November 4, 2011

If you have any interest in or make management decisions in regard to your organization's marketing, website or online presence, you need to have Google Panda on your radar - if only to understand how it can harm you.  

In simple terms - Google Panda "ranks" your website, using algorithms that review the words and phrases that are on a specific page, the links that are used, determines what the site’s reputation is, etc. 

So why do you care?  When people search for something on Google, Google quickly comes back with a list of 206,000 websites that match the search criteria.  Google Panda determines where you wind up in that list of 206,000 websites.  You, obviously, want to be near the top, not the bottom. 

Here are some good tips to keep your website relevant and keep your site's reputation in good  standing:  5 SEO Tips That You Don’t Want to Forget
 

I know. It sounds very ironic, considering I’ve already helped start two.

But here’s the reality. I’ve taken numerous requests for “chats” about starting nonprofits. I want to help, but I’ve noticed I’m telling everyone the same things. So in an effort to still be a nice person, and the reality that I haven’t slept well in four months, I’ve decided to multi-task and move all my “chats” online. I will not have all the answers, but perhaps one of the readers will (thus hooking myself up in the process). So yes, I’m crowdsourcing my inbox, and outsourcing my calendar to my blog.

But before launching into the gritty details of starting a nonprofit, I need to preface it with an important piece of advice. “Just Don’t Do It.”

At least not without being properly warned. If you haven’t launched a nonprofit, or haven’t worked for one before, here are six things you should prepare for:

1. Prepare to be broke.

An important fact usually unknown by the general public.  In truth, most founders and early staff don’t take salaries for at least the first year of the start-ups life-cycle. Sometimes longer.

I’ve heard countless founder war stories about sleeping on couches, or taking calls from our living rooms as we say, “Or… why don’t we meet at your office?” Invisible Children took advantage of being children, and moved back in with their parents. Krochet Kids spent nights crocheting, and waiting tables. Even though I joined charity: water nine months into their life-cycle, I joined the unpaid crew and made ends meet by babysitting at night and occasionally foot modeling (which is an entirely different blog post). Nothing says, “I just got my Masters Degree” like trying on other people’s shoes.

Apparently, you have to become poor to help the poor. You can’t offer equity, take a small business loan, or go after VC funding – so be prepared to eat a lot of mac and cheese, and take deep breaths as your credit card bill creeps passed your savings.

Want to provide some feedback to the IRS on the new 990?