Websites for organisations

Before moving into website design and development, I spent fifteen years working in conferences and events.

That meant coordinating people, managing deadlines, keeping track of changing information and making sure the right decisions were made by the right people at the right time.

Those same skills matter when a website project involves a board, committee, staff, volunteers, funders, partners and other stakeholders.

The person leading the project may not have final authority. Several people may need to contribute content. Feedback may need to be gathered, discussed and approved before the work can move forward.

I understand that world, and I know how to keep the project moving without leaving people behind or allowing every decision to be reopened.

At the beginning of the project, I establish who is responsible for the work, who needs to be consulted and who has authority to approve each stage.

We work through the organisation’s audiences, priorities, content and responsibilities before charging into the build.

That includes agreeing on:

• who will lead the project
• who needs to be involved
• who can approve decisions
• how feedback will be gathered
• who will provide and approve content
• who will maintain the website after launch

Clear roles and approval points help prevent conflicting instructions, late surprises and work being undone after it has already been agreed.

My role is to guide the process, ask the questions that need to be asked and turn those decisions into a website that works.

An organisation website may need to:

• explain your purpose and impact
• support funding, sponsorship, donations or grant applications
• communicate outcomes to funders and stakeholders
• organise resources, records, research or specialist information
• share programmes, projects, exhibitions or creative work
• support members, volunteers and service users
• help people join, attend, donate, enquire or get involved
• provide accessible information to the communities you serve

The details vary, but the goal is the same: make the organisation easier to understand, easier to access and easier to support.

A website should not become another difficult system for staff or volunteers to manage.

I help work out what needs to be easy to update, what can remain simple and where a more structured content system will genuinely save time.

Accessibility is considered from the beginning, not added at the end. The website should work for the people your organisation serves, including people using assistive technology or accessing information in different ways.

It also needs to survive changes in staff, volunteers and committee members. Clear systems, sensible documentation and practical training help preserve continuity when responsibility for the website changes.

Organisation projects work best when everyone understands the process and knows when their input is needed.

I provide a clear path through discovery, content, structure, design, build and approval. I explain the trade-offs, keep track of decisions and make sure the project continues moving toward launch.

You know your organisation. I know how to turn that knowledge into a website and get the work across the line.