Yesenia Sotelo doesn’t care if you don’t know HTML, CSS and all other new fangled web language that goes into making an attractive website. She’s concerned with one thing: staff participation.

“If you’re going to invest your precious nonprofit time in a website it should tie back to your goals and mission,” says Sotelo.

She points to President Obama’s successful online presence during the 2008 election as prime example nonprofits can follow. Good design, current content and audience participation were three key factors that enabled Obama to get his message across to mainstream American. And she says it’s simple enough to be done no matter your budget or staff size.

On June 9 at Making Media Connections, Sotelo will demonstrate how your nonprofit can take charge in creating a website that speaks to your audience. In her workshop, Website Strategy In-Depth, Sotelo will show how nonprofits can have a successful communication campaign by using the web and social media tools, how involved staff support can create a successful online presence and prepare your website to accomplish your objectives.

Working with nonprofits brand their online message since 2001, Sotelo says when nonprofits realize staff participation are key tools to have a successful interaction with online audiences then everything else falls into place.

“The solution is with the people not with the technology,” says Sotelo. The first part is to get an agency’s staff on board and to set goals, she says.

60 percent of potential donors will check an organization’s website before they make their donation, and very few organizations have thought what their website is suppose to do and whether or not it is accomplishing their goals, says Sotelo. The Website Strategy In-Depth workshop works because participants can address their social media and website issues while brainstorming with other organizations to develop creative and new visions for their website and social media strategy, she says.

No matter the size of your organization’s budget or staff there is a solution to developing a successful online approach.

Ready to tap into a new online audience?  REGISTER NOW!

Interview by Jennifer T. Lacey