Internet

As we all know by now, the Internet is an extremely powerful tool for getting your message out there - locally and globally. This section will help you decide when and how to take your campaign online; there are many ways in which you can take advantage of the wealth of resources freely available for social justice advocates on the Net.

Traditional media [short section coming - more in next version ]– such as radio, TV, newspapers and magazines
- can still be useful for promoting campaigns and websites in some
environments. But you should also consider marketing your message by going
where people are increasingly spending time - online.

In this section of Message in-a-Box we take you through:

[ Who's online - need a section to help decide who to focus online v offline on ]

Internet strategy & online marketing - get the big picture and a short introduction to some of the key tools and concepts.

Websites and blogs - the why and how of making these vital tools happen.

Email marketing - effective use of one of the most widely adopted tools for campaigning.

Search engine optimisation - how to get to the top of the list when people search for key words related to your organisation and issues.

Getting Started

Then we get your started with technical help on how to use:

  • Firefox - the best Internet browser right now (says us!)
  • Wordpress - for creating websites and blogs.

If you have a 4-5 year old computer, you could look at:

  • NvU - another easy way to create websites which is not as demanding on your system as Wordpress (CHECK THIS PLEASE??? REALLY TRUE AND NECESSARY TO INCLUDE?)

If you are looking at creating big coalition network sites, you could also check out our guide to content management systems - like Drupal, SPIP and Joomla. But Wordpress has it's own content management system, so that might be enough for your needs.


Web hosting

Web hosts - also often called Internet Service Providers or ISPs - are an essential service when you are putting material online. In our Hosting & Domains section we explain what it's all about and list a few organisations that provide free or low-cost hosting
services to activists and organisers using Free and Open Source
Software tools.

Mini-Projects

We take you through step-by-step how begin blogging (even anonymously) in the Mini-Projects section. And remember, you can make your blog into a dynamic campaign website by customising the look and function of it.

Integrating your Internet Strategy

In other sections of Message in-a-Box you can also find out how to:

  • bring video and audio into your blog/website
  • use powerful images online
  • distribute print publications (newsletters, posters, anything) via your blog/website or email, and even
  • use mobile phones to help get material quickly up onto your blog/website from just about anywhere.

But first of all, make sure your Internet strategy is working with your overall organisational or campaign goals, audience, situation and
messages. Look at who's online and how to mix online and offline strategies. Go to the Strategy Overview first and save your valuable time and resources.

 

 

[ADD IN SCREEN SHOTS OF WEBSITES / BLOGS/ BLOG INTERGRATED INTO A WEBSITE]

 

NOTES

[ Pull in material / write as an introduction to using the
internet - not as websites and blogs! Move websites & blogs intro
into top level of those two sections. Some material will be repeated at
top level of blogs/websites due to the strong connection between these
two.

Look at putting a section specific version of the emphasis box at the bottom at the top level of each section.

Look again at navigation / user experience question of... will they
click top level headings or go straight to first bullet! Could miss a
lot of vital information.