Website: Difference between revisions
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Once they are set up, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system Content Management Systems (CMS)] are an easy way for any volunteer(s) to update website content without having to involve a web savy volunteer. The computer world has its own brand of non-profits and they are called 'open source projects'. Once such free CMS is called [http://www.joomla.org/ Joomla]. This is what www.slcbikecollectives.org, www.sopobikes.org, and www.bikecollectives.org runs on. There are thousands of pre-made templates (ex: [http://www.mambohut.com/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,129/func,select/id,77/ Joomla Hut]) to choose from as well as even more [http://extensions.joomla.org/ extensions] to quickly bolt on forums, picture galleries, email lists, calendars, volunteer signups, donations, news, blogs, etc. | Once they are set up, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system Content Management Systems (CMS)] are an easy way for any volunteer(s) to update website content without having to involve a web savy volunteer. The computer world has its own brand of non-profits and they are called 'open source projects'. Once such free CMS is called [http://www.joomla.org/ Joomla]. This is what www.slcbikecollectives.org, www.sopobikes.org, and www.bikecollectives.org runs on. There are thousands of pre-made templates (ex: [http://www.mambohut.com/component/option,com_remository/Itemid,129/func,select/id,77/ Joomla Hut]) to choose from as well as even more [http://extensions.joomla.org/ extensions] to quickly bolt on forums, picture galleries, email lists, calendars, volunteer signups, donations, news, blogs, etc. | ||
Revision as of 17:33, 9 October 2006
Creating a Website is a great way to stretch a limited budget, the internet provides the best information distribution method for your donated dollar.
Determine what content you want
There is nothing more frustrating than someone who wants your help, but don't know exactly what that is. So before moving on to the next step, determine roughly how you want the website to look, what sections you want on it, what content you want. And by all means don't re-invent the wheel, steal as many ideas as you can from other Collective websites.
Find a web savy volunteer
While this isn't rocket science, it helps to have someone that knows what they are doing. They can be in demand, as a result some of them can be flakey. The important thing is to be very clear up from as to what you want the website to look and feel like as well as what information should be where.
Register a domain name
You don't actually buy domain names, you just lease them from a Domain Name Registrar at yearly rate. They all do the same thing key things, but oddly enough they cost different amounts.GoDaddy has them for $9.00 per year while Network Solutions is around $15 per year.
You will most likely want to pick a .org (top level) domain name. Since they are used for organizations. As you may have guessed .com is for commerce websites.
Find a Web Hosting Service
Once you have rented the domain name, you need somewhere to park it -- just like a bicycle. A Web Hosting Service is where all the HTML, graphics, and scripting files will be kept. Unlike registrars, Web Hosting Services offer many different services and at various prices. An example is DreamHost if you pay two years up from they run at a rate of $7.95 -- this is a good deal.
The features you want to compare in a web hosting service are:
- Disk Storage -- Just like an iPod, how much can fit?
- Monthly Bandwidth -- This becomes a bigger issue with lots of graphics and multimedia.
- MySQL Databases -- You will need this if you plan on using a Content Management System (CMS).
Content Management Systems
Once they are set up, Content Management Systems (CMS) are an easy way for any volunteer(s) to update website content without having to involve a web savy volunteer. The computer world has its own brand of non-profits and they are called 'open source projects'. Once such free CMS is called Joomla. This is what www.slcbikecollectives.org, www.sopobikes.org, and www.bikecollectives.org runs on. There are thousands of pre-made templates (ex: Joomla Hut) to choose from as well as even more extensions to quickly bolt on forums, picture galleries, email lists, calendars, volunteer signups, donations, news, blogs, etc.