In today’s digital world, having a website is essential for any business or organization. However, the design of websites used by nonprofits and those used by commercial organizations can be quite different. Here are some of the key differences between nonprofit and commercial website design that every web designer should know.
The Main Goal
The main difference between nonprofit and commercial websites is the goal they are trying to achieve. For a commercial website, the goal is to make money; for a nonprofit website, the goal is typically to raise awareness about a particular cause or issue. Therefore, their designs will reflect these different objectives. A commercial website might focus more on appealing visuals, while a nonprofit website might focus more on providing useful information about its mission.
Layout & Navigation
Nonprofit websites often feature open layouts with large fonts and plenty of whitespace to make it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for quickly. They also tend to feature simple navigation bars that don’t overwhelm visitors with too many options. On the other hand, commercial websites usually have complex navigation structures so that visitors can easily access all areas of the site. This allows them to browse products and services quickly and efficiently.
Content & Visuals
When it comes to content, nonprofits typically have more text-heavy pages than commercial sites because they need to provide detailed information about their causes or services. They also often use visuals such as infographics or videos to engage visitors and capture their attention quickly. Commercial websites, on the other hand, often rely heavily on visuals like product images or promotional videos in order to draw people in and encourage them to purchase products or services offered by the company.
Conclusion
All in all, when it comes to designing a website for either nonprofit or commercial purposes, there are some distinct differences that must be taken into account in order for it to be successful at achieving its goals. Nonprofits need an easy-to-navigate layout with plenty of text-based content while businesses need a more complex navigation system with lots of visual elements such as product images or promotional videos in order to draw people in and encourage them to purchase products or services offered by the company. With this knowledge under your belt, you’ll be ready to create effective web designs no matter what type of organization you’re working with!