Non-Profits: Don't Spend Thousands On Your Web Presence When Google Is Free

Official Google Blog: Non-profit gives itself a Google makeover I have been saying for a number of years now, there really is no reasons to spend tens of thousands of dollars on web design and resources when Google has so much for free. Plenty of sites will give you their code for free or you could start from scratch -- either way using Google Sites to set up your page. Then add Gmail, Docs, Calendar, YouTube and Check-Out and you're golden. Web design these days isn't really that hard for high quality basic stuff. It begins to get more difficult if you want a database driven site using SQL and PHP or something similar. Get yourself a domain at GoDaddy.com or someplace else and get moving on your first page. You really don't need to learn any code though I know enough to be dangerous. I've also used the OpenSource software package Nvu to design a page, then copy and pasted the code into Google Sites (and elsewhere). Very simple. If you want a web site and are willing to learn and try some new things, a free web site is within your grasp. Just remember you'll pay about $10 or $20 for a domain name. Interestingly enough, I came a across a craigslist ad recently where a web designer who trains students was willing to design sites for free to diversify his portfolio. The only catch was you had to use the same host company that he uses. Not a bad deal either. Of particular interest to me are churches, especially church plants and other non-profit ministries that want a web presence for low cost. This is an option for you.