This presentation walks non-profits through the process of planning a website, developing effective content, programming options, and free or low cost apps. Presentation by Ellen Didier of Red Sage Communications, Inc. to the Association of Fundraising Professionals - Alabama, North Chapter, at their 2013 Philanthropy Day event.

1. How
to
Build
an
Awesome
Non-­‐Profit
Website

2. You can download this presentation at
www.slideshare.net/ellendid4
Please connect with me!
www.RedSageOnline.com
facebook.com/redsage
twitter.com/ellendidier
twitter.com/RedSageAL
linkedin.com/in/
ellendidier

3. What We’ll Cover Today:
1.
Planning
your
awesome
website
2.
Developing
awesome
content
3.
Programming
realiBes
and
opBons
4.
Awesome
Apps

4. What We’ll Cover Today:
1.
Planning
your
awesome
website
2.
Developing
awesome
content
3.
Programming
realiBes
and
opBons
4.
Awesome
Apps

5. Look at other non-profit websites:
What do you like? Home page, content,
navigation – write down your favorites

6. Write down what
you want on
your home page

9. Plan your navigation carefully –
what pages and where?

10. What you need to include:

11. Make a site map (outline) that
shows your navigation
 Home
 About
• History
• Board
• Staff
 Programs
• After School
• Parenting Classes

12. Make a list of any applications you
want and add them to your site map
 Photo gallery
 Events Calendar
 Online Donation
 Facebook or twitter feed
 Videos
 Blog
 Image Banner

13. PROVIDING
1. A defined # of pages
2. List of applications you want
3. Links to examples you like
EQUALS…

14. More accurate quotes and
much smoother project flow
Very happy programmers

15. What We’ll Cover Today:
1.
Planning
your
awesome
website
2.
Developing
awesome
content
3.
Programming
realiBes
and
opBons
4.
Awesome
Apps

16. Write your content in one Word
document - sitemap followed by
content for all pages in order
 Keep it simple - short text sections broken
up by sub headers, bullet lists are great
 Make a note of what photos would be used
on that page
 Make a note of any links or downloads to
include on that page
 How will you use header or sidebar area?

17. PEOPLE DON’T READ.

18. Avoid long paragraphs –
use bullets

19. Talk about your goals and
progress

20. Talk about your programs or
success stories – show pictures
of people impacted (if possible)

21. Use videos (testimonials at a
minimum) Load on YouTube

22. Tell your stories visually,
educate, explain the impact

26. Charitywater.org

27. Link to great interactive content
if you can’t create your own

28. Use Good Quality Photography
 Hire a professional – or get one to donate
in exchange for a sponsorship
 ThinkStock.com

29. What We’ll Cover Today:
1.
Planning
your
awesome
website
2.
Developing
awesome
content
3.
Programming
realiBes
and
opBons
4.
Awesome
Apps

30. Note that I did not say
awesome options.

31. Who will program your site?

Everything we covered up to now will help
you get a realistic price from a programmer

Don’t let your uncle’s neighbor’s son’s
girlfriend do it – unless you have them build
it on a platform of your choice!

Ad Agencies/Web Development companies,
Freelancers (will they be there for you after it is built?)

You!

32. Low budget? Look at
“Build Your Own” Web Sites
 Benefits:

low cost with a lot of features

Stays up to date with technology –
if you use a reputable company

Mobile options

33. Low budget? Look at
“Build your own” Web Sites
 Drawbacks:

depends on your time and writing
skills

Can still be very technical and
intimidating

34. How to choose a platform

Start with the list of platforms provided
in this presentation (next slides)

Take test drives of each – usually
online demos or free for 1 month

Choose based on design, features,
easy to use, support, and price

35. Good Build-Your-Own
Website Options

www.web.com

www.squarespace.com

www.weebly.com

www.webstarts.com

36. If you hire a company
 Make sure they are using a (CMS) Content
Management System like Joomla or
Wordpress NOT Dreamweaver, php, asp, or
Flash
 Make sure the hosting is reliable, secure
and backed up – the risk of hacking is
real
 Expect to pay $3,000+ for a reputable
company

37. Responsive Design – adapts the
layout for each kind of device

38. What We’ll Cover Today:
1.
Planning
your
awesome
website
2.
Developing
awesome
content
3.
Programming
realiBes
and
opBons
4.
Awesome
Apps

39. EventBrite for Event Registration

40. SupporterWall.com – a
creative way to get donations

42. MobileCause.com – mobilize
mobile for donations and marketing
(not free)

43. Wordle.com – create your own
FREE word cloud graphic

44. Animoto.com/cause – create videos
from photos, video clips and music

45. Qwiki.com – create and share
FREE movies out of the videos and
photos you shot on your iphone

46. Quozio.com – create FREE
pretty testimonials or quotes

48. PicMonkey.com – FREE online
photo editing - you don’t need
photoshop to save images for web

49. FotoFlexer.com – another
FREE online image editor

50. www.Easel.ly - create a FREE
infographic from a template

51. dipity.com – FREE or low cost online
timeline for web and social media

52. dipity.com – FREE or low cost online
timeline for web and social media

53. Download this presentation at
www.slideshare.net/ellendid4
Please connect with me!
www.RedSageOnline.com
facebook.com/redsage
twitter.com/ellendidier
twitter.com/RedSageAL
linkedin.com/in/
ellendidier