4 mistakes to avoid in your nonprofit website redesign
Redesigning your website can be one of the most rewarding parts of a rebrand. It's like rearranging your bedroom: suddenly everything feels fresh, and you've got a little extra pep in your step as you head into a new season.
But a redesign can also be stressful. What if you don't like the changes? What if something breaks? One of the best ways to ease that stress is to know the common pitfalls before you start.
Here are four mistakes nonprofits often make during a website redesign, and how to avoid each one.
Mistake 1: Not learning from your current site
The great thing about a redesign is that you're not starting from scratch. Your current website holds valuable lessons about what's working and what isn't. Skipping that step means you risk losing what people love and repeating what frustrates them.
How to avoid it: Before you design anything, gather insights. Check your website analytics to see which pages get the most visits, where people spend the most time, and which pages they rarely find. Ask a few donors, volunteers, or program participants what they like about your site and what confuses them. Even a short survey or a few casual conversations can reveal a lot.
Use what you learn as a roadmap: keep the best parts of your current site and focus your energy on what needs improvement.
Mistake 2: Starting without clear branding
No matter how beautiful your redesign is, it won't be effective without a clear brand behind it. Great website design flows from strategic brand identity. Without it, you'll find yourself making decisions about colors, fonts, and messaging on the fly, and the result often feels disjointed.
How to avoid it: Settle your brand foundations before design begins. That includes your messaging, color palette, typography, imagery style, and personality. A clear brand keeps your website cohesive and consistent with everything else you create, from social media to printed materials. If your brand feels fuzzy, consider a brand workshop or strategy session first.
Mistake 3: Chasing trends instead of your authentic brand
It's natural to find a beautifully designed website and want something just like it. There's no harm in gathering inspiration. But when someone else's site becomes the blueprint for yours, you're chasing a trend rather than expressing who you are.
Website trends change constantly. Your brand should feel timeless.
How to avoid it: Ask yourself why you're redesigning. Good reasons include a site that no longer reflects your mission, programs, or audience, or one that's hard to use or update. "Another organization's site looks cooler" isn't enough on its own. When you collect inspiration, note what you like about it, such as clear navigation or bold photography, rather than copying the overall look.
For more on this, read our article "Nonprofit web design trends: just trendy, or truly impactful?”
Mistake 4: Forgetting 301 redirects
Few things are more frustrating than launching a new site, only to discover that half your old links are broken. Supporters who click a link in an old email, social post, or search result end up on an error page, and many won't try again.
A 301 redirect is a permanent forward from an old web address to a new one. Anyone who visits the old URL is automatically sent to the updated page. Redirects protect your credibility, preserve your search engine rankings, and make sure you don't lose the traffic you've worked hard to build.
How to avoid it: Before launch, make a list of every page on your current site, especially popular ones like your donation page, programs, and blog posts. Map each old address to its new home, then set up redirects. Most website builders make this easy. After launch, test your most important old links to confirm they work.
A quick pre-launch checklist
Before you flip the switch on your new site, run through these essentials:
Test your donation form from start to finish, including the confirmation email
Check that volunteer sign-ups, contact forms, and newsletter forms work and connect to the right inbox or CRM
Review every page on a phone and a tablet, not just a desktop
Confirm 301 redirects are in place for your old URLs
Add alt text to images and check color contrast for accessibility
Proofread all content, including staff names, addresses, and phone numbers
Make sure analytics tracking is installed so you can measure results
Update links in your email signatures, social profiles, and directory listings
A redesign doesn't have to be stressful
A website redesign is a meaningful opportunity to make sure your online presence truly reflects the incredible work you do. If your current site isn't saying what you want it to say, a thoughtful redesign is your chance to realign.
With the right partner handling the details, the process can even be fun. We love helping nonprofits redesign their websites with clear, thoughtful strategy. If you're dreaming of a site that does your mission justice, let’s chat.
At Sereth Design, we help nonprofits and impact-driven organizations build brands and websites that move people to act. See how we've done it in our case studies or start a conversation about your organization's next chapter.
