The Best YMCA Websites of 2022

By: Matt & Andy | Friday, April 22, 2022 | Website Features

Are you searching for inspiration for your YMCA website? If so, you have come to the right place. Our team has scoured the internet and compiled a list to showcase the best YMCA websites that stand out from the crowd. You might be wondering what makes these contenders the best of the best. We look at a combination of design trends, unique features, great user experience, and intuitive navigation. Let's take a look at these great sites.

Table of contents:

Use Image Tiles for Various Programs: YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina

YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina has excellent use of imagery on its website. If you scroll down the homepage, you will see action shots of the programs offered at this Y in a tile format. If you hover over the activity or program, a multicolored call-to-action button to learn more pops. This design element is also used on the Schedules to showcase the different activities.

Notify Members with an Alert Bar: YMCA Ithaca and Tompkins County

One of the best ways to keep members updated regarding time-sensitive information is by using an alert bar on your website. YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County has a beautifully designed website to serve its members that also displays essential information through an alert bar on the homepage. This bar spans the entire site page, and it also appears on other pages throughout the site. The paginated alert bar can display multiple messages with a clickable arrow for members to scroll through.

Some examples of ways to use alert bar notifications for your YMCA include a pool closing, a canceled program, a registration date, or an update to facility hours.

Feature a Homepage Image Slideshow: YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg

The YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg has a very bright and vibrant website. The homepage image slideshow immediately catches your attention with split images, gradient color overlays, and graphics of upcoming events and programs. Opting for an image slideshow on your homepage gives your Y the chance to promote upcoming happenings, relevant news, or seasonal programs to members when they visit the site.

Create a Member Survey: Greater Kingsport Family YMCA

Retaining members is paramount for any YMCA or recreation center. Greater Kingsport Family YMCA offers an open line of communication and the opportunity to receive feedback from its members through an online Member Survey. This helpful web page collects a member's name, email, recommendation likelihood, and a comments box to share improvements that the Y can make. Receiving feedback like this in real-time gives this Y the ability to make changes or improvements to serve members and the community better.

Use Member-Focused Calls to Action: Monroe Family YMCA

Monroe Family YMCA's content and calls to action are very member-focused and driven. On the homepage, there are call-outs for joining the Y strategically placed around content that shares more about the benefits of membership and the community at this recreation center. The Membership page is beautifully designed with a branded rates chart showing monthly or annual rates based on membership types.

Another great call-to-action to have on your YMCA site is a place for visitors to sign up for the latest news. Monroe Family YMCA does a great job of promoting their newsletter to keep in touch with people and help build up their sales lead funnel for prospective members.

Offer Virtual Programs: YMCA of the East Bay

YMCA of the East Bay has a great mix of images across its web pages, which helps prospective members see the culture and community at this recreation center. This Y also offers more ways for members to access their favorite workouts and instructors, and that's through its virtual fitness programs: Virtual Y and YMCA360. Offering on-demand and live streaming programs helps meet members wherever they are and is an incredible value add.

Share Your Y Story: Rockland County YMCA

Rockland County YMCA has a very member-friendly website featuring programs front and center for the whole family and an alert bar at the top of their site to keep constituents informed of any important updates. Another member-focused part of this website is the Share Your Y Story.

Sharing personal stories about how your Y made an impact and difference in a person or family is a huge emotional connection opportunity that can impact prospective members. Being a part of a YMCA is so much more than coming to exercise or picking up your child from an after-school program; it’s a community genuinely making a difference. Your recreation center should share those stories like Rockland County YMCA does.

Show Your Impact: YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit has a warm and inviting homepage. The hero image is overlaid with geometric shapes and branded colors. An important feature that this Y has on its homepage is the community impact, including how many meals have been distributed and the number of kids in childcare, day camp, and other active programs. Showing these statistics on your Y's homepage is a great place to promote your annual report, just like the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit does.

Keep Navigation Simple: YMCA of Wichita Falls

One of the best ways to help members and future constituents find content on your website is by ensuring the menu bars are easy to navigate. YMCA of Wichita Falls has a simple utility and main navigation menu. An important feature to add to your utility menu is a search bar. This gives site visitors the ability to type in "adult sports" or "youth and family programs." A results lister will appear from this search of all the relevant content on your website.

Utilize a Silent Salesman: Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges

Your website should be one of your strongest sales and marketing tools. How can you make that happen? By adding features to your website that generate new leads and sell memberships. Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges offers a free trial pass on its homepage using a Silent Salesman feature. When prospective members visit the site, they see on the homepage that there is a way to get a free Y pass. After clicking the link, visitors are taken to a form to fill out basic contact information, branch locations they are interested in visiting, and inquiry questions about programs offered at the Y. Once the form is completed and submitted, Y staff members are notified and can begin nurturing this new lead.

Ready to redesign your YMCA website?

We hope you enjoyed the best YMCA websites of 2022 and felt inspired by the design, functionalities, and elements on these sites. If you are interested in integrating any of these features onto your Y's website or want to redesign your site, please contact our team here, and someone will be in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!

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