Building and maintaining a website can feel like a full-time job, especially for nonprofits with limited resources. Many organisations assume Wix is just a simple website builder, but with the right strategies, it can become a powerful tool for engagement, content management, and community building.
Firefly Initiative, for example, uses Wix as the foundation of its online presence—managing website updates, posting blog articles, publishing newsletters, and sharing volunteer stories and videos. Many nonprofits do not realise that Wix has built-in tools that can help streamline these tasks and enhance engagement.
Here are five lesser-known Wix tips and tricks that can help organisations improve their website performance, boost visibility, and connect with their community more effectively.
1. Maximise Blog Engagement with Member Areas
Many nonprofits rely on blogs to share updates, success stories, and volunteer highlights, but most visitors read one article and leave without engaging further.
A simple yet effective way to keep readers engaged is by enabling Wix’s Blog Member Area, allowing visitors to subscribe, comment, and interact directly with your content.
How to set this up
In Wix Blog Settings, enable “Allow Members”.
Encourage visitors to create an account to follow your blog.
Allow volunteers and community members to comment and share their experiences.
Set up email notifications for new posts, ensuring subscribers stay updated.
Why this works
Creates a sense of community, keeping volunteers and supporters engaged.
Encourages return visits, as members receive updates directly.
Makes it easier to gather feedback and start conversations within the organisation.
Firefly Initiative regularly posts updates, newsletters, and volunteer stories on its Wix blog, using it as a hub to keep the community informed. For organisations looking to increase engagement, turning a passive blog into an interactive space is a simple but effective strategy.
2. Improve Website Speed Without Upgrading Hosting
A slow website can discourage visitors and impact engagement. Many nonprofits believe that faster hosting is the only solution, but there are free and easy ways to optimise speed on Wix.
How to speed up your Wix site for free
Compress images before uploading using tools such as TinyPNG.
Use SVG logos instead of PNGs for sharper, faster-loading graphics.
Limit the use of large background videos that slow down page load times.
Remove unused apps and scripts to keep your site running smoothly.
Enable Lazy Loading in site settings, so images load only when needed.
Why this works
Faster loading times improve search rankings and visitor retention.
Users are less likely to leave due to slow page speeds.
Mobile visitors, who often have slower connections, benefit from improved performance.
For organisations like Firefly Initiative that regularly update their website with new blog posts, videos, and content, keeping the site optimised ensures a smooth user experience for visitors and volunteers.
3. Use Lightboxes to Promote Newsletters and Events
Many nonprofits struggle with getting more email subscribers or event registrations, as traditional sign-up forms do not always capture attention.
Wix Lightboxes are an underused feature that allows organisations to display strategic pop-ups encouraging visitors to subscribe or sign up.
How to use Lightboxes effectively
In Wix Editor, go to Add Lightbox and choose a pop-up template.
Set a trigger for when it appears, such as “Show after 10 seconds” or “Show when visitor scrolls halfway through a blog post.”
Offer an incentive, such as “Sign up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates.”
Ensure the pop-up is non-intrusive and can be closed easily.
Why this works
Helps build a larger email subscriber list without requiring paid ads.
Encourages visitors to stay engaged beyond a single visit.
Ideal for promoting upcoming volunteer events or donation campaigns.
4. Enhance Storytelling with Wix Video and Galleries
Nonprofits thrive on storytelling, yet many underuse Wix’s built-in video and gallery features, which can make a significant impact on visitor engagement.
How to enhance website storytelling
Use Wix Video to embed interviews, volunteer testimonials, and impact stories directly onto landing pages.
Create dynamic galleries that showcase before-and-after impact images, campaign highlights, or behind-the-scenes moments.
Enable video autoplay (without sound) to capture visitor attention instantly.
Organise media content into categories (e.g., “Volunteer Stories,” “Our Impact,” “Latest Updates”).
Why this works
Increases visitor engagement, as video content is more compelling than text.
Helps communicate the nonprofit’s mission more effectively.
Encourages volunteers and donors to feel more connected to the cause.
Firefly Initiative frequently shares video updates and community stories on its website, demonstrating how visual storytelling can strengthen engagement and bring impact stories to life.
5. Use Wix Multilingual to Expand Your Reach
Many nonprofits serve diverse communities, but their websites are often only available in English. Wix Multilingual allows organisations to easily create a translated version of their website without the need for separate domains or expensive translation services.
How to enable Wix Multilingual
In Wix Editor, go to Settings → Multilingual.
Choose a primary language and add additional languages as needed.
Use automatic translations for a quick setup or manually edit important pages for accuracy.
Allow visitors to switch between languages using a dropdown menu.
Why this works
Makes the website more accessible to non-English-speaking supporters.
Strengthens global outreach by accommodating international volunteers and donors.
Enhances inclusivity, ensuring the organisation’s message reaches a wider audience.
For nonprofits that engage with diverse communities, enabling multilingual support can be a game-changer in expanding impact.
Wix as a Strategic Nonprofit Tool
Many organisations use Wix simply as a website builder, but when applied strategically, it can become a powerful platform for volunteer engagement, fundraising, and content sharing.
Key takeaways from these advanced Wix strategies
Use Blog Member Areas to create an interactive, engaged audience.
Optimise website speed with free, simple changes.
Use Lightboxes to increase newsletter sign-ups and event registrations.
Enhance storytelling with videos and dynamic galleries.
Enable Wix Multilingual to reach broader audiences.
Firefly Initiative uses Wix as a central hub for its website, blog updates, newsletters, volunteer engagement, and video content, demonstrating how a well-structured website can keep supporters connected and informed.
For nonprofits looking to increase online engagement, improve storytelling, and grow their community, these strategies provide a cost-effective way to make the most of Wix’s capabilities.
Would you like to see any specific step-by-step guides on implementing these features? Let us know.
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