A Website That Works – Unheardarts’ Resource Guide
We're here to assist and are happy to share some of our knowledge with you in the form of this brief guide.
| First Your Idea -Part one | Second Your Website -Part two | Making Your Website Work -Part three |
"I need to raise awareness of my website."
Is this the same as raising awareness of your ideas?
Not really. A website has to stand alone AND help you to achieve your goals.
The ideas definitely come first, the web site comes after you’ve decided you need one.
This guide isn’t about blogs, personal profile or social networking (pre-owned) sites. These may all provide great ways to present your self, exchange interests, make (virtual) friends, give and receive entertainment. However, they’re limited by the fact that you get one or more pre-defined spaces or pages. Opportunities to extend and expand your content are limited. And, the environment is funded or owned, usually by a big corporation (your ideas in their hands). All of which adds up to lack of freedom, lack of choice, lack of individuality, lack of expression, and a set of ads and branding that other people chose to display next to your content.
Pre-owned web spaces are really good for certain things – for example, you could use one to help you raise awareness of your ideas; you could start a debate; you could make friends and hope to influence people. But, they have their limitations as far as a personal venture is concerned.
For that reason, this guide focuses on your website; this is a space on the web that you own and that you can decide how to use. It isn’t going to be free (nothing really is) but it is going to be flexible, individual, creative, and purpose built to reflect the values of your venture, aim, campaign or interest.
So, do you need a website, ask yourself a few straightforward questions:
Q. Will your venture benefit from the involvement of multiple others?
A website can support engagement, encourage interaction and promote involvement.
Q. Will you have lots of information to share / exchange with others?
A site can provide a backup to your activities, allowing you to store / display content and information that can be used by participants, the public or colleagues.
Q. Will having a website improve communication with those who’ll be involved?
If you’re likely to have a lot going on or great ambitions for developing your venture / ideas, a website can provide a great basis for communicating aims, perspectives and views.
Q. Will it provide a way to promote 'happenings' - work, campaigns, events?
A site can be a way to promote, advertise and / or market what you’ve got on, are doing or are planned for the future.
Q. Will the ability to individually represent my venture, assist its development and growth?
If a single web space or page will enable you to get your message across, then you may not need a website. However, if you’d like to distinguish yourself, venture, ideas -a site can provide a great platform from which to state your case, emphasise your difference and speak up for yourself.
See Part 3 – Making Your Website Work
Further Help and Guidance
Would you like some help deciding how to promote your aims?
We’re here to complement your ideas and to assist – if you’d like to know more, contact us at
unheardarts@unheardwords.com
