Online fundraising is\u00a0the norm. But how many nonprofits are making big fundraising mistakes? Here are five things nonprofits get wrong about online donations.<\/p>\n
1. Not being mobile-optimized<\/strong><\/p>\n I know, I know, you\u2019re getting tired of hearing it\u2026but it\u2019s THAT important. With Google\u2019s recent changes to how mobile-optimized sites are displayed in search results on mobile devices, you could find your nonprofit\u2019s website slipping way down the list if it\u2019s not geared for mobile users. With almost 10% of donations coming from mobile devices in 2014, having your site and donation form optimized is a necessity, not an option.<\/p>\n Take a look at our Guide to Mobile Giving<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Making it difficult to donate<\/strong><\/p>\n If donors can\u2019t quickly and easily find your donation button, they\u2019re going to leave your page. You can make donating a less frustrating process by having a large, brightly colored donation button in an easy-to-find location. Oh, and don\u2019t make potential donors scroll to find it!<\/p>\n 3. Making donating a time-consuming process<\/strong><\/p>\n Donors want to know their time is valued. You can show this by not asking for too much information right off the bat. Collect the basics, like name, address, and payment information. Don\u2019t irritate your donors by adding unnecessary steps; no one wants to spend time choosing from a complicated list of restrictions or having to answer multiple questions before making a donation.<\/p>\n 4. Not branding the donation page<\/strong><\/p>\n Your nonprofit\u2019s website may be beautifully designed, but what happens when donors click on the \u201cDonate Now\u201d button and are taken to a donation form that looks like a completely different site? Having seamless design makes donors feel more secure about giving their billing information \u2013 they don\u2019t feel like they\u2019ve left your site and gone somewhere untrustworthy. Plus, customizing your form to match your organization\u2019s branding can raise 6X more in donations than an unbranded form. Can\u2019t argue with that!<\/p>\n 5. Not putting easy tasks first<\/strong><\/p>\n No one wants to dig out their credit card right away and fuss with holding it at just the right angle so they can see their faded CVV number. (Seriously, why don\u2019t they make those things more durable?) Behavioral psychology research shows people are more likely to finish something once they\u2019ve completed part of it, so putting simple tasks at the top of your form has a positive psychological effect. Let donors select their donation amount and enter their address before you ask them for payment details. Feelings of anxiety are highest when donors enter payment information, so save it for the end!<\/p>\n Want to learn more? Head over to our ultimate guide to donation pages!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n