Get your website working - for you! Find out how your website can become a powerful tool to market your foundation. Learn about best practices and common mistakes in this practical look at what makes, and breaks, good web communication.
Presentation by: Amy Huynh, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, CanadaHelps
The 2011 MyCharityConnects webinar series is generously supported by Direct Energy.
3. reminders
You can hear us, but we can’t hear you
Presentation slides will be available on
www.mycharityconnects.org/pastwebinars
For the best webinar experience, close all other applications
Turn up your computer’s volume
Have questions? Type questions in the Questions Log
4. What is CanadaHelps?
A public charitable foundation that provides accessible and
affordable online technology to both donors and charities.
For Charities
A cost-effective means of raising funds online.
For Donors
A one-stop-shop for giving.
CanadaHelps is a charity helping charities.
CanadaHelps is giving made simple.
5. Your website is one of your most
important communications tools
8. Website Users
They don’t read
They poke at information
They’re busy, and in a hurry
They’re impatient
They will leave as quickly as they came
They’re easily frustrated
15. Menu Choices
Culinary Delights Cuisine Options Food Menu Menu
Career Services Employment Opportunities Job Openings Jobs
Organization Information More Information About Us About Us
How to Volunteer With Us Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer
How to Make a Gift to Your How to Make a Donation Donate
Community
• Don’t use ambiguous headings
• Give your visitors clear choices
20. Make Text Easy to Read
Can you read this?
How about this one?
cAn yOu rEaD tHiS??
This is more like it.
• Use a standard font and proper size
• Use proper contrast
• Best readability is dark on light (like black on
white)
22. Website Conventions Are Your Friends
Banner
Navigation
Navigation
Content Body
Contact & Misc Information
• There are patterns that have become
conventions
37. Good search engine rank results from:
• Good content
• Clear site structure
• External links
38. SEO 201
• Create a list of desired keywords
• Use a keyword search tool to verify
– Number of monthly searches
– Competition
• Add keywords to your html files
• Create better content to correspond to those
keywords
WARNING: You can’t fake it!
41. Traffic Sources
• Direct traffic: typed your address in a
browser
• Referring sites:
– Know your top referring sites
– Are your ads working?
• Search Engines
– Keywords
42. Why Are Web Stats Important?
• Understand your users
• Know what people do on your site
• Tangible feedback about your site
• Leaves the guessing out of what works
43. Visitors
Gain insights about the visitors of your website
• Unique visitors
• First time vs. repeat visitors
• Browsers & devices
• Geographic profile & language
46. Testing Questions
1. Is it obvious what this site is about?
2. Is it easy to find what I need?
3. Are the most important things visible
when I arrive?
47. DIY Usability Testing
Step 1: Find Testers
• Find 3-5 people who have some time to have a look at
your website
• Testers should not already be familiar with your site
48. Step 2: Using your site
• Ask testers to comment as they navigate your site
(to give you insight about their choices)
• Ask testers to accomplish your main calls of
action
Sign up for your newsletter
Click your Donate Now! Button
Find and apply for volunteer opportunities
Other ways they can get involved (buy
tickets, buy products, join a group etc…)
Find general information about your
organization’s mission and mandate
Contact your organization
49. Step 3: Observe
• Take note of:
• How long each step takes to complete
• Tester confusion at any point
• Frustration
• Ease of use
53. www.mycharityconnects.org
free online resources
Information about technology
Video demonstrations
More webinars
Past webinar recordings & slides
Learning opportunities
Events across the country
54. MyCharityConnects Conference 2011
JUNE 6 – 7 | MaRS Centre, Toronto
• Join us for thought-provoking keynotes,
practical how-to workshops and plenty of
chances to learn from other non-profits
about what works online… and what
doesn’t!
• A partner in Net Change Week
www.mycharityconnects.org/2011Conference
55. Upcoming Webinars
www.mycharityconnects.org/webinars
• June 15 – Getting the Most From your MyCharity
Account & Reports
• June 29 – Know Your Website: An Intro to Google
Analytics
• July 20 – YouTube’s NonProfit Program & The
Fundamentals of Video Storytelling
• August 17 – Orientation for Newly Registered
Charities with CanadaHelps
56. Keep in touch!
info@canadahelps.org
www.twitter.com/canadahelps
www.slideshare.net/MyCharityConnects
www.facebook.com/canadahelps
www.youtube.com/canadahelps