How do you know if it's time to update your nonprofit website? Here are 9 tell-tale signs.

1. You Know It’s Time To
Redesign Your
When…
Nonprofit Website
Start Somewhere – www.startsomewhere.com

2. When it's impossible to
keep it updated1
When was the last time you updated
your site content? Why? Is it because it's
too hard or your team doesn't have the
knowledge?
Then it's time to redesign. An updated
site keeps visitors coming back.
2

3. When it's been more than
two years2
3
A general rule of thumb is to redesign
your site every two to three years.
Technology and web design trends
are constantly changing, and two years is
a lifetime in internet-years. If you can’t
remember the last time you updated your
website, then it's time for a redesign.

4. When even YOU can’t find
information on your site3
4
Website visitors will decide within two
seconds whether to stay on your site. If
they can't find what they're looking for,
they'll leave.
If it takes you more than 2 seconds to find
what you're looking for, imagine how long
it takes your visitors.

5. When your donation page
is on a separate site4
5
If clicking on your Donate button takes
visitors to a third-party donation, then
wave goodbye to your potential donors.
Bouncing visitors to a separate site
dramatically reduces conversion rates.
Redesign your site with integrated
donation and you'll see much higher
conversions.

6. When it’s not integrated
with social media5
6
Your site should be closely tied to your
social media. Using your site as the hub
for fresh content, which you can share on
social media, brings people back to your
website. If you’re not integrated with
social media, you're missing an
opportunity to bring valuable web traffic
your way.

7. When it doesn’t look good
on mobile devices6
7
Can your site be viewed on all devices,
from desktops to smartphones, without
hindering the experience? If the answer is
“no,” then it's time to redesign it for a
seamless experience across devices (aka
responsive design). With mobile internet
usage overtaking desktop by 2014, mobile
browsing isn't going away any time soon.

8. When you search for yourself
and you’re not on page 17
8
When you search for your organization,
you should absolutely be on the first page,
if not the first three search results. If it's
not, then your site isn't optimized for
search, AKA Search Engine Optimization
(SEO). Redesigning your site for SEO will
help you be found by the people looking
for you.

9. When there’s no clear call
to action8
9
Look at your homepage from the
perspective of the visitor. Try this: squint
your eyes until the site is blurry, and then
ask yourself: can I tell what I’m supposed
to do on this page? If you can't tell what
the most prominent call to action is,
neither can your visitor.

10. When you feel embarrassed
to show it to people9
10
This is the most important point. You
should feel proud of your website! It's
your organization's face to the world, and
the way most people will interact with
your nonprofit. If you're embarrassed to
show it off, that's a clear sign it's time to
redesign.

11. Ready to take the next step?
Start Somewhere
www.startsomewhere.com
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