Reckon Contribution Page

Background

Reckon by Advance Local is a progressive digital media platform focused on social justice, equity, and amplifying underrepresented voices through impactful storytelling.

My Role

I led the user research and end-to-end design of Reckon’s first revenue-generating contribution page. Through discovery interviews and competitive analysis, I crafted a trust-centered, conversion-optimized experience designed to support a $250K first-year revenue goal, directly addressing the gap between high audience engagement and zero monetization.

Organization

Advance Local

Tools used

Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Notion

Year

2023

Problem

No Revenue Stream Despite High Engagement

Reckon, a publication by Advance Local, had an engaged audience of over 250,000+ newsletter subscribers. However, there was no existing revenue stream in place.

  • Audience Engagement: 250K+ newsletter opt-ins
  • Revenue: $0 — no donation model, no subscriptions, no paywall
  • Business Need: Establish a sustainable monetization path without alienating users

Oppourtunity

How can we build a revenue stream from the engaged audience while maintaining the delivery of valuable content at no cost?

Solution

Crafting an Effective Monetization Strategy for Reckon's Engaged Audience

Designing a user flow that guides users seamlessly from the "Contribute" call-to-action (CTA) to a dedicated page for contributors. Key elements of the solution included:

  • Clear value messaging: Effectively communicated why contributions matter and how they directly support Reckon’s mission
  • Flexible contribution options: Enabled both one-time and recurring donations, with customizable amounts to suit different user preferences
  • Consistent brand expression: Reinforced Reckon’s identity through a strong visual language and tone, building trust and recognition
  • Conversion-focused design: Prioritized simplicity, clarity, and user trust to encourage completion without overwhelming the user

What It Took to Build This

Evaluating Industry-Leading Contribution Models for Strategic Insights

To design Reckon’s contribution page, I conducted a competitive analysis by evaluating successful revenue models from prominent media outlets, including Mother Jones, The Texas Tribune, ProPublica etc.

  • Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses: I compared the contribution models of each organization, focusing on elements like user engagement, messaging clarity, and conversion tactics.
  • Uncovering Effective UX Patterns: I reviewed donation flows to uncover impactful prompts, flexible options, and smooth transitions from content to support.
  • Gathering Inspiration for Trust-Building: I studied how competitors use transparency and mission-driven messaging to earn user trust.
  • Highlighting Design Gaps and Opportunities: I highlighted where others succeed or fall short, offering insights to refine Reckon’s UX for accessibility, clarity, and standout calls to action.

Exploring Two Design Directions for Contribution Flow

Through studying other established media outlets, I identified two common design patterns for encouraging user contributions. These informed the two directions I explored:

  • Direct CTA Approach
 - A “Donate” button placed in the top navigation—consistent, always visible, and easy to access. This approach relied on user intent and mirrored what many media platforms use to maintain a clear, ever-present donation pathway.
  • Pop-up Module Approach - A contextual pop-up that appears during key engagement moments (e.g. after reading an article). Inspired by media outlets that use emotional or time-based triggers, this design aimed to be more dynamic and timely prompting action when users are most invested.

A/B Testing Pop-Up vs. Static CTA

Taking into account insights from market research and existing platform constraints, I developed two design approaches to introduce a contextual donation prompt. I then conducted a prototype A/B test with 20 participants to assess the effectiveness of different CTA placements:

  • Version 1 featured a pop-up module that slid up from the bottom of the screen during key engagement moments.
  • Version 2 presented a static “Donate” button positioned in the top navigation for constant visibility

A/B Testing Results and Decision

Version 1, the sliding pop-up, was the clear winner. It captured more attention, reduced cognitive effort, and created a stronger emotional connection. With higher interaction and positive feedback, it outperformed the top navigation CTA, making it the preferred choice moving forward.

Mapping Donation Opportunities for New and Returning Subscribers

While designing user journeys, I realized that donation doesn’t happen at a single, predictable moment. It’s often the result of accumulated trust, emotional connection, and personal intent—factors that vary from user to user. The journey of someone like Anna shows that users don’t always follow a linear path. Their actions are shaped by how they feel in the moment, not just by where they are in a flow.

Flow for New Users and Missed Donations

The current unidirectional contribution path primarily targets new visitors, overlooking scenarios where a loyal subscriber—after months of engagement—might finally feel ready to contribute. Without a clear re-entry point or timely prompt, these valuable opportunities are easily missed.

Flow for Subscribers to Capture Donations

This flow targets subscribers who didn’t donate upfront on the website but are given a chance to contribute through the donation module in the newsletter. As their engagement grows, subtle, timely prompts offer a natural opportunity to support Reckon when they’re ready.

Human. Inviting. People-powered.

Changing the CTA from “Donate” to “Contribute” wasn’t just a matter of semantics, it was a deliberate, strategic shift. At the request of stakeholders, we aligned the language with their preference for "Contribute," a word that feels more human, inclusive, and collaborative. This change better reflects the brand’s values and voice, and resonates more deeply with the mindset of its audience

From Vision to Visuals

As we brought Reckon's landing page to life, I focused on more than just visuals—I reworked the style guide, fine-tuned the design system, and prioritized a responsive experience that feels effortless on any device. The modern look isn’t just for show; it adapts beautifully across screen sizes, making sure it always works as well as it looks. Key modules like “Make a Donation” and the FAQs were thoughtfully integrated into this flexible design, helping set a new bar for Reckon's digital presence: clean, accessible, and genuinely user-friendly.

Designed for Every Device
Visual Outcome

Reflection

Creating pixel-perfect designs

Ensure precision in your designs by paying attention to padding and margins. Utilize grids to achieve consistency in fixed units of measurement for sizing, spacing, and alignment. This approach contributes to creating pixel-perfect designs.

Collaboration and effective communication

Collaborating with various teams in a project involves frequent communication and iterations. The experience has emphasized the importance of effectively conveying changes, delays, or shortcomings to ensure the project's success.

Other work

If you want to learn more about my work, or just want to grab some Chai, i'd love to chat

→ vedashreeshere@gmail.com