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To really connect with donors and visitors your website needs to be a welcoming front porch, not a dusty filing cabinet. You need to lay out the welcome mat and turn the lights on! Better still, sit on the porch and welcome every visitor as they arrive! (metaphorically, of course 😄.)

And to help you do just that, here are five essential features your website must have to help visitors feel genuinely welcomed and excited about connecting with your mission.

1. Intuitive Navigation That Guides Visitors

The navigation menu on your website simply MUST be easy to use! No one likes to be lost and confused. Think of good navigation like a well-marked path to your front door—it helps people arrive at their destination without frustration.

Here’s how:

• Use straightforward, jargon-free labels that make sense to newcomers. (E.g. Home | About | Services | Donate | Contact etc. Keep them short, standard, and easy to understand.)

• Prioritize the information most visitors seek (services, donation options, contact details, resources, etc.)

• Limit main menu items to 5-7 options to prevent decision fatigue.

• Include a search function for content-rich sites.

2. A Homepage That Tells Your Story at a Glance

Your homepage needs to quickly communicate who you are and why your work matters. You have about 15 seconds to make a connection before most visitors decide whether to stay or leave.

Effective homepages:

• Open with a clear, conversational statement of your mission.

• Use authentic imagery that genuinely represents your community and work (Original images rather than stock photography is best!)

• Include a prominent call-to-action that promises to address your visitors’ needs and invites them to deeper connection. (E.g. a simple form to “Set up a free consultation call” or “Contact us”.)

3. An Easy and Compelling Email Newsletter Signup

Email remains your most reliable digital communication channel, with engagement rates far outpacing social media. Yet many organizations make signing up unnecessarily difficult or fail to communicate why it's worthwhile.

Effective email signup features:

• Position the form prominently where visitors will naturally see it.

• Keep it simple—each additional required field reduces completion rates. (E.g. all you really need is their name and email address!)

• Clearly explain the benefit of subscribing ("Signup and receive weekly encouragement that helps you reimagine the way God relates to you.")

• Consider offering a welcome resource in exchange for signup. (E.g. a free ebook, worksheet, or first session free.)

• If it makes sense, show a sample newsletter so people know what to expect.

Building your email list creates a direct line of communication with supporters that you control, unlike social platforms where algorithm changes can limit your reach.

4. Mobile-First Design

More than half of your website visitors are likely viewing on phones or tablets. If your site isn't optimized for these devices, you're essentially closing your front door to the majority of potential supporters.

Mobile-first design means:

• Ensuring all content is easily readable without pinching or zooming.

• Making buttons and links comfortably tappable with a thumb.

• Simplifying forms for on-the-go completion.

• Optimizing images and code for quick loading (even on spotty connections).

• Prioritizing information mobile users seek most often.

Remember: a site that merely "works" on mobile isn't the same as one designed with mobile users as the priority.

5. Authentic Stories That Build Connection

Facts and statistics have their place, but stories create genuine connection. When visitors encounter real stories about the people you serve or the challenges you're addressing, they're more likely to see themselves as potential participants in your mission.

Effective storytelling features:

• Highlight specific individuals impacted by your work (with appropriate permissions).

• Share honest accounts that include both challenges and positive outcomes.

• Use quality photos and videos that enhance the narrative.

• Connect individual stories to your broader purpose.

• Include diverse perspectives and images that represent your full community.

These narratives help visitors move from abstract understanding to emotional connection—the bridge that turns casual browsers into committed clients and supporters.

BONUS: Get to the content quick!

Beautiful pictures and videos are great, but no one likes to have to scroll past lots of fluff before they can get to what they are really looking for. Use fancy images and videos wisely, and make sure they work with your content, not against it.

Creating Your Welcoming Digital Space

Remember, your website is your organization's digital front porch—the place where most people first encounter your mission and decide whether to engage further. If you're ready to transform your website from a static information repository into a dynamic front porch that welcomes supporters and inspires action, I'd love to help. Book a free consultation today.

More than half your visitors are using their phones!

Improve your website!

I can help you lay out the welcome mat!