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(ARA) - Business owners know it well: If you don't have a Web site, you're going to be left behind. That's why businesses everywhere rush to put up something, even if it's just a landing page. But charities and organizations not only need a Web site, their site needs to do more than just look good and give basic information.
Recent studies have shown that people who are active Internet users often have more complex and diverse networks than those who aren't. That means that if you have a good Web site, the potential for word-of-mouth advertising can expand exponentially. Organizations looking to increase membership or charities interested in boosting donations need to harness the power of social networking on the Internet. But just making the connections isn't good enough - they need to have a strong Web site to keep people engaged.
But for many small organizations, budgets are tighter than ever and they can't afford the expense of a Web developer. And the features necessary for an engaging, member-driven Web site can seem too complex for the average computer-user to create. Luckily, as the demand for Web sites grows, more innovations are arriving to make them easier to create than ever.
Organizations looking for a Web site builder that can suit their needs can use products like Wild Apricot to help them create a site that will foster participation. A free 30-day trial is available - in a full-feature format, rather than just showing you part of what it can do. From there, you can choose to pay a monthly fee of $25 that includes hosting and full use of this great association management software. Or, if the budget is extremely tight, a free version is available, but it requires keeping ads on your site.
Some elements your organization or charity might need on their site:
* Forums - To facilitate conversation between members and supporters.
* Event pages - To get the word out fast about upcoming happenings.
* Application forms - To allow people to become part of your group quickly and easily.
* Payment functions - To enable people to pay dues and make contributions right from the Web.
* Behind-the-scenes organization - To give board members or governing bodies a way to keep member, donor and event information all in one central, easily accessible location.
After moving from Chicago to Southern California, life coach Tera McHugh had difficulty connecting with other professional women who shared her interests in business, networking and helping each other climb the ladder to success. That prompted her to launch Women Entrepreneurs of Santa Clarita Valley. "In 10 months, the group had grown to more than 130 members and I still didn't have any systems in place - I was recreating the wheel every time I'd host a monthly event or meeting," McHugh says.
McHugh began to investigate technology platforms to help her eliminate the mundane tasks of managing a membership-based organization. She used Wild Apricot and eventually launched a national organization - Association of Women Entrepreneurs (A of We). "I now have the tools to systemize every function involved in my business," says McHugh.
What's amazing is that building a Web site with all the features you need can be as easy as operating a simple program like Microsoft Word. If you can do that, you can create a site in hours using software like Wild Apricot. To find out more about its features and the solutions it offers for everything from sports clubs to church communities, go to www.wildapricot.com.
The popularity of the Web, especially among the "millennial" generation, means that every organization looking toward the future needs to focus on building an active Web presence. With the affordable and easy-to-use site building solutions available now, it's the easiest, most valuable step you can take to help your organization grow.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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