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Web Design: Getting It Right the First Time
By Nancy Macduff and Laura Bunt

While the web might not reach all volunteer program managers, it is an increasingly powerful tool for your network's recruiting, training, and network member tasks.  Getting started right is essential. As a network leader, you might not do the work, but knowing the basics can help you communicate more effectively with the information technology savvy members in your organization.

"First, begin by
looking at other network member sites online."

First, begin by looking at other network member sites online. Using search engines on the Internet such as Yahoo, Google or Dogpile  and type in phrases such as "DOVIA". "volunteer administration", "volunteer manager", "volunteerism" or "volunteer newsletter". Visit different sites and take notes on what you like and don't like. Use the following handout as a guide when viewing other sites.

Criteria for Web Sites

Yes/No	Criteria	Comments
	Easy to navigate and view.
	Download time per page is 15 seconds to 30 seconds.
	Fonts are easy to view, not a distraction.
	Correct spelling and grammar.
	You can be where you want to be in "Four Clicks"
	Minimal graphics and animations.
	Background colors adds to the page not distracts the viewer.
	All links in web site and to other web sites work properly.
	Graphics/text change about every 30 days to 60 days, depending on site.
	Web site is accessible to browsers via email.

Now that you have some ideas of what to look for go visit Volunteer Today, an online gazette and use the above checklist. While looking at the site visit the portal page called, "Internet Sites You'll Love." It has examples of excellent sites related to volunteer program management and networks. Each site is different, but shares common characteristics to provide information in different formats for volunteer managers. Now that you have viewed several sites, you can examine your own organization and produce an effective web site. Remember, if you are going to have a web site, make it the best.

Another thing to remember in web design is the accessibility of your audience. What computers are your network member's using? Do they have access at home? Maybe it is time to survey network members to find out what access they have.

The best way to have an effective web site is to plan in advance to meet the needs of the people using the site. The best web site does not necessarily mean the flashiest or the busiest! Not all volunteer organizations or individuals are able to access all sites. If sites are too flashy or loaded with too many graphics, some computers will freeze up. Therefore, you must consider your audience in web design.coming. Knowing your audience is key to good web design.

As you construct your own web site, here are some steps to good web design planning: 

Web design and the Internet is an ever-changing environment. It is up to you as the network leader to pool all of your resources to make your web site the best. This article touches on some of the strategies and elements that make a good web site. You need patience, creativity and someone who has a knowledge of computers to help pull it off. By following the hints provided here, you can get it right the first time and begin to use the Internet as a powerful tool for your volunteer program.

Nancy Macduff
Nancy Macduff has 20 years experience managing volunteers in a nonprofit organization and a government based program.  She is the author of six books on volunteer management, and a contributor to two college text-books on nonprofit management.  She is on the faculty of Washington State University, teaching a distance learning course on volunteer management.  Nancy currently divides her time between Washington, DC, where she is the Senior Advisor for Education and Training for the Points of Light Foundation, and Walla Walla, WA, where she is president of Macduff/Bunt Associates, a training and consulting firm.

Laura Bunt
Laura Bunt of Walla Walla, Washington, has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Education and has completed the course work for a Masters Degree in Education with a focus in Instructional Media and Technology. She is the Webmaster for the online gazette, Volunteer Today. In addition she operates a personal services business.