![\"2015](\"https:\/\/archangeladvancement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/2015-site-redesign-300x133.jpg\")
<\/a>There was white space, a larger font with no serifs, and no sidebars.\u00a0 The site translates well to mobile devices (your tablets and phones) providing a better “experience” than a site that was designed to be viewed on a computer.<\/p>\nIt used to be that scrolling was the cardinal sin of Web design, and that most of the pertinent information should be able to be viewed on the computer screen when the site loaded.\u00a0 If it could be designed so that no scrolling was necessary, that was a plus, and pages could be accessed with a mouse click from the drop-down menu of the navigation at the top or left of the page.\u00a0 As you can see, however, scrolling is now a critical design element, accomplished by a touch and a swipe of a finger on a mobile device, and access to links or additional information happens with a finger tap.<\/p>\n
All that information that used to be in right sidebar is now at the bottom of the page.<\/p>\n
Shortly thereafter, the DREAM Framework was changed to The ARMED Framework, and the design was changed to what still exists today.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
We’re now a mobile society, and design needs to begin with a “mobile-first” mindset.<\/p>\n
In 2011, it was a best practice for an entity to have two Web sites – one designed to be experienced on a computer, and one designed to be experienced on a mobile device, and sometimes, the mobile one was custom-designed into an app.\u00a0 As fast as that came along, by 2016, that was no longer a “best” practice.\u00a0 The new “best” practice was to design the site in a responsive manner so it adjusted to whatever type of device it’s being viewed on.<\/p>\n
Best practice is Web design has changed once again, and designers create sites with “mobile first” in mind.\u00a0 It’s indeed responsive, but now you need two sites again – or, more correctly, a site and an app.\u00a0 It’s not because of the device being used to view the site as it was 10 years ago, it’s due to your audiences.\u00a0 Your school’s Web site is for an external audience – donors, parents of prospective students, the media, etc.\u00a0 It shares the successes of your school, and an invitation to join in the experience of the school.\u00a0 The app is specifically designed for your current parent community so they don’t have to go to the school’s Web site and then log in for what they need.\u00a0 The app resides on their phone or tablet and is their connection to the school.<\/p>\n
Now you see why “Best” Practices are only “Best” until the “Next” best thing comes along.\u00a0 In that spirit, SchoolAdvancement will soon be posting a new series of articles called “Next Practice Insights.”\u00a0 More information is coming!<\/p>\n
Your school’s Web site is not only its “face” today, but it’s a marketing tool to increase enrollment, as well as a repository for school information, and a place to generate revenue.\u00a0 About six years ago, Devin Mathias authored a blog called “More Donors,” and offered these recommendations as to what every “charity” Web site should have.\u00a0 Since your school is a non-profit organization, your site should have these pages.\u00a0 The descriptions have been modified so they fit a school’s educational mission.<\/p>\n
1) Donation page<\/strong>
\nOne of the goals of your school’s Web site is to increase constituent engagement with your school, and when that engagement is deepened, the Web site is a convenient place for those engaged with your school to contribute funding.\u00a0 Even though the Web site has functions, such as sharing your stories, illustrating your good work, and recruiting volunteers, you always want to make it easy for your constituents to support your school.\u00a0 This a “make a gift” button goes directly to the giving form, not<\/em> to the general giving page or a why-to-give page.\u00a0 The form is where gift amount and credit card\/banking information is entered.\u00a0 You can also use a trusted and secure third-party payment processor for contributions.<\/p>\n2) Giving page (The Case For Your School)<\/strong>
\nAs mentioned above, this is a different page from the one where constituents actually make the gift.\u00a0 This is the page which illustrates why your organization is worthy of support (which may tie into items #3 and #5), why it exists, different methods for giving, etc.\u00a0 You should also provide direct contact information to your site’s visitors here.\u00a0 It helps to remember that “what” and “who” describe your school’s mission, so see #5.<\/p>\n3) Impact page<\/strong>
\nIllustrate the actual impact your school is making, including testimonials, pictures, videos, etc.\u00a0 This is critical for current donors to see and to make future donors feel like they can make a difference by supporting you with their\u00a0contributions of\u00a0time, talent or treasure.<\/p>\n4) Action page<\/strong>
