💡 This article is part of our Guide to Donation Forms (Giving Experiences)
Why do you need to connect a website?
Customers who install Givecloud's bridge code will raise MATERIALLY more money because of the on-website features it enables. Said differently, organizations who do not connect their website by installing the Givecloud bridge code experience fewer features and limit their fundraising potential.
How do you connect a website?
You simply insert your Givecloud Bridge Code in the exact same place where you've inserted Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel code. It works on any website and all CMS platforms.
Navigate to your Organization settings by clicking on your profile image (or initials) at the top right side of the screen. Click this and then click on Organization Settings.
Scroll down to Connected Websites and click Add a Website:
To install the bridge code on your website:
Click Copy Code (next to step 2's "Install Bridge Code")
Then paste the code into the HEAD section of your website's main homepage.
Once you've pasted the bridge code in the head section of your site, return to the screen above, enter your Website URL (at the top) and click Check Website.
You should see a pop-up saying "Website connected successfully"!
If you disconnect your site and remove the bridge code, any embedded forms or widgets will no longer work.
Where to paste the code?
As the instructions mention, you'll need to paste this in the HEAD section of your website. It's best to refer to your website builder's support on where to put this exactly. Here's some instructions for some of the popular website builders:
If you use Wordpress for your website, it is recommended to install the Donation Forms WP by Givecloud Plugin to connect your website. However, you can connect your website either by using the Wordpress plugin or by using the bridge code.
If you encounter errors when trying to connect your website—even after following all the steps correctly—they might be caused by firewall or website settings. Here’s how to troubleshoot: Allow-listing Givecloud IPs
What happens if I don't connect my website?
Well... Nothing will happen. You'll continue to see notifications and reminders to connect your website as the only way to remove this notifications is to simply connect your site. You'll also not get the benefits of having your site connected. We've seen far better conversion when a site is connected and the forms are being fully utilized. You'll have the reminders pop up if a donor leaves a form without completing a donation. You'll have a sticky reminder on your page as a gentle nudge to the donor to complete their donation as well. Also, you'll continue to navigate a donor away from your website should you not connect it. It's a far better experience when your URL stays the same and they are presented with your beautiful donation experience.