For small non-profit organizations, showcasing your team on the organization’s website can be a tool to generate support and trust. Donors, volunteers, partners and supporters get the chance to know your team on a more personal level, while feeling confident in your ability to fulfill the mission of the organization. At the same time, when you give your team an opportunity to include their contributions, motivations and experience, they can also feel more connected to the organization and mission. And a final benefit is that if your staff bios contain specific keywords or key phrases, it can improve your website’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Here are three simple steps for sharing effective staff bios on your nonprofit organization’s website:
Step 1: Collect the details
It can be complicated to gather staff information via resumes and LinkedIn profiles, so we recommend creating a survey form in Google Forms. The survey allows you to collect specific information from each member so the bios will all have a similar style. We love including creative questions that tie back to the mission and vision of the organization.
Plus, Google Forms makes it easy to receive an attached photo if you plan to collect photos from each team member (see step 3).
Step 2: Write the bios
After you’ve gathered the necessary information from your Google Form, start writing! We recommend keeping each staff bio concise (10 lines max). While it’s important to maintain a professional tone, it can also be effective to add some personality to make the page more interesting.
Here are a few important details to include:
Full name and position: Make sure names are spelled correctly, and don’t forget that job titles are not always self-explanatory. It may help to include a quick description detailing what their position entails.
Contact information: Whether it’s an email address or phone number, make it easy for your audience to get in touch.
Past experiences: Include relevant past experiences that align with the organization’s values and demonstrates their qualifications. This is key to building trust with potential volunteers and donors.
Passions: Highlight what they do outside of work to make your staff more relatable. That way your website visitors will also feel more connected with your team and therefore your organization.
Step 3: Choose a picture
Whether you choose to collect individual headshots or share one group photo, including faces on this page will be more engaging than a stock photo. Make sure the photos you select are professional and high-quality. If you choose the individual headshot route, we recommend showing consistency by using the same backgrounds, colors, distance from camera, filters, and dimensions.
Don’t underestimate the importance of a well-written ‘Meet the Team’ page on your website. Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your organization’s values through each staff bio, while boosting website traffic and showing how much you value your team.
Have any questions? Feel free to reach out to us at hello@raniwise.com!