Charities Newsletter
Issue 7

Now that you have your web site, what next? Well, why not make it work a little harder by generating income from it. In the current environment of funding cuts and reduced personal giving, every little bit goes a long way.

We all know that technology these days moves faster than it ever did before and it is difficult to keep up to date with new developments, let alone explore in-depth any current ones. So, I thought I might just plant an 'entrepreneurial seed' in the hope that you will realise that there is a little bit more to a website that just an online presence. However, this is the first step.

Here is how one charity put their site to good use - (If you would like to find out more, do get in touch with us) .

1. Include Google Adsense on your web pages. Google delivers text and image ads that are targeted to your site and its content. When people click on an ad, you will receive a portion of the amount paid to Google by the advertiser.
2. Join an affiliate programme that shares your organisation’s objectives. Each program you register for should provide you with an affiliate link to track your referrals. Depending on the program, you will normally be paid on a per sale basis or for each sign-up you generate.
3. Sell advertising space on your web site. You could sell banner and/or classified ads. If you want to make additional money, sell sponsor ads and place them in a special section or towards the top of your website for the most exposure. (On this one you will need to be careful that the advertiser will not compromise your mission).
4. Charge people a fee to access a dedicated part of your website. People will pay you money for your website content if it's valuable to them. The content can be e-books, reports, software, etc.
5. If you are already selling goods and services, why not put these online. You could use Google Checkout for additional revenue at no extra effort on your part. If you do decide on this make sure that whatever payment method you use it is safe and secure for you customers.
6. Publish an e-zine from your website. Have people subscribe to the e-zine right from your web site. In addition to direct sales of products or services you are promoting, you could sell classified or sponsor advertising inside your e-zine. – like the other points above make sure the advertisement does not compromise your reputation as some people may want to take advantage of your good cause and name.

Each of these ideas will generate income, but if you are a new website owner, I recommend starting with Google Adsense. These ads continue to grow in popularity and are easy to customize and install on your web pages.

These are just my ideas, if any of these interest you, you will need to revisit the objects of your organisation and find out if it permits you to carry out some sort of trading and income generating activities. If in doubt consult a solicitor who is knowledgeable about not-for-profit trading. We work closely with the Solicitors Pro-Bono Group who maybe able to advise. However, don’t get your fingers burnt, learn about the merits and demerits of incorporating this into your website before you do anything.

If anyone has is using their website to generate revenue, I would be very interested in hearing from you and maybe, you may wish to share your experiences with others.
Either way, do get in touch with me: tam@wcit.org.uk