We know that for most small animal charities, time and money are always in short supply. With so many animals needing help, it’s easy to focus all resources directly on your vital rescue work ignore ‘big jobs’ like building a website. As a result, it’s easy to stick with what we know and rely solely on a Facebook page or Instagram account for sharing your news, appeals and your animals for adoption. While social media is important, having your own website is a vital tool that should never be overlooked – and this is increasingly the case. Most small animal charities do have websites, but it is very often at The Belforte Foundation when researching grant funding, that we find that many still don’t have one.

The good news is that a website doesn’t need to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming to maintain, but it can make a huge difference to your charity’s visibility, credibility, and long-term success.

The Benefits of Having a Website

There are many benefits of having a website, as opposed to just using a Facebook page or similar. Here are just some:

1. Credibility and Trust: A website gives your charity a sense of permanence and professionalism. Potential donors, adopters, and volunteers are far more likely to trust an organisation that has its own website compared to one with only a Facebook page. It shows you’re serious, organised, and here for the long term and ultimately, more people will find you too!
2. Control of Your Message: Social media platforms change constantly and although you think that all your followers will see a post, the reality is, unless paying for posts (sponsoring) its actually the algorithms that decide who sees your posts, and this means for many, updates can be missed entirely. A website puts you in control. You decide what information is available and how it’s presented, without worrying that an important post will disappear down a feed and it’s there for all to see.
3. A Central Hub for Information: Think of your website as your charity’s box containing all the important information: Adoption information, success stories, fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, all of these can be neatly organised in one easy to find place. Social media can then be used to drive people back to your site, where they can get the full picture and find out more.
4. Fundraising Opportunities: Many website platforms integrate secure donation systems, making it easier for supporters to give directly and safely – if not it is easy to add a link or button. Having a “Donate Now” button visible on your website can increase contributions, especially from those who may not use social media regularly.
5. Searchability: Not everyone is on Facebook. The demographic of Facebook users has also changed over time. People searching, for example, on Google for “animal rescue in Edinburgh” or “adopt a cat near me” are unlikely to find a Facebook page unless it is linked through a website. So, without a website you could be missing out on donations, volunteers, loving homes, or more. A well-optimised website means new supporters, adopters, and donors can discover you more easily.

Relying Only on Social Media has Limitations

Social media is great for small animal charities – and no one is denying that. It is fantastic for building community, sharing urgent appeals, and engaging with supporters, but it has serious drawbacks when used as the only platform to reach supporters and potential audiences. These include:

• Algorithm Restrictions: Your posts may only reach a fraction of your followers even if you think they are going to all of them.
• Lack of Permanence: Important updates or information quickly get lost in a timeline and are hard to access easily.
• Limited Design and Functionality: You’re restricted to the format of the platform – websites offer much greater freedoms for design and content.
• Platform Dependency: If Facebook or Instagram changes their rules, or worse, your page is suspended or you get locked out, you risk losing your entire online presence overnight. This is much less likely with a website.

Top Tips for Building a Basic Charity Website

It wasn’t so long ago when you needed to be a real computer geek to be able to build a website. You’d need knowledge of coding and programming and inevitably unless you paid for someone with the right technical skills to build one for you, then you’d probably end up with something that didn’t work well or look good! But, those days are gone! The good news is that creating a simple, effective website has never been easier. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Use a Website Builder: Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com are just some of the most well known companies that offer drag-and-drop design tools, meaning no coding is needed. They’re affordable, user-friendly, and designed for absolute beginners. Some even have free options or free trials. If you can use a computer, you can build a website!
2. Keep It Simple: You don’t need lots of pages to start, and the reality is that you never will. To start, focus on the essentials: About Us, Adopt, Donate, Volunteer, Contact. You can add more sections later.
3. Use Strong Visuals: Photos of the animals you’ve helped are powerful and engaging. Make sure to include plenty of images alongside your stories and remember that people like happy images, not gruesome ones.
4. Make Donations Easy: Add a clear “Donate” button on the homepage, and ideally on the top banner/menu so that it is on every page (remember not everyone will enter your site via your home page). The donate button should link to a safe payment system like PayPal, JustGiving or any other secure platform you use.
5. Update Regularly: This is really important, Google loves new content – and so will your supporters! Even if it’s just once a month, keep your site fresh with news, new rescues, or success stories. Out-of-date information can give the wrong impression.
6. Make it Mobile Friendly: It’s amazing when looking at web data how many people don’t use a PC or laptop to browse the net now. Most supporters will view your site on their phones, so ensure your chosen template looks good on smaller screens. Each website building programme has a button you can press to flick between screen/device view, when in editing mode.

Don’t be Scared – It’s Easier than it Sounds!

If the thought of building a website feels overwhelming, don’t let fear stop you! It really is easy, and if you can’t do it, we are certain that one of your family or volunteers, or their family can do it for you. Modern website builders are designed so that anyone can set up a professional-looking site in a matter of hours. They are low-cost, simple to use, and offer lots of support if you get stuck. And if you want advice, we are here for you too – just get in touch here.

At The Belforte Foundation, we look at many animal charities’ online presence every week and without doubt, it is easier to find information from those that have websites. We know that all charities in our animal loving world can help more animals just by having a basic website. Think of a website as an investment in your charity’s future, an online home where your details, your work, and your animals can shine and be heard.