If you are like most folks, you’ve been talking for a while about having a website. Perhaps you have heard me mention the few basic components:

1. Own your own domain name (that is the “WFRW.org” part of our www.WFRW.org address on the internet).
2. Pay a company to “host” your website.
3. Have a volunteer or paid staff person with the time and skills to maintain the website.
4. Keep the website current and looking good.

First, let’s talk money. Normally, after you purchase a domain name, the webhosting can run from $10-$15 per month, like the WFRW pays our webhost, to hundreds of dollars per month, like some of my clients paid. The more complex your website and the more space it takes, the more a company charges you for hosting your website on their computers.

And a discussion about money leads us to a discussion about hiring someone to maintain your website. Few clubs have this kind of financial resource. So you need a volunteer.

The good news is that Microsoft has found a way to help solve these inter-related problems. Through their Office Live program, you can own your own domain name and Microsoft will host the website for just $14.95 per year plus taxes – and the first year is free! And the really good news is that anyone who is comfortable with the basic skills used in Word can do this – so it is perfect for a volunteer.

Now to the steps to accomplish this:

Step One: get a free email account that you won’t use for anything else.
This email address will become the “owner” of the domain. You don’t want it to be the email address you use personally because then responsibility for the website cannot be passed along to the next volunteer. I used Hotmail, but Google offers Gmail for free. Try to pick a name that relates more to the club than it does to you, personally. And keep track of your password.

Step Two: have your debit or credit card handy because you will need to provide a valid card number.
It won’t be charged for a year, but it is required when you start.  When responsibility for the website is passed to another volunteer or when you change credit cards, you can edit your "profile" with updated information.

Step Three: go to http://www.officelive.com/en-us/free-website and follow the instructions.
One of the initial tasks will be finding a domain name that is not already taken. You type in your selection and the program will let you know if it is available or not. Be prepared with several choices because your preferred selection may already be used by someone else. A brief word about picking your name: try for something that is short and easy to type or something that is easy to remember.

The free website in Office Live is a “template” program, which is why it is so easy for everyone to use. You select from one of the suggested color schemes; you decide if you want navigation links across the top or the side; you create your pages. And, using the same skills needed to make text bold or underlined, etc. in Word, you can add emphasis within your pages. When you are more comfortable, you can add documents (like newsletters that are .pdf files) and photographs.

Step Four: add a link to the WFRW website: www.WFRW.org.

Step Five: publicize the existence of your website by including a link to it in your emails, membership brochures and newsletters. If you are going to have club t-shirts, add the URL. And please let me know your website address so I can add a link on our WFRW.org website.

Step Six: keep the website current.
Remember the bottom line here: if viewers see a website with invitations to events that occurred last month or last year, they are not going to remain interested in your club. They will assume your club is as inactive as your website. If you don’t have a volunteer with the time to update your website in a timely manner, then try to create a website that provides generic and almost timeless information so viewers can at least contact your club. This might be information on when and where you meet. Or it might be an email address and/or phone number for your club president, program chair or membership chair.

All done! As soon as you save or "view" a page, your club has a website.

As I said, securing a domain name and creating a website with Office Live so easy it is not believable. If you want to see a couple of simple websites created this way, check out the Chelan Valley Republican Women (http://ChelanValleyRepublicanWomen.org), Thurston County Women’s Republican Club (http://tcwrc.com) and the Gig Harbor Republican Women (http://ghrwomen.org/default.aspx). Initially, the Thurston County website took about an hour to create. And normal maintenance (such as updating the information on the next speaker or event and the monthly newsletter) takes about 10 minutes a month.
 

To do more research before you start this project or as a "refresher" as you proceed, visit the NFRW’s Winning Webs website (http://www.NFRWWinningWebs.org). Here you will find a good set of basic guidelines on what is needed for a website, and you will find some good resource materials and pages on tips for website and emails. Plus you will find the Application Form  to submit your website to the NFRW to be considered a Winning Web of the Week. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the NFRW recognized you and your club!!

Having a presence on the internet is another way to reach out to our fellow Republican women. If your club does not have a website now, I encourage you to consider setting one up soon. I’m sure you will find it is well worth the time and effort.