More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help share information about their mission and programs. This involves strategic planning about the best way to present your image and message online. Once your site is up, your organization also has to be ready to keep information current and to maintain consistent outreach activities. If your group is planning a Web site, consider:
1. How does your organization plan to use your site? Is it for marketing your organization, raising funds, providing information, announcing events, attracting volunteers, starting a discussion group, or something else? Answering this question will help you to develop a site that best suits your group's needs.
2. Who is your group trying to reach? Think strategically about the audience you are trying to target. Are they current or potential clients? Are they donors? Volunteers? A particular group in the community? Tailor your website to speak to that audience.
3. What information do you want to include? Some of the components you can incorporate on your site include: your mission, a list of programs and goals, contact information (staff list, e-mail addresses, mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and directions to your organization), list of special events and dates, organizational history, links to other websites, volunteer opportunities, and press releases.
4. If your NPO wants to engage in online fundraising (and you should!), then carefully consider the following: How will online giving be managed internally? What online forms will you use to gather donor information? How will you ensure security for donor information and credit cards? What offline options will donors have who do not want to give online? Which giving options will be included on the site (ex: planned giving, current campaigns, future projects, etc.)?
Once you've decided on your content, speak to a web designer about the "look" of the piece. The impression that you give offline should be carried into your online presence. Your website is an important tool to reinforce your identity, image, and credibility. In addition to text, you can include full-color photography, your logo, and graphic images. Keep the copy simple and include interesting visual images that show the work you are doing in the community and the audiences you serve.
Marketing your site is as important as designing it. There are many ways to promote your website, both online and offline. Most people who visit your site learn about it from printed material, not from looking it up on a search engine.
For offline marketing, add your URL address to business cards, stationery, newsletters, brochures, fax cover sheets, and so on. List your website on any materials that you hand out at conferences, seminars, and workshops. Put it next to your organization's mailing address and phone number. Send out a card or letter to announce the launch of your site and include an article about it in your newsletter. Send press releases to the local newspapers and to professional publications announcing your website. Make sure that your staff, Board, and volunteers know the site address and can discuss the content.
Online, you can register your home page with Web announce sites, directories, and search engines. Send e-mails to other related websites asking for a link. Send an e-mail to your clients, donors, partner organizations, and volunteers with a link to your URL address. Have staff and board members include this link at the end of the e-mails they send. Announce your site on relevant Internet newsgroups and lists - if you participate in these groups on a regular basis, you will help build an online reputation for your organization.
Another important online marketing strategy for non-profits is to list your organization with Internet charity portals. These websites offer a directory of non-profit organizations. Charity portals include CharityNavigator.com, GreaterGood.com, FreeDonation.com, NetworkForGood.org, 4charity.com, and WorkingForChange. Donors often peruse these sites to help them with their research, so it's important to keep your listing up to date.
Internet marketing is a never-ending process. It requires a commitment to send out regular e-mails, keep your site information timely and accurate, update your staff on the latest Internet technologies, and learn about other Internet resources that can benefit your staff and clients. There are countless ways to use your website to bring in and send out new information. As you learn more, you can also use your website as a means to recruit volunteers, raise funds for your current campaign, and encourage activism.
Wendy Gray Maynard is the co-owner of Kinesis. Kinesis specializes in marketing, graphic design, and business writing. Visit http://www.kinesisinc.com for more articles and free marketing wisdom.
Want to harness the power of kinetic marketing? Sign up for Kinesis Quickies, a free bi-monthly marketing e-newsletter: http://www.kinesisinc.com
Alexis limo rentals ..Just starting out, you can start with a simple informational... Read More
A website lets you put your products in front of... Read More
Part of the success of most home-based businesses is their... Read More
Now that you have got your domain name registered, your... Read More
Many small businesses have the misconception that their business can... Read More
What is the point of having a website, you may... Read More
Project Safekids provides webmasters a valuable tool which could save... Read More
Q1.Why would I need a web site? A1.- Improve my... Read More
After having decided to start a business, the next thing... Read More
After planning the design and content of your website, it's... Read More
Your content is what gets you in search engines, speaks... Read More
See how you can create graphic effects on text with... Read More
I had a client say something to me the other... Read More
So you want to have a website. You have gone... Read More
I still remember it very clear ... It was almost... Read More
QUESTION: Should I build and maintain my business Web... Read More
Today it seems everyone is jumping on the entrepreneur bandwagon,... Read More
A common dilemma most small and medium businesses face when... Read More
Web accessibility has so many benefits that I really do... Read More
One of the things that many people overlook when building... Read More
When marketing your website, it's important to know which of... Read More
Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did... Read More
So what do you do if need to get a... Read More
First, an eye opener. Making your fortune through affiliate programs... Read More
Your ObjectiveYour small business needs an appealing and professional website... Read More
car service from Midway Alsip ..Starting and maintaining a business is challenging enough without the... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
Whether you have your own business already, or are looking... Read More
Mini Websites are the most powerful and cost effective solution... Read More
When people think about the Internet, they think about technology.... Read More
So you finally decided to invest in a web presence... Read More
Design and layout can make your communication come alive and... Read More
So your traffic is going through the roof yeah? It's... Read More
What happened on your website yesterday? What about last week... Read More
If you like the Internet and surfing through the billions... Read More
You know exactly what your organisation does and what your... Read More
You don't believe in astrology but you check your horoscope... Read More
When you take a look at the most visited sites... Read More
I recently received an unsolicited e-mail from some company offering... Read More
Think up a name and check if yourname.com is available.... Read More
People often come to me in a state of crisis... Read More
Making a web site is easy. Making a good web... Read More
If you're fairly new to the Internet scene, you may... Read More
See how you can create graphic effects on text with... Read More
When a user signs up at your website, you may... Read More
Can you imagine the hypocrisy of spending thousands of dollars,... Read More
Even with the steady growth of the World Wide Web,... Read More
The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) states that service providers must... Read More
The following is a list of patterns that many visitors... Read More
Often time I've browsed sites and seen the same thing... Read More
Web Development |