Are you trying to decide on a new website design? Whether this is the first website your association has created or your association is in the middle of designing an updated website, there are some basic components every good website should have. This list is the essentials. Let’s take a look:
- Home Page
The home page, also known as the landing page, is arguably the most important feature to the website. Everyone knows how important first impressions are. The first impression anyone will get of your website and possibly your association is from the home page. The home page needs to have a clean and simple design and offer a simple way to navigate the rest of the website. - Who We Are
Another name for this page could be “About Us.” This is the spot to explain what your association is, who it serves and what it does. Some people coming to your website will not be familiar with it, so this is the space to explain the purpose behind the association. This is a great spot to state the mission of the association and the vision the association has for the future. The “Who We Are” section is also a great place to link to a page that introduces the visitor with the association staff and board. - Members Only Access
A way to create incentive to become a member is by having a members-only section of the website. This section can include whatever your association deems as beneficial to its members. This could include a job board, members Q & A, film from annual conference or webinars, etc. Members should feel special about having access to this portion of the website, so brainstorm with your team about what benefits you can utilize for this purpose. - Join Us
Any good association website needs to have a way for new members to join. Membership numbers for an association are incredibly important, so there needs to be dedicated space for someone to join online. Included in this page can be benefits to joining as well as how to get involved after joining. Having a complete online registration is the best option, but even if you don’t have the means to set up a registration form and payment method online, a “Join Us” page still needs to exist on the website. In this scenario, it would simply include instructions and actions to take in order to join. - Testimonials
Keeping track of member testimonials about various features of the association helps give perspective from current members to prospective members. Testimonials can be used for any feature of the association: membership, conference experience, volunteer opportunities, job leads, networking, etc. A testimonial quote or video is a great marketing resource to promote a facet of the association. - Contact Us
A contact page provides information to members and non-members alike who may have questions about the association. It should list the association phone number and mailing address. The contact information can be a general number and email, or you can list different points of contact for various topics.
Your association website will most likely require more sections than these, but this list can serve as a basics checklist to start with. As you design your website, continue thinking how you can best serve your members and prospective members. By utilizing these components, your association website is well on its way to serving your website visitors.