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These articles have mainly dealt with the technical and creative elements of website production but there is a crucial part of the process we have not covered:

How to make the website work for the club and the club work for the website

This is why the Webmaster has a very important role - not only to produce the website but also to convince the club that its website has multiple critical roles to play. Most club members will remember how the club got by without a website, so this is as much a change in mindset as it is an improvement in technical and creative competency

Building commitment

The website has a role in communicating publicity and information, news about coming events and last minute changes for both members and visitors. But for the members it also important in building and retaining club morale, developing a sense of belonging and team spirit. It can be a celebration of the club and the people in it. It helps them feel good about themselves and their club. A feeling that keeps members and encourages others to join.

The webmaster role

Just like film directors and editors, ultimately the webmaster is on his or her own. They need a generous degree of independence and have to be trusted to show the clubs to the world in the best possible light. Good ones always listen to others, but it is "their" magazine, website or movie. They will be held responsible by their audiences. They have to be free and to feel free to work independently.

So the webmaster is boss but she or he cannot work alone. At the practical level, at least one other person should be able to update the site in emergencies. But it is at the level of content the webmaster must encourage everyone to be involved.

The website will gain immeasurably from having as many contributors as feasible because of the variety it will offer and the club will benefit from how the writers are motivated.

See Club Websites: Words - part 2 for ideas on coaxing articles from people.

So how can a website build commitment and morale

  • using Club members' material - it flatters and involves, finds talent that people did not know they had. Link to a member's films on YouTube and you will help them get more exposure than anyone pre-web could have dreamed of.
  • talking about club members in a personal and special fashion even turning them into personalities - just beware of appearing too clique ridden
  • growing organically to be as big as you like at no cost - if done well this can be impressive both for current and potential members. On the other hand, a tiny website is no better than an A5 flyer  on cheap paper in the library, looking mean and communicating insignificance.
  • keeping current - websites are more graphic and immediate than leaflets or posters. News about your latest event or evening can be online as fast as someone is willing to write it. If you won the annual competition imagine how you will feel if your picture clutching the trophy is on the site's front page the following day.
  • supporting members' interests - such as charities, technologies or even their hobbyhorses.
  • archiving material - people never seem to forget the films and videos they have worked on irrespective of the resulting quality. There is almost no limit to the archive material that can bring the warm memories flooding back. The film itself, location photographs and frame grabs, technical or creative background info, story boards, interviews with the cast and crew etc. can all be included on a page dedicated to a particular production

Don't be afraid to edit

You will need to edit almost all material you receive and if you make that clear to everyone from the outset you are unlikely to upset people if you change their precious words.

Don't, of course, change the meaning of a piece. Do make whatever changes are needed to best serve the readers. Is that paragraph clear? If not would restructuring help? What about a change in punctuation? Split it into two or more paragraphs?

A few people really cannot write but they can talk so record an interview and create an article (not a Q & A interview but an article) based on their words - credited "as told to xxx".

Cultivate your sources

Like all journalists - cultivate your sources! There will be someone you know, who can be relied on to keep track of members' films in outside competitions and report on that. Someone else who loves trawling techie websites and magazines might write an occasional piece on trends in the hobby.

Can you appoint photographer/s? Perhaps one to specialise in shooting in-club events, one to organise awards pictures and a third to catch the action behind-the-camera on a shoot.

Be ready to offer your help to others. Does an ambitious youngster want a website to support their new film? Does a scriptwriter want a second opinion on dialogue? Can you help with minor computer problems?

This kind of friendly exchange of help binds a club together. Now and then it may feel like a chore, but spending time helping someone else usually pays off - sometimes in unexpected ways.


Website Makeover Guides - Introduction

What Should the Content Be? | Navigation | Planning Navigation | Anchors & Links | Words | Getting Pictures | Getting & Using Pictures
Processing Pictures | Video | Presentation Pictures | Colours | Layout Principles | Layout Schemes | Fonts | What is SEO?
Search Engine Factors | Check Your Search Ranking | Stay Legal | Website Health Check | Website No Goes more to come ...

A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Club Website with Weebly

Don't Panic! | Signing up to Weebly | Making your first (elegant) page | Adding more pages and navigation
Adding pictures and words | Creating a complex Coming Soon Page | Adding Forms, Emails, Maps and Videos.

IAC Competition to find the Best Club Website 2011


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Page updated on 16 January 2011
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