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The Internet is often one of the first places where potential members will go seeking information on feminism or activism. Even the most basic website, one that simply lists your chapter's contact information, can be very useful in recruiting new members. Your site doesn't need to be on the cutting edge to be valuable. However, if your resources allow it and your chapter is receptive, you could eventually build a sophisticated Internet activism site for your chapter.
What can your chapter maintain?
Your web site can include all kinds of information, depending on how often you want/are able to update it.
Do you have the time and expertise (see below) to update the page periodically? Or should you start with information that is static, but useful?
Here are a few ideas about what to include on your chapter's web site:
Basic information that doesn't need to be updated often:
Information to be updated periodically:
*Contact information for your chapter (email address(es), phone number(s), mailing address, office location and directions) is the most important piece of information on your web site. It should appear on each and every page.
Automatic Updates
If you are comfortable with web technology but don't have a lot of time to freshen your site, consider adding national NOW's RSS feeds to your web site. These feeds can automatically put the latest national action alerts, news releases, or a more inclusive "what's new" pages on your own web site. Samples are available. You can get the code for your the feed for your web site here. We also have some "web stickers" that you can also use to add content to your site.
Don't forget to look at other chapter web pages for examples. We've also provided some templates to help you get started.
Internet Access
First, you'll need a way to access the Internet to build and update your site. Most likely, you already have Internet access either at home or at work/school. If not, you can obtain access at home for a reasonable fee. High speed Internet access is available from your phone or cable company (e.g. Verizon DSL; Cox, Comcast or RCN cable providers) but may be cost prohibitive. Dial-up access (using your computer's modem and your phone line) is available much more cheaply -- through Netzero you can get free access (10 hours per month, with pop-up ads) or unlimited access for a fee. AOL and Earthlink are some other options (these providers are called Internet Service Providers, or ISPs). There may be local ISPs in your area as well -- check the phone book.
Web Site Hosting
Next, your web site needs a place to "live" on the Internet, a place where your web site files are stored. This is often referred to as web space and the company that provides it is your host.
Your account with your Internet Service Provider may give you web space and this is an easy (free) way to get started. But if your ISP doesn’t provide web space, you'll need to find a host company.
A number of chapters use free web hosting by Yahoo! GeoCities, Lycos, FortuneCity or others. These services provide free space for non-commercial use, which includes the ability to use streaming video or audio. You still need a way to connect to these providers--i.e., a local dial-up connection that allows you to transfer your files and take care of other web maintenance. Many of these sites do require that you accept their pop-up ads with your pages.
If there is a local Internet provider in your area, see if they will donate web space for your chapter. (Check the yellow pages for names of businesses.) Let them know that you would be willing to give the provider formal recognition in exchange for web space. Even if they won't donate an account, they may offer inexpensive accounts that come with web space.
If you have some money to spend on your website, you can find a web site hosting company. There are a nearly unlimited number of hosting companies on the Internet.
Here's what to look for in the company and the plan:
Domain Name
If you sign up for a free service or use the web space provided by your ISP, your website address likely looks something like www.yahoo.com/~mynow/ or www.verizon.com/users/mynow/. Although people will be able to find your web site, the address will be hard for them to remember. You can purchase a domain name, like www.mynow.org, relatively inexpensively and that domain name will link to the web site you've set up. Your ISP or free hosting provider should have instructions on how to do this. If you're signing up with a hosting company, they will be able to do this for you.
An alternative to registering your own domain name is getting a forwarding address from NOW. The National Action Center has started a program where your chapter or state can ask for a "web forwarding address" which will allow you to maintain a stable address no matter how often you change providers. See http://www.now.org/web/forward.html for details.
Approximate Cost of Your Chapter Web Site
These are estimated costs to give you an idea of how much a web site will run you. It's often not as expensive as you think.
Domain name: Ranges from $6 - $15/year.
Hosting: Ranges from about $8-$20/month.
Design: If you can find a volunteer, this will cost you nothing. If you pay someone to do it, the cost can range into the hundreds. A web design company will probably charge you several hundred dollars for a basic web site -- so try to find a volunteer or a local novice designer who can and will do it for much less.
Bottom line: You can get a website up and running for free or for a small fee, so don't let the cost deter you. Contrary to popular opinion, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to have a presence on the Internet.
Join Webgrrls (http://www.webgrrls.com/). These women might want to help or know someone who would.
Try posting an ad in a local newspaper, a local college or university newspaper or on a site with free classified ads like Craigslist. There are many web design hobbyists and professionals out there who are looking for resume-building projects and might help you with your site for free or at a reduced fee.
Take a look at our sample websites for chapters:
http://www.now.org/web/templates/
Even if you're designing the page yourself, you can get help and advice from more those more experienced. Join your local chapter of http://www.webgrrls.com/ or its equivalent, such as DC Web Women, San Francisco Women on the Web, or Austin's Her Domain.
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