Pitching a Web Redesign To Your Board

So you've decided it's time for your website to be overhauled and you want to take it to the board to present it. How do you do this in a way that ensures success?

Board members come in various shapes and sizes and it's important to address what potential issues they would have before your presentation. But pitching a web redesign can be tricky for a variety of reasons.

The board may be against the redesign because:

• They don't know what the website does for the organization
• They don't know the terminology
• They can't see the end results
• There are budget and time concerns

So how do you get your board on board so to speak?

1. Understand learning styles

I always see the big picture first, before the details fall into place. If you want to sell me something, sell me on the vision. For others, it's the complete opposite. They need to understand the mechanics of it; the nuts and bolts about how things would work.And hard statistics to back it up. When addressing the board, it's important to cover as many bases as possible.

2. Explain the need for a website

Although many nonprofits have websites, not everyone understands what it does and the potential it has. Explain succiently what your website can do in terms of retaining donors, gaining prospects and increasing awareness of your organization.

3. Avoid specific terminology

Once you don't understand something, it's very easy to shut down and avoid listening to the rest. Try to make your presentation as simple as possible, for all to understand. Even if you think everyone will know something, it's quite likely they may not.

4. Avoid design talk

When people think of web redesign, they instantly think of the design portion. Don't encourage design talk or you will get members arguing about colours and layout before you are even at that stage.

5. Be prepared

This of course is a given. Arm yourself with statistics, not only about websites in general, but your own website and how it's doing. Prepare arguments for as many possible scenarios as you can think of.

6. Lay out a plan

Make sure you have all the important questions answered. Is the redesign happening in house or are you using a consultant? How much time and money will it cost to perform these changes? What is the rough timeline for a project like this? Make sure you have a solid plan to present so they can't object.

Pitching to a board can be tricky, especially on an issue like web redesign, which everyone is not familar with. Try to be as clear and concise as possible and sell them on the benefits.

Has anyone else had successes or failures pitching web-related things to the board?

Share your thoughts below!

Getting Your Board Involved in Communications

Boards are notorious at nonprofit organizations. Some are great, some not so great, but there seems to be a clear division between board and staff. Whether you are the communications officer, fundraiser or both, it's important to have your board involved with your communications. In fact, your board is one of your communications tools in itself.

So what are ways that you can get your board to communicate your message for you?

1. Set Specific Goals

It's important to set specific goals that you want to achieve and share those with your board. Do you want each board member to find five prospects? Invite five people to an event? Get the word out about a specific campaign? Whatever your goals are make them as specific as possible.

2. Set Specific Timeline

What is the timeline for these goals? Don't make it open ended or it will never get completed. Instead, set a reasonable timeline that ensures your goals will be achieved.

3. Define the How

Define how you want the board members to achieve these goals. Is it by making phone calls? Posting on Facebook? Meeting face to face?

4. Determine Total Amount of Time Needed

Let's say your campaign is three weeks. If you mention the time, board members may balk at the total time for the campaign and insist they don't have time. Instead break down the tasks to the time it will take them. If it only takes 15 or 20 mins in total, spread over three weeks, that seems reasonable.

5. Provide Materials

Don't throw your board members off the deep end. Provide them with as many materials as possible. And mix it up, according to each board member. If one board member is uncomfortable talking without a script, provide one.

6. Provide Encouragement

Encourage but don't harass your board members. If you come off sounding pushy, they will lose interest in the project. It should be as much their project as well.

7. Share the End Results

Board members want to know that the efforts they put in were met with success. So don't be hesistant in sharing the results of the campaign, whether good or bad.

What other ways do you encourage your board members to communicate? Do they participate or not at all? Sound off below.

Getting your Board on board with social media Part Two

Welcome to part two of Getting Your Board on board. You can find part one here: http://notesfornonprofits.blogspot.com/2009/02/getting-your-board-on-board-with-social_17.html

Social Media is an enigma to many. There are so many buzz words and applications that it can be confusing at times. When talking to your board about social media, it's not just about explaining it to them, but involving them as well.

That's the brillance of social media. It's about involving others and creating a community; perfect for nonprofits.

So how do you involve your board?

First, examine what social media applications you want to use. Is it Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, a Blog? Whatever application, there's opportunities for both your non-profit and it's board to utilize these to reach out to more donors.

1. Facebook

Facebook has alot of potential for nonprofits, not just to broaden the awareness of their cause, but to expand their donors through prospect research. When asked about whether they have any connections that could have an organization, most people respond in the negative. However, this same person could have 100 Facebook friends who may be willing to give the cause. It's an opportunity to see who you board and staff knows and to spread the word.

So when you are setting up the Facebook page for your organization, recommend that each of your board members sign up for Facebook as well and link to the organization. Better yet, try to get them to post on the Facebook page and help keep it active. But even if they just have a profile, that allows you to see who they are connected with.

2. Blog

Does your organization have a blog? When was the last time you had a board member make a post? What's great about blogs is that they give your organization and the people in it a voice. Donors want to hear about your programs but also about your people. Hearing a story from a board member about why they are committed to your organization can only help you. Board members are experts so try getting an article or two out of them regarding the issues your organization is fighting for. Plus, you will get more traffic to your blog when your board members showcase their blog post to family and friends.

3. LinkedIn

Like Facebook, LinkedIn shows you how many 'connections' a person has. However, LinkedIn is more business like, so it's much more likely you will find some serious business contacts on here. These are great for determining new corporate and major gift donors. You can also create a page on LinkedIn for your organization which your board members can showcase to their connections.

These are just a few suggestions to get your board started with social media. Getting them involved will make your case for venturing down the path of social media that much easier.

Good luck!

Getting your Board on board with social media

Let's imagine that you are gung ho about social media. You're on Twitter, you love Facebook and you can't get enough of blogging.

You can see the potential that this has for your nonprofit organization, so you present your ideas to your Executive Director/Board only to be on the receiving end of some blank stares.

How do you convince your board that this is a viable fundraising solution?

The first thing I would recommend is to anticipate. When you are putting together your pitch, try to list all of the objections you think they would have and prepare counter arguments. A perfect example: I was working for a nonprofit and was introducing the concept of monthly giving to the organization. I had expected little resistance and went in with an idea in my head about how the conversation would go.

What I had not expected was the board chair to be completely against the idea, calling it manipulative and unnecessary. I was so thrown off course that my arguments were weak and I became flustered. It's important to remember that what you may think is a great idea, others will look upon with disdain.

Secondly, it's important to quantify. Be detailed about the number of hours it will take and the expected ROI (Return on Investment). This will assuage many fears about this being a viable fundraising option. What if you aren't sure yourself though? It may be hard to get a definite ROI from Social Media, so instead be prepared to showcase how you would track the data to determine if it's being useful.

I would also recommend avoiding using buzz words or industry words, even ones you may think everyone would know. Those who don't have Facebook, don't know the difference between a group or a page, those who don't have Twitter, don't know what a Tweet is.

Pitch it to them successfully and half the battle is done.

Stay tuned for part two of Board and Social Media tomorrow!

Related Articles: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media to Their Advantage