\nSome people, particularly younger generations, are inclined to give of their time rather than their treasure.\u00a0 The action page is a great way to get them involved, even if they can’t come to your Parent\/Teacher meetings.\u00a0 Is there a petition they should sign?\u00a0 A letter they should write?\u00a0 Friends they should invite to support your school (note<\/em>:\u00a0not<\/em> buy something to support the fundraiser-of-the-month)?\u00a0 Attend an event?\u00a0 Have a page that gives them easy ways to get involved.<\/p>\n5) Mission \/ Vision \/ Values = Goals<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>This should go without saying, but you need to clearly articulate the vision for your school, and how you’re planning on getting there through the\u00a0tangible goals you have in your sights. ( See #9.)\u00a0 While experts have grouped Mission, Vision and Goals together, they frequently leave out “Case” – the “why” of your existence, and your differences which make you school worthy of continued engagement and support.<\/p>\n6) Social Media page
\n<\/strong>Use icons for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc. and have a specific landing page with further details on your various social media profiles, campaigns and the people helping with your social media efforts.\u00a0 Recall that a number of years ago, schools were mindful of the dangers of social media regarding children.\u00a0 However, it’s utilization is a necessity if you’re looking to connect with lost alumni.<\/p>\n7) Privacy Policy
\n<\/strong>Concern for privacy of data is high today, and rightfully so. Therefore, a privacy policy is the responsible thing to post.\u00a0 Visit http:\/\/www.iubenda.com\/en\/privacy-legal-requirements<\/a> regarding the importance of having a privacy policy, especially because Web sites today may have analytics and cookies which store certain amounts of information about your site’s visitors.<\/p>\n8) Contact Us\/Inquire
\n<\/strong>This is a critical and somewhat obvious page, but there are schools that have made contact information challenging to find (and sometimes, as challenging to find as the front door to their school).\u00a0 Additionally, provide multiple methods for contact. Email and phone are most critical, but it is also good to have various types of contacts – those for giving information\/questions, and appropriate administrative contacts.\u00a0 Include your business address and a map or directions, too.\u00a0 You’re going to want prospective parents to tour the school, and the easier you make it for them to get there, the more your school will be perceived as an inviting place to learn and grow.\u00a0 For more about the “Inquire” part, see item #9.<\/p>\n9) Admission\/Inquire
\n<\/strong>While there should be a button on your home page for visitors to click to “Donate Now,” there should also be a button to “Apply Now.”\u00a0 I would also be a great practice to include a third button – “Inquire Now.”\u00a0 This could go directly to a form where you collect some basic information to begin to develop a relationship with the parent of a prospective student.\u00a0 “Inquiry” is the most important metric you can collect to see how well your marketing is working.\u00a0 Great marketing should produce more inquiries; it’s how those inquiries are managed through additional engagement that will lead to applications which leads to enrollments.<\/p>\n10) Frequently Asked Questions\/FAQ\/Q&A
\n<\/strong>This is one of the most common pages on any website – for good reason. This can save you time by answering questions for your constituents before they reach out to you and your team.\u00a0 But, as previously mentioned, one of those questions should not be, “What does it cost to enroll my child?”<\/p>\nBonus: 11) Blog.
\n<\/strong>Your school’s blog serves as the foundation for engaging donor stories, impact stories and your social media’s content development.\u00a0 Today’s parents and guardians want interaction, and want to feel personally connected to your school.\u00a0 A blog helps them do that when they are able to comment on what you’ve written.\u00a0 Write something every day – it’s one way to keep your school’s Website fresh.<\/p>\nSo why isn’t there a “tuition\/financial aid” page?\u00a0 The question “Do you have financial aid available” could be part of the FAQ page.\u00a0 As for tuition, ONLY post your tuition if you expect EVERYONE enrolled in your school to pay that amount.\u00a0 It’s the internet experience that parents today have come to expect.\u00a0 The only places that accept “Make Offer” offers are used material sites like Facebook Marketplace.\u00a0 \u00a0Tuition should be a personal discussion after the parent has toured your school and have experienced its difference.\u00a0 If a parent tells you, “Let’s cut to the chase,” and talks money, you can be sure that every discussion you have with that parent will be a battle because they’re “paying you, so you’d better listen” to them.<\/p>\n
Here’s an experiment – delete your current Website page that advertises your tuition.\u00a0 If the number of phone calls your school receives increases, those are people you can invite into your school to experience it first.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2011-2026 (Original Publication Date: 20110103)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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![\"2006](\"https:\/\/archangeladvancement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/2006-site-design.jpg\")
<\/a>Sidebars on both left and right, top navigation and left side navigation, and lots of text, with only a few pictures.\u00a0 This Web site was stored on an external hard drive, and every time a new page was added, the whole site was re-rendered and uploaded to the site’s hosting space.\u00a0 Changes to it could only be made on one computer – the one which had the Web site creation program loaded on to it<\/p>\n