ShofarSites - Joomla! Websites for Jewish Organizations

Publicizing Your Site

You have a great new website. Now, how can you get everyone to go to it?

Keep in mind your audience - most visitors are going to be prospective and current members of your organization. If there are 200 member families in your local synagogue, don't expect 5000 visits a month. If you're a larger regional or national organization, 5000 visits a month may be easy to reach.

Publicize:

1. Talk to your local newspaper - local papers will often be interested in featuring your organization's new site. If the newspaper has a religion editor, give him or her a call. Explain - why you decided to create a new site, what's different about it, and why people are excited about it. Emphasize results - did you get several new member inquiries through the site? Are members relying on the new calendar for up to date information? You don't need to write a press release, necessarily, for a local paper. Find the right people and talk to them.

2. If you are a synagogue affiliated with a national movement, such as USCJ, UAHC, Orthodox Union, Young Israel, etc. - see if you can get your new site featured in their newsletter or mentioned on their website. They want to encourage other synagogues to have great websites; you're setting a good example.

3. If you are a regional or national organization - talk to the local paper, but also consider contacting Moment Magazine, The Jewish Week, Ha'aretz (they have a special 'Anglo section' in their English version), and the Jerusalem Post. Look also at major secular publications such as the Boston Globe and the New York Times. For larger publications, if you don't have a contact there, write a personalized 'pitch letter' to the reportor or editor you want to reach. Know what they write about, and how your story fits their audience. 'We have a new website' may not be a big enough story, but 'We have a new website and it has increased our fundraising by x percent...' is something to write about. Focus on results, provide numbers when you have them.

4. If you are listed in local, regional, or national directories, make sure your url is printed along with the rest of your contact information.

5. Mention the site at services, events, etc. Simple enough - get the word out. Make sure all staff members, board members, Hebrew School teachers, etc. know about the new site and how they can use it.

6. Print the site url on all newsletters, flyers, letters, etc.

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