What do you do when you want to know more information about a specific topic? For most people, they go to their computer or mobile device to search for an answer on the Internet. In fact, 3.5 billion searches happen in a day on Google. That’s over 40,000 searches made every second!
With so many people going to the Internet to find their answers, it’s a really good idea to have your name out there for them to find. Even as a nonprofit organization that doesn’t sell a product or service to someone, having a website makes a significant difference to your organization.
Control the Narrative
By having a website, you are placing your organization on the world’s digital map. This is your chance to make sure when people are look for your organization, or nonprofits that specialize in your work, you are being found.
But I have a Facebook page… shouldn’t that be enough?
Although Facebook, and any other social media platform, are great places to help tell others about your work it is not a space on the Internet that you have full control of. Since all of the social media platforms are being managed by someone else, they have full control of what happens on everyone’s page. If something were to happen to the platform you chose (like Google Plus that was taken down at the beginning of this month) or if for some reason they decided to take down any of your content (like when a policy change happens, making the content noncompliant)… they can take all of your hard work down without consulting you first.
Now, this is not to say you should stay away from social media, because it truly is a great way to connect with those important to your organization. My point in all of this is that by having your own website, you have a space where you have full control of what is written and how long it stays up.
Develop Credibility
In addition to having a space on the Internet where you control what is said and when, this is also a prime place to build up your credibility. As a space to talk about what you do and who you serve, you can show potential donors all the benefits of supporting such an important cause.
Not only is this a place to build credibility, but it’s a place you can go as in-depth as needed. Does your organization hold several important community events? Maybe you have some powerful stories from people you have helped and you want to use them to tell others just how much impact you’re making. Your website is a great place to build different ways to tell more about the work you do. You can even bring in information from a social media platform (like a YouTube video) to help illustrate your mission to your visitors.
Increase Donations
Similar to people going online to review products or services before buying, people are also going online to decide which organization they want to donate to. By having a website, you are giving people a place to better understand your organization, why they should invest in your mission and a place to donate while they are thinking about it.
Online donations are a great place to promote your impact on the world and then show those same people how they can make a difference in your mission. Donations make a real difference to nonprofits. By showing visitors how their investment makes a difference and then giving them a place they can immediately take action, you increase the amount of donations received.
But Facebook has a place that I can put a donation button… can’t I just use that if I want to collect donations online?
It’s true that social media platforms will commonly give you a place you can add a donation button, but most of the time that button is just a way for you to link back to the donation page on your organization’s website. The donations are not being processed on the social media’s website.
Conclusion
With so many people relying on the Internet to find answers to their questions, it has become more important to have a reliable place to tell them about your organization and its mission. By having a fully functional website you are guaranteeing there’s a place for you to talk openly about your work without the concern of social media platforms disappearing or taking posts down because of a policy change. Your website is also an opportunity to give people a place to donate to your mission as soon as they are motivated to act.
