Embedded Files
Key message
Some things to think about when deciding whether your club should use a new Internet tool: How much does it cost? Will it do what we want? Will people use it? How easy is it to use?
There are some keys things that you need to consider when deciding which Internet tools will make up your club's web presence:
- Cost: Do you have to pay an initial fee to use the tool? Are there ongoing charges? Beware of 'hidden costs', especially when setting up a website. For instance, will you be able to change the content of the website or do you have to rely on someone else to do it for a 'fee'?
- Functionality: Before adopting any Internet tool it is important to ensure that it does what it is supposed to do. For well known platforms (such as social media) this will already be known. For others, it is important to investigate the functionality they provide by looking at their websites, searching for reviews of their services, and so forth.
- Access and use: will the use of a new online service require a special log in from users or perhaps require them to download a specific app? Will club members, supporters or even sponsors be prepared to do this? Some of these people will already have their specific preferences for whether they use email, access websites and/or use social media. It can be difficult to cater for all of these different Internet tools and to still manage these platforms effectively.
- Ease of use and configuration. Some tools, such as social media and email, are often relatively easy to use and provide little flexibility with regards to how they look or operate. Other tools, such as websites, can provide greater flexibility with regards to how they look - but with that comes increased technical complexity with regards to the design of the site. A poorly designed website can limit its usefulness if its functionality is difficult to locate. Additionally, any Internet service that has a complicated registration process or requires special downloads to be used could limit the number of people who are prepared to use it. If a particular Internet tool requires specific technical expertise, design skills or excessive time to set up, are these available within the club?
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse