In our last post on creating an effective nonprofit blog, we talked about focusing on the quality of your content. Once you’ve crafted some engaging content and you’ve carved out your unique voice on the web, there are a few other considerations that will improve the overall experience for your readers.
One area deserving of attention is the layout and design of your blog. When considering your blog layout and design, it’s important to keep your ultimate goal in mind. For example, what do you want users to do after reading your posts? Do you want them to share them in their social networks to spread the word about your organization? Do you want readers to subscribe to your blog to create a solid base of loyal followers? Perhaps your goal is to drive them to other parts of your site to encourage volunteerism or online donations. Whatever the goal, it’s important to keep this in the forefront of your mind when deciding on your layout. This may require using arrows or graphics to draw attention to your calls to action. It may also require rethinking the placement of your widgets or modules to ensure your calls to action are strategically placed on the page.
In addition to considering the placement of elements on the page, it’s also important to think about some basic design principles to ensure your blog is visually appealing. If your blog is used as a communication tool for your organization, it’s important to ensure the overall look of the blog matches that of your organization’s website. When it comes to colors, consider your organization’s branding, as well as how you use color throughout your website. Stick to a color pallet that matches your branding and enhances your content, rather than one that would be overpowering or distracting to your audience. When thinking about colors, keep it simple and consistent.
In addition to layout and design, you’ll also want to consider a few key elements for each blog post. For example, each post should include an accurate and intriguing headline, social sharing icons, as well as an image or graphic illustrating your topic. Your headline is oftentimes what will convince your readers to continue reading your post, or cause them to head back to Google to look for something else. While it’s important to grab their attention, it’s also important to accurately represent your content. You’re not trying to bait your readers, but rather, let them know in a few words why your post is worth reading. Social sharing icons are also important to encourage readers to spread the word about your content, and a good graphic can help grab your reader’s attention even before reading your headline.
Finally, be sure to check the mobile view of your blog to ensure your content is easy to read, and your calls to action are prominent. So how are you doing with your nonprofit blog? Let us know in the comments below!