Rising Above the Noise: How Your Nonprofit Can Stand Out Online

By Brian Cute
Brian Cute 

CEO of the Public Interest Registry (PIR)

via Huffington Post Impact

The Internet is increasingly becoming more crowded. With more than three billion people online and 3.5 billion Google searches a day, nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies alike are competing to capture the limited attention span of the modern Internet user.

Furthermore, the Internet is in the midst of a facelift. For the past 30 years, we've grown used to domains like .com, .org and .net - they're part of our vernacular. But the Internet has opened the door to hundreds of new domain extensions, giving organizations significantly more online naming options and another tool to differentiate their brands. In order to stand out among the clutter and reach key stakeholders, nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) need to adapt to stay ahead of the digital curve by revitalizing their online presence.

According to the Blackbaud Charitable Giving Report, online giving was up 8.9 percent in 2014, compared to the overall giving increase of 2.1 percent. With the growing popularity of mobile Web access, it's likely this number will continue to rise, making it important for nonprofits and NGOs to have a strong online presence that is engaging and meaningful for potential donors and constituents.

But with so many different tools and strategies, where do you start? How can your organization stand out online to grow and engage your audience?I enlisted the help of a few experts for this year's InterAction Forum - an annual event that brings together nonprofit, private and public sector leaders - to explain best practices for improving a nonprofit or NGO's credibility and SEO, maximizing its social media presence to benefit its cause, and increasing both its audience numbers and online donations.

The following tips outline four recommended ways for improving a nonprofit's online presence in a competitive landscape:

         
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