Successful not-for-profit leaders need to know content management best practices for Nonprofits in their efforts to present an excellent online and mobile presence.
This presence is critical for communicating with stakeholders and the world at large. If content changes are slow, and information is not updated, a Nonprofit’s brand image suffers. If brand image suffers, the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission is put at risk.
Content Management: Make or Buy?
The decision about how to manage online and mobile resources comes down to the classic make-or-buy choice. If an organization decides to outsource the process (“buy”), cost must be carefully controlled. Also, response time for making changes needs to be considered. Content management best practices for Nonprofits cannot be achieved If the outside vendor cannot change the content on time If the organization itself takes on Content Management responsibility, the work falls to internal staff or volunteers. While this might save money and provide more control over timing, internal resources must be trained. If the content management system is hard to use, the hidden cost of poor productivity may make this alternative more expensive than expected. Then, content management best practices for Nonprofits are not being used.Essentials for a Content Management System
No matter what Content Management strategy the Nonprofit chooses, there are some important features to look for in a Content Management System (CMS). Even if the Content Management task is outsourced, a vendor using a full-featured CMS will work more efficiently and thereby have lower costs that should be reflected in lower prices. Important CMS features are:Easy to learn and use
Comprehensive online documentation and human agent technical support
Simultaneously modify online and mobile pages
Publishing workflow tools
Store and index digital assets
Robust search and retrieval
Upload images, PDFs and files
Ability to post blogs & news articles
Photo album/galleries capabilities
Unlimited web pages
Job posting function
Security access & admin accounts
If the CMS is simple for internal staff to learn, cost for outside resources can be reduced or eliminated while ensuring timely information dissemination.
Overall, the goal of following content management best practices for Nonprofits is not only to yield cost savings but also to improve awareness of the organization and its mission through a more robust and up-to-date online and mobile presence.