Why NGOs Need a Website
It is no secret that we are now in the digital era. The internet is increasingly changing our interactions; a new normal has come, and might be here to stay! Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are no exceptions to this change. Indeed, the internet represents numerous opportunities for NGOs. However, many small local organizations in developing countries still hesitate about the internet due to internet or website maintenance costs, lack of awareness, internet access devices, or other reasons.
How does a Website Benefit your Organization?
Awareness
Indeed, having a website allows the NGO to have more visibility, which is already a big opportunity for new potential funding. Each day, more people are online, while others seem to never go offline. In 2020, 59% of the population around the world, used the internet. Without a website, your organization is invisible to them! Having a website at the core of your digital marketing is an effective way to be seen and see others. Keeping track of what people are interested in, looking for, or how they are looking, allows you to attract interested and motivated partners for your projects while keeping costs low.
Credibility
Additionally, having a website increases your credibility. Indeed, according to Weebly, 56% of people said they don’t trust a business without a website, and this number is growing. I think we can relate to the fact that not being able to find any information on an organization on the internet makes us wary of it. Also, according to Verisign, 84% of people think that having a website and not only social media pages adds credibility to a business.
Save Time
Moreover, a well-built and maintained website will save you time! While you are busy expanding your NGO and working on the field, you might find little to no time to answer inquiries from potential partners. Your website allows interested people to find relevant information about your organization. Frequently asked questions are answered without demanding your already depleted time, hence, sparing more time to focus on what matters.
Don’t you agree now that having a functional website is important for NGOs? However, users despise a poorly designed or halfway done website that takes forever to load, crashes 12 times a day, or is loaded with outdated information. According to web credibility research from Stanford, 75% of users declared making their judgment of a business’s credibility based on the website’s design.
What should a great NGO website have?
- Complete information about the organization presented in an intuitive and responsive design compatible with desktops, tablets, and mobile phones
- Good imagery. Show your work to the world! This is a pressure point for many organizations, especially when it comes to the quality, nature, or number of images they should add to their websites. We advise starting with good light and clear (camera or phone) images, that reveal the core activity
- Registration and donation forms (Call to Actions) should be easily accessible
- All the NGO’s contact info.
- Of course, it’s good practice to add more pages such as a “Members Only” page, to build a community around your organization, and a blog, where you write quality content for your stakeholders.
There you have it! Now you have a good idea of what to do. However, if you need support getting your website project up to speed, don’t hesitate to make a free consultation. We will both build and maintain your website.