4 Designers Who “Get” Your Social Enterprise Website Needs
Photo of a computer and coffee mug by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
In January, it’ll be 15 years ago that I started my business. A lot has changed in that time …
One of the things that was a source of stress for me early on was how to create a beautiful, affordable and effective social enterprise website. And though it’s become even more important than ever to have a professional looking and well functioning site, the founders and leaders I work are still dealing with the same core question:
“How do I get a good looking and effective website without spending a ton of money?”
Getting a Social Enterprise Website with a Minimal Budget
For a variety of reasons, sometimes founders of social enterprises have very minimal budgets. But you still need a website.
If your budget is quite small but you still need a website that looks modern and works to accomplish your big impact goals, I have two suggestions for you:
Flexible Sites. If your social enterprise is a non-profit or your work focuses on supporting people from a marginalized communities, I’d like to suggest you check out Flexible Sites. Co-founder James Connor and his team at the company have developed a very unique B1G1 - Buy One, Give One - model where they use the proceeds from some of their other tech ventures to offset the costs to helping social enterprises getting great sites. James is incredibly passionate about working with folks in these situations and very knowledgeable about finding great tech solutions at affordable prices.
Hire a designer to do a “branding board” and do a DIY site. I know inequality is very real. And not everyone will qualify for programs like Flexible Sites or have great design skills themselves. If there’s ANY way you can hire a skilled professional, I think it’s absolutely worth it. And if it’s just not possible, here’s a hack for you - hire a designer to do a “branding board” for you. A branding board will typically include significant design elements like your logo, colors, fonts, etc. Below you see the sections in my branding board for this site - many designers offer this service. You can take these elements and use a platform like Squarespace, Wix or Strikingly to build the site yourself. With this route, you’ll get better results if you hire a designer familiar with the platform you’re going to use.
Affordable Designers for Your Social Enterprise Website
If you have a budget of $2000-5000, you can get a beautiful website from many designers around the world. However, I have spoken with many social entrepreneurs who have a great looking site that doesn’t move the needle on their goals. One founder I know spent over $50,000 on a glitzy site and marketing materials - and never got a paying customer from it.
“What works when it comes to a social enterprise website is quite different than what’s effective for a site for a women’s clothing boutique or a restaurant.”
The social impact space is a unique ecosystem, one with it’s own culture, vocabulary and metaphors. To get the most out of your social enterprise website, I highly encourage you to hire someone who understands the space.
Fortunately, I’ve had the option of developing great relationships with some very talented and impact oriented designers over the many years I’ve been in business. Here’s who I most frequently recommend to my clients and to Awarepreneurs Community members.
Flexible Sites. As I mentioned above, if your social enterprise is a non-profit or your work focuses on helping those from marginalized communities, I really encourage you to reach out to James Connor and his team.
Indigo Bolt. Danielle Levy did this site and it was a pleasure to work with her! Previously, she worked high up in the marketing and advertising world in companies like Anheuser Busch. She started Indigo Bolt because she wanted to work with more values based business owners. Danielle is a Squarespace Circle Member and the sites she builds are on this platform.
Website Alchemy. Serena & John are a married couple who have traveled the world doing digital storytelling for impact focused projects for years. They do wonderful sites on the Wordpress platform and are particularly knowledgeable about SEO and Wordpress site security. They also have an adorable little one! :)
Nela Donato. Nela has written one of the best books and blog posts on branding I’ve ever read. Her projects have rich, organic colors and textures and stand out from many of the sites I’ve seen. Nela’s sites are built on the Wordpress platform and she’s has over 15 years of professional experience building brands and digital presence for companies and nonprofits.
Wrapping It Up
A good website is an essential part of any modern social enterprise leader’s toolkit. In this post, I hope I’ve given you some ideas about how you can find a pathway that works for your social enterprise website needs. Remember to a) keep breathing and b) take the time you need to search for a designer who understands your values and the impact you’re working to have. In my experience, it makes a huge difference.
What are your questions about creating a social enterprise website for your needs? What did I leave out? Feel free to reach out via my contact form.