Comments on: How and When Should Your Nonprofit Organization Invest in Mobile

By: Brenda

Brenda — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:23:27 +0000

Hello all and I came upon this article and just wanted to say great read and awesome subject. Yes I wish all nonprofits would really look at creating mobile sites or responsive web design for their websites as well as an app. It is not a great user experience having to constantly re-size or hit the wrong thing trying to get at something else. As a tech ministry leader for my church and a tech worker for over 20+ years in corporate america I am pushing our church into the mobile landscape finally as it has really improved and increased our web traffic as well as our giving because now members are able to support and keep up with church activities on the go without having to always call the church to get information. So thanks you for writing this article as it is so on point.

By: Justin Avery

Justin Avery — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 14:41:36 +0000

Hi Beth,

I did this screen cast way back when you wrote this article but I never actually posted a comment and share with you

This is the screen cast, http://www.screenr.com/CA87, and it just goes through a suggestion to possibly further expand the content area of your articles to maybe improve readability.

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:48:46 +0000

More here: http://www.echoditto.com/blog/responsive-design-what-know

By: ISIS Blog » Create A Mobile App for Social Justice

ISIS Blog » Create A Mobile App for Social Justice — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:50:30 +0000

[...] Beth Kanter: How and When Should Your Nonprofit Organization Invest in Mobile TechSoup: App Resources for Nonprofits and Libraries Mashable: Building a Mobile App on the Cheap SocialBrite: Building Mobile Applications for Social Good Nonprofit Tech 2.o: 12 Useful, Well-Designed, Worth-Downloading iPhone Apps Created by Nonprofits Share and Enjoy: This entry was posted by admin on December 6, 2012 at 8:38 pm and filed under ISIS Blog. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « ISIS’ 1-2-3-4 Guide to Rolling Out a Social Media Campaign [...]

By: When Should Nonprofit Websites Go Responsive? | Blog | MRW Web Design

When Should Nonprofit Websites Go Responsive? | Blog | MRW Web Design — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:31:38 +0000

[...] design is cheap compared to building two or three separate sites, but it’s not free.Read “How and When Should Your Nonprofit Organization Invest in Mobile” on BethKanter.co…The second article comes from Smashing Magazine. Their point, though stated from a different [...]

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:29:46 +0000

Kerryn: Thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a thoughtful comment. Appreciate it. Yes, I took the plunge too – and it was the right thing to do – to invest in that sort of upgrade. Much better investment than an app or something else.

Also, Heidi wrote the post, I just framed. I was thrilled that Heidi offered to write a post based on this discussion and write such a great one!

By: Kerryn Gerety

Kerryn Gerety — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:55:35 +0000

Hi Beth –

I love your blog and have been an avid follower/reader for over a year now; I can’t tell you how excited I was to read your [re]post on responsive design…

I am a founding team member at Fundraise.com in Boston and 9 months ago we took the leap and completely rebuilt our platform from the ground-up on responsive technology – meaning everyone who uses our site to raise money or sell tickets has an equal opportunity to a responsively designed page (pull our site up on a smart phone or tablet and you’ll see what I mean).

We truly believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to effectively fundraise online.

Aside from the development costs and the choice to develop for iOS vs Android, it also takes up to 14 days to have changes made to the app in the app store, and apps are also extremely limiting in there’s one more step to converting a donor – “Please download our app and THEN donate.”

Pumped to hear more nonprofits talking about exciting new technology and how using it to our best advantage can both lower operating costs and convert more supporters into donors.

Thanks Heidi & Beth!

By: Fundraising-Wochenrückblick vom 15.-21.10.2012 | sozialmarketing.de - wir lieben Fundraising

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:02:32 +0000

[...] Blog: How and When Should Your Nonprofit Organization Invest in Mobile Kivi’s Blog: How to Plan a New Website Without Your Head Exploding Inspiring Generosity: The [...]

By: Investing in mobile « Philanthropy Communication in a Digital World

Investing in mobile « Philanthropy Communication in a Digital World — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:17:10 +0000

[...] week in Beth’s Blog a guest poster, Heidi Massey, blogged about how and when nonprofit organizations should switch to [...]

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:52:12 +0000

Heidi thank you again for an informative blog post! Whatever it is called, the ability to be able to serve up content on this blog to readers in a format that they can easily navigate is what I was after when I upgraded this blog. I just couldn’t ignore the complaints about the blog being unreadable on mobile devices.

