Put Your Best Foot Forward: A website should represent your organization in the best light possible. It should explain who you are, what you do and how the visitor might interact with you. Remember that, perhaps the most important aspect of a website that makes it different from a written document is the ability to provide hyperlinks. If you want to expand on a topic, instead of making the current page very long, you simply create a link to another page that goes into more detail. That way, the viewer can determine where they want to go and how much they want on any particular topic.

Content is King: All of the Internet Web Gurus agree on one thing; the content of the website is the most important element. Bells and whistles and graphics and images make an impact but, in the end, the words mean the most. People go to websites primarily to find information. They want it concise and pertinent. So, generally be brief and keep the content up to date.

Ongoing Task: Remember that your website is not written in stone. It is relatively easy to change words, paragraphs or entire pages of the website. That is part of the maintenance process included with the yearly website fee.

Here are some tips on providing content for each of the five pages/sections in the Standard Website Package:

- Homepage	- Officers/Committees	- Your Web Address
- Activities/Programs	- Contact Information	- Your Logo
- History/Background	- Photos Included	- Our Guarantee

Content: The homepage welcomes people to the site and begins to tell the story of your organization. Who are you? What are your major goals? Make the visitor feel comfortable with you and help them understand what you do.

Lists: It is generally most effective to build a homepage based on a list of topics with a small subheader for each topic followed by a brief paragraph about the topic. Then, provide a hyperlink to take the viewer to another page to find more detailed information.

For Example: You might want a subheader called Educational Programs: followed by a few sentences describing in general the types of programs you offer and a few of the major ones that are offered each year. Then, give them a link to the Activities and Programs page for more detail on the current year's schedule.

Outline: Although you can arrange the webpage anyway you desire, one easy way to organize the material would be:

•  Introductory paragraph or two

•  Activities and Programs

•  History or Background

•  Officers and Committees

•  Contact Us

Size: You may submit up to 1200 words (two, single spaced pages in a word processor format either Microsoft Word .doc or rich text format .rtf) for inclusion on the Home Page. 

Content: This is an area to show what you do. It should include a little more detail about the major programs and activities of your organization. It can also include any or all of the following:

•  Schedule of Programs for the Year

•  Links to brochures or registration forms

•  Links to newsletters online

•  Volunteer activities and opportunities
  

Content: This section is devoted to telling the story of your organization from the beginning to the current day. You can tell how you got to be the organization you are today. It can also be called an About Us page and could include:

•  About your members

•  Your major awards and list of past winners

•  List of past presidents

•  Biography of prominent members

Content: You can introduce your officers and chairs of major committees on this page. It can also be used to explain the purpose and major activities of the standing committees of your organization. You could also include:

•  List of current officers and email

•  List of current committee chairs

•  How to get active with committees

•  Positions available
  

Content: Here is where you give people alternatives for getting in touch with your organization. Include enough information to allow members or prospective members to communicate with your organization.

•  Email address

•  Contact person

•  Mailing address

•  Telephone

•  FAX number

•  Membership requirements

•  Link to a membership form

Note: Remember that this is going onto the Internet and will be available to anyone with a computer and internet connection.  See our Privacy page for more on this topic.

Content: Photographic images help to tell the story of your organization and brighten up the page. Use them to display major activities or projects of your group.

Number: You may submit up to 5 photographs as part of the Standard Website Package for inclusion on the pages.

Size and Format: If you have image editing capabilities, you should crop your pictures to show the major subject of the image. They may be up to 720 pixels wide and should be in low quality .jpg format. If all of this sounds like gobbledy gook to you, just download the picture from your camera and submit the image file to PGC  and we will make the adjustments for you. There are several alternatives for submitting photographs to be used on your website.

Thumbnail: Each image will  be represented by a thumbnail like the one above which will be 150 pixels wide. Clicking on this thumbnail will lead to a full sized (up to 720 pixels wide image with a caption of your choice). Click on the thumbnail above for an example picture page.

Photo Gallery:  If you would like to expand your display of photos, you may also choose to include one of our Photo Gallery Options as part of  your package.

Web Address: Your homepage will have an address that would be formatted: . Thus, the Men's Garden Club of Paris, for example, would have a URL of which will lead visitors directly to their homepage.

If you would like some other form than your group initials, we will be glad to consider any suggestions. Remember that simple is usually better but if you have a catchy acronym or short name, that might work also.

An index of group websites hosted by will also lead the visitor to your site which will be listed by name, city and state in a searchable database. Within a short time, your website should appear on the common search engines also.

Graphic Designs - We can take your logo from a digital file, scan it from letterhead or business card or other source and create a distinctive header for your page. We will work with you to make a nice logo for your site and for use on written materials for your group.

Move on to Step 8 which will help you decide on Advanced Options for your Website.

	Everything we sell or do at PGC comes with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. We will work with you to make you happy or we will return your money. Your satisfaction is always our goal.

Move on to Step 8 to select any Advanced Options you might want to add to your website.