Jan 14
Resource for Finding a Nonprofit Copywriter
If you’ve ever worked on revamping your nonprofit’s website, or maybe you’re in the middle of such a project right now, you’ll know one of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects is the copywriting. Boiling down what makes your organization unique and vital in compelling, jargon-free copy is a difficult job, but do resist the impulse to tackle this task on your own. Hiring a professional copywriter can make the difference between a website that engages your supporters and one that falls flat.
Kivi Leroux Miller’s list of recommended copywriters & consultants that work well with nonprofits is a great starting point for organizations looking for help articulating their missions online or in print. Hiring a copywriter who understands the language of nonprofits and how to reach your unique audiences can really make a difference in a new website’s success. A well-designed and user-friendly nonprofit website is only half the battle, but content is the star of your website.
The next time your organization is redesigning your website, don’t skimp on the copy and try to do it in-house, hire a professional! It may even increase the odds that you’ll hit your target launch date–your professional copywriter won’t be too busy planning your annual fundraiser to work on writing copy for the new website.
Rebekah L. Hickey · Comments
Tags: Nonprofit Tech 101
Sep 01
NancySchwartz.com Launches on WordPress, Headway Theme
Click image to see additional screenshots
Nancy Schwartz of Nancy Schwartz & Company, a New Jersey based firm offering Nonprofit Marketing and Communications services to nonprofit organizations clients throughout the U.S., hired me to redesign her outdated static company website. The new site needed to retain the look and feel of the old site, but with a refreshed design.
NS&C wanted the new site built on WordPress to allow them (Nancy & her staff) to easily update content, especially on the site’s sidebars, which frequently require the addition of new graphics and sign up forms for NS&C’s numerous products and services (including NS&C’s Annual Nonprofit Tagline Awards and Report).
We decided to build the site on the Headway Theme for WordPress which allowed me to quickly develop the site to match our design concept and incorporated SEO elements that were a priority for NS&C.
Rebekah L. Hickey · Comments
Tags: Case Studies
Jul 28
WordPress and SEO basics for DIY Small Business Websites
Last night, I gave a presentation on “Website Basics: How to get your business online and promote it” to the local Licensed Massage Therapists group. They were a great crowd and were enthusiastic about learning to make or improve their own websites.
I provided some basic info on registering a domain name, selecting and setting up web hosting, and using WordPress to get a website up and running quickly and on a small budget. We also talked about some simple SEO strategies that you can implement on your website immediately. Hopefully, I’ve made the topic a little less scary.
Thanks to the Oregon School of Massage for this wonderful write-up and for collecting a few responses from participants:
“She was very approachable & knowledgeable and great about answering specific questions. I appreciated the specific recommendations she had about WordPress. For people new to websites there were good specifics such as where to get a host, domain name, etc. Her visuals were good in that she had screenshots of what she was talking about.”
“It was very nice to have some ideas about how to set up your own site using the suggestions that she had. I think that many people were also pleased that they could pay her once and then make changes as they chose.”
Your questions are welcome, just put them in the comments section.
Rebekah L. Hickey · Comments
Jun 23
The Move from Typepad to WordPress: GettingAttention.org Takes the Leap
GettingAttention.org makes a successful transition to WordPress! The blog published by nonprofit marketing guru Nancy Schwartz of Nancy Schwartz & Co., launched on its new WordPress set up last week. The blog has been published for 5 years on Typepad, and the goal of this project was to disrupt readers as little as possible, so the new blog looks identical to the old one. This kind of project presents its own challenges and the result is that my work should be invisible to blog readers–if I did my job, readers won’t notice the change at all.
I developed the website and blog using the latest version of DIY’s Thesis Theme for WordPress. It’s a solid theme that has quite a few features that make it worthwhile.
Rebekah L. Hickey · Comments
Tags: Case Studies
Mar 17
Collaborative Effort: Bitch Media Launches Drupal Site Redesign
I’ve been working with BitchMedia and their Drupal development team, Quilted, over the last several months on the redesign of their website, which launched last week. I had a great time working with the folks at Bitch Media, in particular Kjerstin Johnson (web content manager), Brian Frank (operations director), and Briar Levitt, art director (also at www.briarmade.wordpress.com), whose excellent design made my part a delight to work on.
I did image production for the donate block on the sidebar as well as modifications in the CSS to change headline and link colors, search box positioning, replaced the logo with the new version and made other minor changes. I’m proud of the final result, and prouder still to have the opportunity to work with such an excellent organization. Check it out yourself at Bitch Media.
Rebekah L. Hickey · Comments
Tags: Case Studies