By: Peter Gransden

Peter Gransden — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:44:36 +0000

Dear Krishan,
Very important blog and your comment pricked me ears.

Perhaps I can help you out with this; maybe you are looking in the wrong place to find a company that can offer a price range non-profit organizations can afford.

Meta7.ph in the Philippines have been working on making websites look good on the smaller screens people so-often look at these days.

Outsourcing to the Philippines also has its advantages as fare as offering non-profit organisations a price range they can afford and perhaps even paying back some of the work non-profit organizations have done for their countrys.

I do believe that you should not forget mobile apps as they are the newest form of media but also suggest you can find a way to get a good deal overseas.

Best regards,
Peter

By: Claire Murray (Clamo88)

Claire Murray (Clamo88) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:39:08 +0000

Krishan, in response to your question about where to get the tools to make your website responsive to mobile devices, begin by asking your webmaster what platform the website has been designed on.

This Nov 2011 article, http://magazine.joomla.org/issues/issue-nov-2011/item/594-Responsive-Design, talks about it from the Joomla web platform, but do a search for Joomla & responsive design and you’ll get more updated info, especially templates that have already been designed to find out what device a reader is using and provide a web interface that is appropriate.

If they use WordPress, then this July 2012 article will get you started: http://wpmu.org/wordpress-responsive-design/. Again, Google WordPress & responsive design for more on the topic.

Good luck!
Claire

By: Krishan Murti

Krishan Murti — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:02:37 +0000

Dear Heidi
I think you have very well made your point. Not-for-profits should first of all make sure that their web site looks nice on mobile devices before spending scarce resources on apps. The question however is: Where do you get responsive web design services at a price that not-for-profits can afford? I am a volunteer for the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD), and I have been shopping around for such services in the Geneva / Switzerland region. Unfortunately, I haven’t found very few specialised offerings, and prices are way beyond what we can afford.

By: Eliza Olson

Eliza Olson — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:26:00 +0000

Thanks for the update. It fits with what we are doing. We redesigning our website so that the information can be easily accessed on any thye of product.

A little over a year ago, I was approached by a company wanting to design an ap for the society–the goal was to design an game and sell it online. He wasnted $20,000 to design a game for the Society. He is still waiting.

By: David Svet

David Svet — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:55:41 +0000

Nice job, Heidi. I’m with Shelly Kramer on being tired of “responsive design.” Variable data modifying designs has been around a very long time – early 80s. Flexible grid structures too. Maybe it’s easier to sell if it has a new name.

By: Kelly McIvor

Kelly McIvor — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:54:12 +0000

Good post, Heidi. Non-profits often struggle not only with technology choices but in the implementation as well. This is where responsive design – as an approach to mobile – can hang things up. Responsive design requires a redesign of the entire web presence so that the experience is optimal depending on the screen size. This can and often does require a significant expense. As an alternative, organizations should consider building a separate mobile site and keeping their current site as-is until a complete redesign is in the cards. With simple device detection, their current site can re-direct mobile devices to the mobile site.

By: Allen Mireles

Allen Mireles — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:48:46 +0000

Heidi,

I think you nailed it when you said “..consider the goals that an organization is trying to achieve before determining the solution.” Couldnt agree more. That thinking applies across the board, to for profit and no profits alike.

Well done, you!

By: Sue Spaight

Sue Spaight — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:24:51 +0000

VERY well stated, Heidi. Completely agree with you and Shelly, so many organizations just want to be able to say “we have an app” without thinking through that downloads and usage aren’t like to happen unless there is some REAL user utility involved. I’m sharing your post with some people right now as proof that it’s not just me telling them this. Thanks for the great post!

By: Mickey Gomez

Mickey Gomez — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:50:56 +0000

“Sometimes, when a nonprofit organization is considering app development, it is just to convey information, which could be done effectively through a mobile site.” EXACTLY!

I shared this today with our nonprofit audience, Heidi – thank you!

By: Heidi Massey

Heidi Massey — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:27:55 +0000

Shelly,
You are one of the best teachers in my world. I learn from you every day. I had never heard of responsive design before the Facebook conversation. I like responsive design because my understanding of it is that your site responds to the device the person is on, be it mobile, tablet, desktop, etc. Additionally the conversation was about optimizing email, and everything else, not just sites.

The important detail is that we are all clear about what we are talking about. And we all agree about the importance of having sites, email, etc. that visitors are able to navigate successfully regardless of how they arrive. Otherwise, those visitors are likely to leave and to leave quickly.