An important part of any non-profit organization’s mission is getting its message out to as many people as possible. WordPress can help make that process easier. A well-designed WordPress website can help even the smallest non-profit reach a wide audiences and help activate both supporters and volunteers.

1. Power Up Your
Non-Profit
Website
Ray Mitchell
@SixFourWeb
WordCamp Asheville 2014

2. About Me
● Designer / Developer / Consultant
at SixFour Web Design
● SixFour Web Design Specializes in
helping Small Businesses and Non-
Profits maximize their Web
Presence
● We Believe “Even Small Businesses
Deserve a Nice Website”

3. Why Use WordPress For Your
Non-Profit's Website?
● As of 2013, WordPress powers over 20% of the
world's websites.
● If you can send an email, you can update the
content on your website.
● You can start your website for less than the cost of
a pizza.*
*Remind me to tell you how

4. Why Does Your Non-Profit Need A
Website Anyway?
● There are many reasons why your Non-Profit
may want a website, but the primary reason why
you need a website is to help communicate your
organizations purpose in a credible and effective
manner.
● Effective and credible communication will help
you gain the support that helps you achieve your
organization's goals.

5. What Makes Your
Communication Effective?
● The PRIMARY purpose of your website is to
communicate information that gets
ATTENTION for your cause.
● Once you've captured ATTENTION, you can
capture
Advocates – Talkers
Volunteers – Doers
Donors – Givers

6. So, How Do You Capture Attention
For Your Non-Profit

8. How Do You Capture Positive
Attention For Your Non-Profit
● Present your organization credibly*
– Choose a Theme that corresponds to your work
– Avoid Misspellings
– Use a real email address
– Display your physical address prominently
– Make your IRS 990 and Annual Reports available for
download
*Umm, try not to look too “dodgy.”
Especially if you're asking for money.

9. ● Tell your story. Storytelling is the most
effective tool in the Non-Profit toolkit.
● Share your Mission, History, Board Members
● Let your site visitors know why your work is
important to them.
● Sharing stories creates understanding.
How Do You Capture Positive
Attention For Your Non-Profit

10. Share. Your. Story.
● WordPress makes it easy to share your story:
Blog Posts
Photo Galleries and Slideshows
Embedded Video
Field Recordings
Testimonials, and more...

11. Use Stories To Keep Advocates,
Donors & Volunteers Fully Engaged
● When telling the story of your charity, be sure
to tell the stories of the people who can make
things happen; your advocates, volunteers
and benefactors.

12. Keep Advocates Engaged
● Advocates may be more hands off, but they
can spread the word. Make it easy for them
– Share links to your website on Social Media and
encourage them to do the same
– Post Key Facts in an easily accessible area like a
“Media Page”
– Make it a point to regularly ways to give them the
opportunity to get more involved as a volunteer or a
donor

13. Keep Volunteers Engaged
● Keep your volunteers engaged by highlighting
their work
– Newsletters
– Project Features
– Volunteer Profiles/Volunteer of the Month
– Backstage Pass

14. Keep Donors Engaged
● Let your donors know how their contributions
help
– Provide regular updates on progress
– Recognize Donors on your site (ask them if it's OK)
– Interview them for a “Why I Give” post
– Install a donation “thermometer”
– Prove the value of the contribution of time or money;
share testimonials of those who benefited

15. Publicize and Promote Using
Social Media
● Use Social Media to publicize events for your
organization and others doing similar work
● Twitter Feeds and the Facebook Like Box are
good ways to keep top of mind and provide
social proof
● Remember it's fine to be on social media, but
the purpose is to drive people to your website

16. Promote Your Website
● Don't forget other ways of promoting your
Non-Profit and your website URL
– Business Cards
– Email Signature
– Thank You Cards
– Volunteer Name Tags
– T-Shirts
– Brochures

17. Get Plugged-in To Power Up
Your Website
● There are many plugins that you can use on
your WordPress website, but they won't do
anyone any good if your website crashes,
gets hacked or otherwise gets “blowed-up
real good”.
Practice Good Online Hygiene
and Back Your Site Up!

18. Get Plugged-In to Power Up
Your Website
● *Backup Buddy (ithemes.com)
● Wordfence Security
● Jetpack
– Carousel
– Tiled Galleries
– Publicize
● Testimonials by Aihrus
*Premium

19. Get Plugged-In to Power Up
Your Website
● Contact Form 7
● *Gravity Forms (gravityforms.com)
● The Events Calendar
● All In One SEO Pack
● S2Member
*Premium

20. Thanks
Get in touch
Ray Mitchell
@sixfourweb
plus.google.com/+RayMitchell
linkedin.com/in/raymundmitchell
www.sixfourweb.com