Nonprofits on the net for Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day - a day where thousands of bloggers across the world commit to write on the same topic with the aim of creating awareness around that issue. The topic this year is Poverty.

I work with a wide range of organisations on their communications, branding and websites. When working together on a new project I get them to take a look at what’s out there to look at what they do or don’t like with sites on the net so they can begin to formulate their own ideas. For my post today, instead of writing my views on poverty, I’ve decided to highlight a few nonprofit websites to give inspiration to other organisations with their own design ideas.

I’ve picked out a few of the well known organisations related to social change and the relief of poverty.  There are many more, but chose the following to help organisations who may be looking at their own designs and communications to see how some of the sites below use different ways to reach out to their readers, helping to raise awareness and motivate action in their work and campaigns.  Some use strong visual imagery, or bold usage of language and content wording, others have clear information architecture to enable the reader to easily find where they need to get to be to donate or take part or show innovative ways to become involved and share the message with others .

End Child Poverty - www.endchildpoverty.org.uk

Shelter - www.shelter.org.uk/about_us

Oxfam - www.oxfam.org

Global Call to Action Against Poverty - www.whiteband.org

Salvation Army (on Virb social network) - www.virb.com/salvationarmy/

and finally,

Not just focussing on poverty, but Change.org has recently undergone a makeover and created a vibrant modern online hub and media network for social issues and collective action.

Change Social Action Network - www.change.org.

If you have more examples of sites that you like, feel free to add a link to your favourites and also a sentance or two sharing why that site appeals to you in the comments form below.

And, if not involved already, head over to the Blog Action Day site to read what thousands of others are writing about on this one issue today and sign up to take part.

Continue reading “Nonprofits on the net for Blog Action Day” »

Information Overload? My name is Laura and I confess, I’m an addict.

Information overload is one area of my work that is a constant. In the past recent weeks, I took some time away from the desk and computer with a pencil and big sheet of paper in hand. I hadn’t intended on blogging about it, but a recent message on one of my social networks prompted me to share it.

Beth Kanter put out a call on Twitter earlier pointing us to her post on Information Coping Skills - How Information Overloaded Are You?
Very timely, I took the quiz and was quite pleased that with some of my new coping strategies I managed to score a reasonable 9. Of course my strategies aren’t perfect and am looking forward to reading the comments and suggestions raised on Beth’s Blog and the outcomes of her forthcoming session at BlogHer Boston this weekend.

But it had recently come to a point where I really needed to take stock of the impact of information overload had been having on my working practice. As many of you will know, until July I was managing a nonprofit which provides support services to other organisations as well as juggling a growing freelance business supporting a wide range of non-profits to small business with their websites, social media and technical support needs. Oh yes, and trying to be a mom too. Plus, keep up to date with information and participate with the outside world.

Like many of us working in the nonprofit sector and supporting nonprofits, it’s sometimes hard to say no, not only to others but especially to yourself. I like information, in fact I’m probably addicted to it. I like keeping abreast of new technologies, new innovations, seeing projects evolving with their aim of supporting social change and more. I mix in a wide range of circles, non-profits, enterprise, education, local government as well as the core of my work, with design and web development; and accessibility and inclusion to all on the web. I use a variety of tools that help me keep up to date including RSS, email groups, forums, Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook and other networks too. Living in a rural area means that I often am unable to attend many of the face-to-face meetings and get-togethers that take place in the major UK cities, so rely on using these tools to keep up to date with conversations and innovations that take place.

The speed and pace that social networking can function on is immense. I only began blogging in Spring of 2007, and often it’s my blog that suffers with my own time management. Like many of us, I have blog posts in draft constantly and by the time I get round to finishing a post off, the next issue or topic is already being discussed out there, so often don’t get round to posting as much as would like. I enjoy blogging but rarely make the time to share a post. This is one area, in time, I’m planning to make more for but do partake in lifestreaming and microblogging to keep connected in our interweb-connected world.

So other than managing the overloaded email inbox which overflows daily, what is my other biggest information overload ‘Vice?’

Continue reading “Information Overload? My name is Laura and I confess, I’m an addict.” »

In the Pink 2008

Regular readers will have noted a drastic colour change today on my blog.
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From politicians, to the public, to the press, it is a time when focus on breast cancer is at its very highest across the world.

Pink is the colour during Breast Cancer Awareness Month hence the new look to my blog during October. You can find out more by searching on the internet for breast cancer awareness charities and nonprofits to learn how you can help to raise funds, spread the word and take part.

Bloggers and website designers like myself are joining in with awareness raising across the globe by turning their sites pink for the month. You can find out more at Pink For October.
(Image above designed by I Design Studio Blog)

Freebie: - I’m sharing my pink Twitter background.

For Twitter friends and users - I’ve changed my general ‘woody’ brown Twitter page background, to a pink background for the month ahead, If you would like to use it on your Twitter page, you can download it here. Enjoy! (design updated)
[To use on your own Twitter page: download the file, Login to your Twitter, go to 'Settings', then to 'Design' tab, then "Change Background Image' button lower down the page' and upload the file.]

For other Twitter Pink for October backgrounds, head over to the wonderful Twitterpatterns.com.

Let me know if you join the pink brigade too!

Continue reading “In the Pink 2008” »