefits of online fundraising tools like Soapbox Engage is that you can install the apps on any website, regardless of the website builder you use. With just a few clicks, you’ll be able to add beautiful buttons and links to take your visitors to donation pages, handy event registration forms, and even host an online store without the hassle of building an eCommerce website! Even if the website builder you choose does not have a "donate" button option, you’ll be able to add a fully customized donation page with all the bells and whistles!
Our team understands all the unique needs and wants of nonprofits. We designed Soapbox Engage to help every nonprofit have an excellent website with all the necessary functions. Regardless of what service you choose to build and host your website, Soapbox Engage can help you add all the features your nonprofit needs.
Are you planning to launch a website for your nonprofit this year? Here are three resources that will help boost your nonprofit's online presence.
- What You Need To Know To Start A Nonprofit: Are you starting a new nonprofit? The to-do list can be overwhelming! Don't worry, we're here to help. Here's a quick-start guide that will help simplify the process and help you make sure you check all the legal boxes as you start your organization.
- Don't Choose A Nonprofit CRM Without These 6 Features: In addition to a website, we believe every nonprofit needs a quality CRM system. This is a handy resource that will help you choose the right CRM system that meets your specific needs.
- 5 Easy Ways To Maximize Your Fundraising On Facebook: Social media is another excellent place to build your nonprofit's online presence. Here's a quick guide that will help you use Facebook to your advantage for networking, fundraising, and expanding your influence.
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