You might say that my career has been charmed.
I’ve received raises – even during salary freezes.
I’ve had the freedom to quit a job that made me unhappy – even when I didn’t have another job lined up.
Some of my friends and colleagues haven’t been so blessed.
Many factors determine each of our paths, but I know this much to be true about my story:
My digital skills helped me kick open countless doors of opportunity.
I started learning HTML in 1997, when I was a freshman in college, and I haven’t stopped since.
If I was starting to learn digital skills in 2016, there are three key skills that I would learn first. Keep reading to learn about each skill, what it is, why it matters and a tip to get you started.
The Skill: Website Conversions
What It Is:
For you as a marketer/fundraiser/communicator, a conversion is the act of turning an anonymous website visitor into a known supporter. You can turn anonymous visitors into supporters by having them subscribe to email, make a donation, submit a contact form to express interest in volunteering, etc.
How It Will Help You:
A shockingly small number of nonprofit websites are built with conversions in mind. But what’s the point of a website if not to turn visitors into supporters!? By learning the core strategy behind website conversions, you can raise more money, recruit more volunteers or identify new potential supporters for your nonprofit.
How to Get Started:
Read these SmartCause Digital articles to start thinking about conversion strategy:
- Five Easy Tweaks to Get More Holiday Donations via Your Nonprofit Website
- Evil Popups for the Greater Good
And join me for the Smart Nonprofit Websites training program in 2016! This training program teaches you how to turn website visitors into supporters. To get more information when the program is available, just scroll down to the bottom of this article to subscribe to SmartCause Digital email updates.
The Skill: Google Analytics
What It Is:
Google Analytics is a tool that measures the performance of your website. You can use it understand how people are finding your website and which content they use most.
How It Will Help You:
A working knowledge of Google Analytics will turn you into a fundraising or marketing powerhouse. You’ll be able to measure which of your outreach efforts is successful and which outreach effort is a waste of time.
How to Get Started:
Sign up for my free Google Analytics mini-course! I’ll help you get started with the fundamentals of website analytics.
And join me for the Complete Google Analytics Toolkit training in 2016! To get more information when the program is available, just scroll down to the bottom of this article to subscribe to SmartCause Digital email updates.
The Skill: WordPress
What It Is:
WordPress is a content management system behind many nonprofit websites. It’s simple to use, yet powerful. You can use it to set up a personal blog, a complex corporate website or anything in between.
How It Will Help You:
There’s a good chance that your current nonprofit’s new website will be built in WordPress… or perhaps your future nonprofit (wink, wink) will already have a WordPress website. If you learn how to use WordPress, you can confidently update the content of your nonprofit’s website.
How to Get Started:
Set up a test blog at WordPress.com to get familiar with the tool, for free!
And make sure you’re on the SmartCause Digital email list. In early February, as a celebration of SmartCause Digital’s 4th birthday, I’m offering a free WordPress training to members of our email community. Just scroll to the bottom of this article to subscribe and get your invitation!
Ready to transform your career in 2016?
Join me for one or all of the Smart Nonprofit Websites training programs in 2016!
Smart Nonprofit Websites is a digital skills training program specifically for nonprofit professionals. Each course includes a combination of on-demand video trainings, live webinars, interactive worksheets and the option to include a personalized one-on-one strategy session, so you can talk through your ideas for and questions about your specific website.
Here’s what you’ll learn throughout the year:
- Turn Website Visitors into Supporters (Spring)
- Complete Google Analytics Toolkit (Summer)
- WordPress for Nonprofits (Fall)
If you’re interested in receiving a note when enrollment is open, just scroll down and subscribe to the SmartCause Digital email list!
