When you visit a website, the first thing you probably notice is its design. The colors, the layout, and the flow are all things that make the website easy to use or totally frustrating. But did you know that how a website is designed can depend a lot on what the website is for?
When building a website for a nonprofit versus a commercial business, there are some major design differences that reflect the distinct goals and audiences of each type of organization.
Even though both types of websites aim to provide a great user experience, the approach, content, and features vary based on their core missions.
In this article, we’ll be talking about how a nonprofit website is different from a commercial one, and why the design choices matter so much for each type.
The Purpose of the Website
When you visit a nonprofit website, you’ll typically be greeted by bright colors, powerful images, and designs that really make you feel something.
Nonprofits rely on emotions, after all, their whole mission is to inspire people to take action, whether that’s donating, volunteering, or sharing their cause. So, they want you to feel something when you visit their site.
The design is clean, but also emotionally engaging. They often feature stories or images that show how their work is making an impact in the world.
Commercial websites, though, tend to look a little more polished, professional, and sometimes even corporate. The design here is sleek and structured, all about guiding you to make a purchase or sign up for something.
The layout might have lots of buttons, options, and paths you can take, because, at the end of the day, businesses want to sell you something. Their design might not hit you emotionally in the same way as a nonprofit’s, but it’s meant to get you to spend money.
User Experience
Nonprofits want you to feel connected to their cause, so the website experience is all about making it easy for you to engage. Whether you’re browsing information about a mission, reading a success story, or donating money, everything is streamlined.
These nonprofits focus on easy navigation, and they make sure that you don’t feel lost or confused. Everything is where you’d expect it to be, with one goal: make sure you stay engaged and get involved.
Now, commercial websites also care about user experience, but their main goal is to get you to buy something. That might mean pop-up ads, multiple call-to-action buttons such as “Buy Now,” “Sign Up,” and the likes, and more complex navigation.
While they want you to enjoy the website, they’re really focused on getting your money or your commitment.
SEO Strategies
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a strategy both nonprofits and businesses use to get more people to visit their sites. But their approaches can be different.
Nonprofits often use SEO tactics that are a bit more organic. They do keyword research to figure out what terms their audience is searching for and work to create content that answers those needs. They also rely heavily on backlinks from other trusted sites to improve their search engine rankings.
Commercial websites, however, might focus more on paid advertising (such as Google ads, social media ads, etc.) to get in front of their audience. While they still do SEO, they might spend more money on ads to bring traffic in.
Donation Integration
One of the biggest differences between nonprofit and commercial websites is the integration of donation functionality. nonprofit websites need to make it as easy as possible for visitors to donate. There is usually a very visible and accessible “Donate” button, along with simple, secure payment options.
Nonprofits also focus on reducing the number of steps to make a donation. They do this to make sure that visitors don’t get frustrated and leave without giving.
Commercial websites work differently. Their focus is on shopping carts, making it easy for customers to buy products as quickly as possible. Donations usually aren’t part of the setup unless the business supports a social cause and adds a way for customers to contribute.
The Final Verdict
At the end of the day, the difference between a nonprofit and a commercial website comes down to their purpose. Nonprofits want to make a difference in the world and build connections with their supporters. Their websites are designed to inform, engage, and inspire action for a cause.
Commercial websites, on the other hand, are all about selling. They focus on driving conversions, whether that’s making a purchase or getting someone to subscribe.
No matter the type of website you’re looking to set up, you can trust the digital experts at Abacus Web Services to create a custom website that will help you achieve all your goals.
Over the last 25 years, we have helped both business owners and charity organizations build and grow their online presence in various industries.
If you’re running a nonprofit, we know how to craft a site that makes it easy for people to donate, learn, and get involved. If you’re in business, you need a site that makes it clear what you offer, helps potential customers make a purchase, and feels seamless from start to finish.
Abacus Web Services knows how to design websites that do all of this and more, tailored to your specific needs. Contact us todayto get started!
