Kaye Wiggins makes some good points about charity websites in her Third Sector blog. Apparently 60% of visits to charity websites result in users failing to find what they're looking for.
We're trying to deal with that on the MHF site with our 'my role' buttons on the top right of the home page. Clearly we should be developing the idea.
Kaye says: 'The problem for many charities is that they are unsure whether their websites are for their donors, their beneficiaries or both.' Or, should something be bigged up the home page just to keep one visitor - albeit a funder - happy?
Kaye could have added a related problem which is that charities are unsure whether their sites should reflect the world as they want it to be or the world as it is. When it comes to Men's Health Week for example we like to tell visitors about our great policies and research. But, apparently, they're mainly looking for free posters.
Are we trying to tell everyone how valuable and important the MHF is - and it is - or just help others do their jobs? Is it method of service delivery in itself or simply a shop window? And, the question that all website editors ask: is the resource devoted to a charity's website proportionate to its true importance?
What do you think of the MHF website?
2 comments:
As Operations Director for the MHF, you might expect me to respond somewhat defensively to Jim's call for additional resources. It's certainly getting harder to find specific funding for website development as funders primarily want to put their money into something more 'innovative'. However, over just a few years, charity websites have moved from being a charity 'nice to have' and somewhat peripheral to an essential delivery mechanism for organisational communication, stakeholder engagement, service delivery, signposting, informaton sharing, knowledge management - in fact, every aspect of running a modern charity will (or should) in some way have a web element. In fact, this probably why funders are more relucant to provide money for them as they look increasingly like a core cost. Yes, they are shop windows but they are also the shop itself, the shop assistant, the manager and an important part of the charity's identity.
We at the Forum have been as guilty as anybody else of limiting funding to web development in light of other funding priorities. However, we recognise that the web has become ever more central and core to the delivery of our mission and as such adopt a full cost recovery approach with our funding submissions to at least retrieve some contribution back for this increasingly essential communications outlet.
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