Transcript Web Site Options for Voluntary Groups

VOLUNTARY GROUP ICT
Practical ICT Advice
MATT HOPKINS
PUTTING YOUR
GROUP ON THE WEB
WHY SHOULD I BOTHER?
- Publicises your group’s existence
(Google versus Yellow Pages)
- Professional presentation of your
group’s activities.
- Allows your group to work better
together (shared calendars and
documents)
WHAT WILL IT COST ?
- Time
- Effort
- Money (not necessarily)
BOTH PRODUCTION/SETTING UP AND
SUPPORT THEREAFTER
BUILDING YOUR WEBSITE
- PC
- Web Developer Software
NAMING YOUR WEBSITE
A registered ‘Domain Name’ (the
address of your web page (eg
www.vael.org.uk).
A HOME FOR YOUR WEBSITE
(“HOSTING”)

Again, a number of hosting
companies advertise on the web.
OPTIONS

DIY
•Time, effort and expertise
required.
Burden?
Blessing – forming part of
project aims?
Use a volunteer?
OPTIONS

On-Line Web Packages
• Includes templates to ease construction
• Domain name
• Hosting
HOWEVER
 Templates limit functionality
 Ensure Domain name is not under
the parent company.
OPTIONS

Get someone else to do it !
• LCC Community Website Scheme (free)
Construction, Domain and
hosting included.
 Under LCC Domain, limited
Functionality.

OPTIONS

Get someone else to do it !
• Professional Web Development
Full functionality, exactly how
you want it.
 Cost

THINK LONG-TERM

Try to get a user friendly Content
Management System.
• Impact of your volunteer developer
programmer moving on.
Keep records of your Domain and
hosting accounts (expiry, login,
password, payments etc).
 Choose Developer with long-term
business aims and good portfolio.
