Blogs: quick, easy websites
Blog systems are an excellent way for a group to make a quick, easy websites with lots of modern features. And some of them are free.
A blog is an easily updated system, especially useful for websites which change often — eg including news items, or announcements of events.
It's especially useful for community groups with little time or funding and who have little expertise for making websites as it provides a framework where you can simply and easily add your information through a form on a web page. You don't need specialised software, only an Internet connection to make changes.
That also means you can update your web page on a 'borrowed' computer, such as at an Internet café or Library.
Modern blogs are also built taking into account modern approaches to making sure websites are accessible and well put together.
Blogger
You can sign up for a free Blogger account at Blogger.com. See the article in Panui #40 for more information about Blogging and community groups. CommunityNet Kiwi is an example Blog, specifically set up for New Zealand community groups to experiment with. Email information@community.net.nz to get access.
Volunteer Friendship Link, a service by the Churches Hospital Support Trust, is an example of a real community group using Blogger. Jessica Grosskreutz, Volunteer Recruitment and Support Worker, commented:
Yes, blogger are fantastic!!! I am so impressed with them as we were looking for a cheap and easy to operate alternative to hosting a home page. Even our computer from the stone ages can handle working with a blogger. … Blogger is ideal for groups who dont need a flash web presence that is easy to update and maintain.
See the Case Study: Blogger links volunteers to read about how Volunteer Friendship Link found Blogger.
Wordpress
Another option is to use the system called Wordpress. You can install this on a hosting service computer, but the install is very easy and takes less than 5 minutes. Many web hosts allow you to install it from the Control Panel — you just click a button and after a minute or two it's all done.
WordPress.com now provides free hosting and installation for Wordpress blogs.
Set up and use are extremely easy — it's just a matter of filling in the correct details, such as your organisation's name, in a form. You 'post' articles or make pages through a form on a web page.
Some free hosting services are also making this widely used system available.
Wordpress has a huge number of add-ons and easy to use themes. A theme controls the layout and look of the web site.
See the Case Study Wordpress helps the Monarch Butterfly to read about how Monarch Butterfly New Zealand Trust found Wordpress.
WordPress.com gives you a free world-class blog. It's very easy to use, and reliable. See WordPress 2 Visual Quickstart Guide in this IT & Internet guide for information on a book about WordPress.
Typepad
Typepad is a hosted service. That means you pay a fee and they do all the background work. Typepad blogs are well-designed and offer a lot of optional features. You can simply log in and start adding your content or you can customise your site extensively.
Prices start at US$50 per year and you can test the service out with a 30 day free trial.
Newsfeeds
An advantage of using these blog systems is that they automatically produce RSS newsfeeds from the information you 'post'. A 'post' is any new information you add to the site.
An RSS newsfeed allows people to monitor your website for new information without having to actually visit it. They can even use the newsfeed to automatically put headlines from your site on their own web page. This is a fantastic way to encourage information sharing.
For more information about RSS newsfeeds read This is New in this How-To Guide.