Your website is your digital ID. It’s an online representation of what your nonprofit organization or business is like in real life.
When people want to learn more about an organization, there are two places they go to first: social media and your website. Social media is suitable for understanding your company culture and brand. You get a quick glimpse of their personality and how they communicate based on their appearance.
But if you really want to get to know an organization better, you visit their website. This is where people dive beneath the looks and the glamour and learn more about your story, purpose, and services. It’s a huge opportunity to make a positive first impression and win potential customers.
Your website should match your real-life brand persona. It should reflect your top sales conversations and answer any questions they may have about your nonprofit. Otherwise, a poor website design can cause a brand disconnect.
Not to mention, a website is the only piece of digital real estate that is truly yours. It’s the one thing you can completely control. So, how your website is designed matters. Considering that you have 50 milliseconds to make an impression on a site visitor, it’s important to make every second (er, millisecond) count.
5 Reasons to Hire A Professional Website Designer
It’s easier now than ever to design your website thanks to web development services like WordPress and Squarespace. To be fair, there’s nothing wrong with using them and taking a DIY approach. It’s okay if your startup or nonprofit is in the early stages and needs a quick and simple site.
But as you grow and move into the next phase of business development, you will want a unique and exclusively designed website that speaks more to your audience. This is when you should consider hiring a professional website designer specializing in developing websites that perfectly represent your organization and its values. A well-designed website is a worthy investment that will help you create a buzz in many ways. Here are five of them
Save Time
A professional web designer can quickly slice your time in half and develop an attractive yet functional website. They’re excellent in their craft and know how to build a unique, reliable, and fast website while ensuring it aligns with your business goals and objectives. What you spend on a website designer, you’ll get back in time — and that’s a sweet trade-off.
Even with DIY tools, web design takes time to learn and master. Javascript, HTML, and Python may seem like foreign languages to many people. While learning how to code and build your own website from scratch is possible, it can swallow up a massive chunk of your time. It could take days or even weeks to create a basic website. You’re better off utilizing that time towards other business aspects requiring your expertise and attention. So, hiring a professional web designer could be the most time-efficient choice.
Stand Out From Your Competitors
Web development systems can make it easy for you to generate a website in little time. But here’s the thing: everyone else can use them too. Unless you know how to code, you’re pretty limited to using their pre-built templates. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. But that means there’s a good chance multiple people and brands are using the same web design as you — which is not what you want if you want to stand out from all of the buzz.
Plus, a professionally-designed website can help you look trustworthy. Research from Stanford shows that 75% of users admit they make judgment calls about a company’s credibility based solely on the design of its website. If people see a neatly–organized and cleanly–-designed website, they will likely have a positive impression of you. It helps build your credibility and reputation as a serious and professional organization.
Built-in Reliability
Site crashes can happen. Pesky little internet bugs can mess up your page and keep it from running smoothly. It’s a nuisance. For some businesses, a down website can be a catastrophe. Website designers are always one step ahead and anticipate any issues that could pop up. They can build a website that’s fully functional and free of bugs. If any occur, you can connect with your website designer, who will quickly address it.
Not only that, but website designers are also always up-to-date on the latest technology and design trends. They can implement them on your website to enhance functionality and security. That way, you don’t have to keep updating your site every year.
Improve Search Rankings
Showing up at the top of a search results page is another essential reason for having a website. But there is a science to improving your search rankings, called search engine optimization (SEO). It’s a technical process that involves optimizing various site elements, from header tags, keywords, URLs, page speed, and content. It’s quite a bit to think about, and understandably, it can be overwhelming.
A website designer has a solid grasp of SEO. So, they know how to build your website to make it more SEO-optimized for search. Elements such as site structure, metadata, and user experience are areas where a professional web designer can help. They want to give you the best chance of ranking near the top.
Enjoy Faster Page Speeds
In the world of the web, speed is vital. If your website loads too slowly, then there’s a good chance people might bounce before it finishes. This can be costly, with researchers finding that a site that loads in just one second converts three times more than a site that loads in five seconds and five times more than a site that loads in 10 seconds.
Slow page speeds are not only a user experience issue but also an SEO one. Google factors in site speeds in their search ranking algorithm. So, how fast your website performs can impact how high you rank in search.
A professional website designer understands the importance of page speed. They know what can be optimized, so you’re equipped with a fast-performing website. They’ll provide you with a quick and functional build to satisfy users (and algorithms).
Get A Sweet, Professionally Designed Website from Buzzworks
Website designers are creatives who can capture your vision to build a website that’s original and unique to your organization and audience. Remember that web design isn’t just a skill but an art.
A great website can be a game-changer for your organization. Getting one that’s professionally designed can truly take you a long way. It can help you generate buzz in a crowded and noisy digital world. So, if you’re ready to give your website an advanced makeover, then the team here at Buzzworks is ready. Let’s start building your super, sticky, sweet website today.