How to publicise your organisation for next to nothing on and offline

Getting your website seen...

Is your site up-to-scratch?

Make sure that you have a clear and useful website. While if you want a domain name this will cost money, you can set up free websites for free as well, we use Weebly as a host.

Make sure that your website is

• easy to navigate
• frequently updated
• contains your latest news, achievements, photos and case stories
• family-friendly
• literate and concise.

Resource – www.weebly.com

Is your site findable?

1) Search engines

Check that search engines such as Google can find your site. Services like submitexpress provide a free service which will link you to many search engines.  You may then need to submit it to any specialist search engines that you wish to use.

Resource – www.submitexpress.com

2) Meta tags

If you are familiar with the basics of coding, you will know about meta tags. Meta tags are a piece of code which helps search engines find your website. If using Weebly, you can set your meta-tags without needing to know about coding. Think about alternative words or phrases that people might want to use to find your site or content on your site. These may be alternative terminology to that used visibly on your site.

3) Signature links

If using an account specifically for your organisation on discussion forums, or on the official email address, add a link to your website as a signature link.

4) Join some webrings

Webrings are a method of linking related websites and driving traffic to them. You can again advertise your website with a few well chosen words about your organisation or project. 

Resource – www.webring.org

From these you will soon find that your site begins to receive visits, and that you appear in search engine listings. It usually takes a few weeks.

EXTRA - Also look for directories of groups or organisations which do broadly the same thing (drama, dance, painting etc) and add your website to those. Usually these are free to join.

EXTRA - Add all your events to online “whats on” directories, a google search will yield regional and national ones, and many are free to list on.

Getting started with social networking

Like it or hate it, social networking is a great way to keep large numbers of people up to date with your news. Set up specific accounts for your group or project, (under the group or project name) and add links from your website.

The social networks that we use (in order of numbers of followers, with the busiest at the top)

• www.twitter.com
• www.facebook.com
• www.noddleit.com
• www.myspace.com
• www.livejournal.com
• www.deviantart.com
• www.dreamwidth.org

You could also consider groups like Googleplus and Yahoogroups, and look at creating RSS feeds.  Remember to have someone in charge of these who can login frequently, interact with other users, post news and comments, (always add a link back to your main website!!!). If you do not interact with your followers, you risk loosing their interest.

Ask your friends and members to post a link on their social networking pages as well.

You can also use relevant discussion communities to ask questions, post events listings, or help others with information and advice. All this is valuable as well – people with similar interests will see your account and very possibly join your friends-list. Through using social networks, we have well over two thousand followers at the last count, all over the world.

If you are able, why not create a YouTube account for your group as well? Then you can post videos which your group have produced (and again, in the information section, add a link back to your main website).

You can also list public events such as a performance, fundraiser event, or sale, on the internet on local events-listings websites

Now, you have a really comprehensive online presence, just remember to keep it up to date!

Offline publicity

Here are some examples of offline publicity we have done:

• Booking large displays about our projects and group in our local public library. Cost = free
• Costumed leafleting, in which two or more of our members hand out flyers about our group, in theatre costumes, in the town centre. Check with your local authority in case you need permissions. Cost = price of printing the flyers.
• Contacting local radio, newspapers and TV with our latest projects  - a well-written press release linking it to the local area or a “current” issue, often gains interest. We send email press releases with full postal, Internet and telephone contact details of our publicity officer, for more information or confirmation. Cost = free if using email
• Participating in local carnivals and parades. Cost = free if you theme it as your current or last performance, you will not need to spend extra on costumes.        
• Postal mailing list – this is less common now, but some people, especially older people, prefer to get a newsletter through the post than via email. Maintain your mailing list and send out a newsletter every six months. Cost = post of printing and stamps
• Events posters in shop windows. Usually these need to be colour, printed in A4. Some shops will display local / non-profit groups posters for free, others may charge.