No Excuses: Get on the Internet
MOST RAILWAY PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS fall into two categories: “Online” and “Invis- ible.” If your organization does not have a presence on the Internet, you might as well not exist, plain and simple. Hello, World: Twenty years ago, getting
online was a costly and confusing process. With the proliferation of inexpensive com- puters and easy access to online services, there is no practical reason to avoid spread- ing the word about your group to millions of potential supporters, donors, and visitors. By taking advantage of free “social network- ing” resources like Facebook and YouTube, you can expand your reach infinitely across the globe (we’ll cover the intricacies of these services in a future column). Depending on your group’s resources, you
can either do it yourself or hire the services of a professional. For the newcomer, trying to learn new skills while executing an effec- tive web site might not be the best strategy. A professional can help you plan, design, and execute a web site tailored to your needs and budget, as well as help with technical is- sues such as registering a domain name, purchasing a hosting plan, and so on. There are also many resources available
online to help you get started if you’re not sure where to begin. You don’t need to spend a million dollars, but you do need to plan carefully to avoid making costly mistakes. Planning a web site: No matter which
route you decide to take, the first step is to set your priorities and goals. Imagine you
are looking up information on a new restau- rant. The three things you want to know right away are where is it, what times are they open, and what’s on the menu. The same ideas can apply to your organization. Where are you located? What times are you open or hold meetings? What are your activ- ities and events, and how do I get involved? Web sites are split up into pages, with the
most important information being placed on the “Home” page. As a bare minimum, you will want to publish your organization’s lo- cation, operating hours or meeting schedule, and directions. An “About Us” page can go into greater detail about the history and purpose of your organization. If your organ- ization maintains historic equipment or structures, consider publishing that on a separate page dedicated to rosters and other details about the collection. Set up a page called “Join/Volunteers” describing the type of help you’re looking for and how people can get in touch to offer their help or join your group. “Contact Us” should include a busi- ness mailing address and telephone num- ber, as well as point of contact for your offi- cers and other leaders. Finally, alert your visitors that you accept “Donations” and other forms of fundraising support. When you are writing the content for
your web site, make sure you consider those in the audience who are not familiar at all with railroads. They won’t know the differ- ence between a caboose and coach, but they are coming to your site to learn. That
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