MATT HOPKINSMATT HOPKINS

VOLUNTARY GROUP ICT Practical ICT Advice

PUTTING YOUR PUTTING YOUR GROUP ON THE WEBGROUP ON THE WEB

WHY SHOULD I BOTHER?WHY SHOULD I BOTHER?

- Publicises your group’s existence - Publicises your group’s existence (Google versus Yellow Pages)(Google versus Yellow Pages)

- Professional presentation of your - Professional presentation of your group’s activities.group’s activities.

- Allows your group to work better - Allows your group to work better together (shared calendars and together (shared calendars and documents)documents)

WHAT WILL IT COST ?WHAT WILL IT COST ?

- Time - Time

- Effort- Effort

- Money (not necessarily)- Money (not necessarily)

BOTH PRODUCTION/SETTING UP AND BOTH PRODUCTION/SETTING UP AND SUPPORT THEREAFTERSUPPORT THEREAFTER

BUILDING YOUR WEBSITEBUILDING YOUR WEBSITE

- PC- PC

- Web Developer Software- Web Developer Software

NAMING YOUR WEBSITENAMING YOUR WEBSITE

A registered ‘Domain Name’ (the A registered ‘Domain Name’ (the address of your web page (eg address of your web page (eg www.vael.org.uk).www.vael.org.uk).

A HOME FOR YOUR WEBSITEA HOME FOR YOUR WEBSITE(“HOSTING”)(“HOSTING”)

Again, a number of hosting Again, a number of hosting companies advertise on the web.companies advertise on the web.

OPTIONSOPTIONS

DIYDIY

•Time, effort and expertise Time, effort and expertise required.required.Burden?Burden?Blessing – forming part of Blessing – forming part of project aims?project aims?

Use a volunteer? Use a volunteer?

OPTIONSOPTIONS

On-Line Web PackagesOn-Line Web Packages• Includes templates to ease constructionIncludes templates to ease construction• Domain nameDomain name• HostingHosting

HOWEVERHOWEVER Templates limit functionalityTemplates limit functionality Ensure Domain name is not under Ensure Domain name is not under

the parent company.the parent company.

OPTIONSOPTIONS

Get someone else to do it !Get someone else to do it !• LCC Community Website Scheme (free)LCC Community Website Scheme (free)

Construction, Domain andConstruction, Domain and

hosting included.hosting included. Under LCC Domain, limitedUnder LCC Domain, limited

Functionality.Functionality.

OPTIONSOPTIONS

Get someone else to do it !Get someone else to do it !• Professional Web DevelopmentProfessional Web Development

Full functionality, exactly howFull functionality, exactly how

you want it.you want it. CostCost

THINK LONG-TERMTHINK LONG-TERM

Try to get a user friendly Content Try to get a user friendly Content Management System.Management System.• Impact of your volunteer developer Impact of your volunteer developer

programmer moving on.programmer moving on. Keep records of your Domain and Keep records of your Domain and

hosting accounts (expiry, login, hosting accounts (expiry, login, password, payments etc).password, payments etc).

Choose Developer with long-term Choose Developer with long-term business aims and good portfolio. business aims and good portfolio.