This is a series of posts about how to build a web presence for your community group using free or very cheap online tools that are simple to use.
I received an email a few weeks ago from a member of a community group. They had somehow ended up with two domains and two websites. They found my post on WordPress.com for your Domain and decided to email me out of the blue to see if I could help. I’m glad I could, so I thought it would make a good post. Then this week my Mum is building a website for a community group she is involved in, so I convinced her to try it the way I’m suggesting in these posts, rather than the old fashioned way of uploading a bunch of static HTML files.
I’m focusing on Community groups, because I am a member of a number of community groups and I also look after the websites for a few. With community groups I am also including sporting teams and associations, religious groups, not for profit groups and just general community focused groups.
The trouble with community groups is that people in the group come and go, and whilst there may have been someone who set up a website way back when, they are long gone and have taken all the info with them. And the site was probably set up on Geocities or some other equally horrible, outdated platform, and it’s full of static text and never updated.
So it’s time to leap headlong into the 21st century and rebuild or create your online presence. Think of your web presence as you would any other equipment your group has – it should be fully documented and minuted and someone should be designated to be in control of it. Once you have it all under control, don’t loose it again by letting someone walk away from the group with all the information in their head.
This series of posts will focus on the following:
- Getting a Domain Name
- Building a Simple Web Site
- Email for the Whole Team
- An Events Calendar
- Members lists, emailing members and managing events
- Other Handy Online Applications
I welcome any feedback on triumphs or disasters that you have had with setting up an online presence for your community group.
If you are creating a web presence for your community group, then this new site ConnectArts by the Australia Council for the Arts is a fantastic resource. Whilst it is arts focused, the tools, methods and ideas can be used for any community group to help get the message out there about the group and the events you are running.
See the site here http://connectarts.australiacouncil.gov.au/