Should you start a blog for your nonprofit?

21 pros and 9 cons — consider what’s best for your organization

Starting a blog for your nonprofit is not something you should take lightly.

Based on my conversations with nonprofits, I’ve found a number of pros and cons.

The pros of starting a blog for your nonprofit

1. Blogs are much less expensive to host and manage than traditional websites – and most hosting companies feature one-click installation of WordPress.
2. WordPress is so incredibly flexible that you can build an entire website on WordPress – especially if you add on a premium theme like Headway.
3. Updating content and functionality with WordPress requires almost no knowledge of code, so you’ll save money on IT.
4. This ease of maintenance adds to the sustainability of your organization.
5. Having a WordPress blog includes access to thousands of free software tools (plug-ins and widgets).
6. These plug-ins and widgets are easy to activate and deactivate. This means that you can try out functionality on your site without wasting time and money on custom web development.
7. Instead of waiting for your IT intern to return your call, you’ll be empowered to communicate urgent news very fast with your blog.
8. You’ll empower your board members to talk about why they love your cause and what it means to them personally. Donors tend to trust organizations that exhibit this sort of honest transparency.
9. You will experience a spike in the number of visits and depth of engagement from your fans.
10. An increase in donations generally correlates with increased engagement.
11. A blog is usually a good steppingstone to developing a private online community.
12. Your blog will enable you to deepen relationships with your fans. They’ll find fresh, relevant content that is useful to them – and have a place where they feel heard.
13. You can trash your marketing theory in exchange for real insight into why donors give you money.
14. Your blog will become a powerful way to attract new visitors – especially as the blog attracts more subscribers and commenters.
15. You can more effectively enable content for the sharing web with sites like Posterous and Facebook.
16. Your blog can be a tool to enhance valuable partnerships with other nonprofits.
17. A blog can enhance SEO with fresh content and inbound links.
18. You’ll be able to refine your nonprofit’s story over time through regular blogging.
19. Asking staff to share their thoughts on the blog is a tangible way to enhance retention.
20. A blog will help you refresh and refine your passion – which is the whole point. Right?
21. A blog uses RSS technology, which makes syndication of your content really simple.

The cons of starting a blog for your nonprofit

1. Updating versions, plug-ins and themes is extremely easy but still requires someone to complete these tasks on a regular basis.
2. Even though measuring engagement is relatively easy, you’ll need to have someone consistently measure the effectiveness of your blog posts.
3. You’ll need to make a commitment to regularly update content on the blog. Even if you post only once a week, it’s still a task that will have to be completed – consistently.
4. Blogging requires focusing on specific goals – getting found in search, engaging with constituents – for the long term.
5. Even though there are plenty of great sources, blogging requires understanding and keeping up with best practices.
6. You have to constantly come up with creative ways of producing fresh, engaging content.
7. You’ll have to be willing to respond to and manage comments on the blog. As with content creation, responding to comments on a blog takes up staff time and resources.
8. There may be difficult questions that require transparency. Once you start a blog, you’ll notice that in addition connecting better with supporters, you’ll also find a few critics.
9. Blogging can mean a steep learning curve. Managing a WordPress blog and writing quality content may take time, particularly if you have SEO goals.

What pros and cons can you share?

Cross-posted from JohnHaydon.com.

John Haydon delivers social web strategy solutions for “the quick, the smart, and the slightly manic.” Curious? Then visit the John Haydon blog, follow him on Twitter or leave a comment.