Weaving an Effective Web Experience: Part 2 How does your site compare?

Do you have dynamic content, such as headline news, that is updated on your Web site automatically?
Responses: Yes 22%; No 78%
Providing dynamic news updates, and incorporating RSS news feeds into your site is a “really simple” way to make sure it is constantly changing and provides value to the visitor.

Do you allow supporters to create their own pages on your Web site?
Responses: Yes 4%; No 96%
Just as people want to network with one another and build communities online, they want to create places on the Internet that represent who they are. In fact, a staggering 55 million people now have MySpace pages, up 93 percent in the last year. Providing a platform for your supporters to share their stories and speak on your behalf is a wonderful way to spread your message exponentially while showing them how much you rely on them.

With the ever-changing and constantly growing selection of social-media tools and sites available, Internet consumers have developed discerning palates for their Web experience. By incorporating these five ideas into your Web site strategy, you can provide visitors to your site with an enriched experience that will keep them coming back.

Charlie Cumbaa is senior vice president of products and services at Blackbaud, Inc. To learn more about Internet fundraising and ePhilanthropy, visit www.blackbaud.com/resources/white-papers.aspx

Visit the Prospeak section of fundraisingsuccessmag.com to read future columns about Blackbaud’s Internet Assessment. Read Part 1 of this report in the September issue of Fundraising Success, or to view it online, click www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com/r?s=73919