FOCOL is a non-profit community network. We maintain a directory of websites from Fox Cities businesses, clubs, organizations, churches, schools, etc. And we are a membership organization. If you are an organization or a small business and join FOCOL, you may have space on our web server where you can set up your organization's website. There is more information about how to join FOCOL and establish a website here on our Getting Listed page.
The most difficult part for most organizations using FOCOL for their website is that you need to have someone in your organization or working with you who can create the web pages and maintain them. This usually requires that you have an Internet connection and appropriate software (which can be costly), and that you know how set up and maintain a site.
We have developed this page to provide alternatives to FOCOL for small organizations who want to have a web presence. More information on each option can be found by clicking on the links provided.
- A Club could establish a free web presence on any number of free blog, social or wiki sites. These sites are generally easy to use, and don't require any special software other than a web browser. But you are limited in what you can do without learning more complicated programming techniques. A good choice for an organization interested in posting photos occasionally, notes from the leadership, etc. See Beth's Blog, listed below, for more on how to use the social media as a Nonprofit.
- There are some Non-Profit Technology advice and assistance sites that may be useful. For the more robust organization that needs a source of information about how to use technology, where to find software at reduced prices for non-profits, etc.
- Free or very low cost web hosting services are available also. Each one is different. Most require you to register, some put advertising on your pages, some just have advertising on their maintenance site that you see when you update your pages. They offer templates, and usually WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) interfaces. You don't usually need any special software to create or maintain a site on these services, but you may be limited in what you can do by the tools they offer.
- Professional Web Design / Development - there are many local web designers and hosting services to choose from. Their services and prices vary greatly. Generally they are much more expensive than the alternatives above, but offer high level professional services. Some will design and set up a site for you and let you maintain it once it is set up. Some offer updating services at a monthly cost. Some provide hosting and design services, some will create a site for you hosted elsewhere.
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Last Updated:
19-Oct-2011
