Recommendations from ClubHosting.org
1) Make sure the Club owns the Domain Name.
Pick a reputable registrar, and make sure the domain is registered to the club organization, not an individual person. Use a club shared email address (like yourclubname@gmail.com).
- Use paypal if your club doesn’t have a check card. Many places accept paypal, this way clubs can use their Checking account to pay registration fees. If you do use a card, make sure the account is setup still with the organization being your club name.
- Don’t get privacy, email service, or other ad ons. Godaddy gives free email forwarding, as do others. If you are an officer, your email has been pasted everywhere anyways.
- Don’t spend more than $15 a year.
(We like to suggest Godaddy for registration. They upsell during checkout, but easy with good, friendly support for nontechnical people and their technical questions).
2) Use Email Forwards.
This way your club email always stays the same, you just update the forward when you change staff. Meaning, president@yourclub.com forwards to a privatepersonsemail@charter.net (etc). This way you do not have to update your website, forms, contact details, etc. Many registrars offer this free, or if you are paying for Self Setup hosting, you can add these yourself.
3) Do not register domain as part of a package with your webhosting.
Webhosting should always be separate. Package deals lock you in to keep you from switching service and giving you the headache of transferring a domain. You can order both Domain Name Registration and Webhosting Service from a large company, just make sure they are not bundled (1and1 is notorious for this. Cancel your website, you cancel your domain).
4) Do not spend more than $80 a year on hosting.
You do not need what they are selling you. You may even be able to squeak by with a free site somewhere. Just something to make it appear like your club is still alive, and trying to keep up with the times (yes, we have a free product you’re welcome to use. It’s very simple, but good enough to make you show signs of life).
5) Use Facebook as a compliment to your website. Not as a website by itself.
You always need a standalone website to serve people looking for trail information or information on your clubs fundraising events. Facebook doesn’t do that for you. Facebook should be used to post links of info you add on your site, or maybe to “chat”. Yes, you can create Events in facebook and get people to RSVP, but the details for that Event should always be available (and indexable by search engines) on your website.
Remember, many people actively choose not to use facebook. Especially in our sport. Do not exclude ½ of your rider base by solely relying on facebook to manage your clubs website.
Reasons I do not suggest using facebook as your sole web presence..
- Everything you post will be jumbled. People can’t get info easily
- It isn’t a guarantee that users see when you Post a Status Update
(to guarantee that your post appears, you have to pay. They keep it at a 10-25% view rate to encourage sponsor story advertising buys) - Your Club Will not be “Findable” by search engines, meaning you will miss those looking for trail conditions or events in your area.
- Not everyone uses facebook.
6) Keep things simple. Ask yourself these Three Things:
- How do we raise the most money?
- What do people rely on us for?
- How can we get more club members?
1) .. Is usually an Event. You want to make this a page. Links to DNR are nice, but not needed. So many club websites post info that is not important, without actually emphasizing the big events that make them the most money. Or, if you make the most money via State Grant/Aid for grooming trails, then make sure riders view your website as an area resource for trail conditions.
2) Trails, Annual Events, Snowmobile Safety Education? Make sure your website focuses on those more than anything else!
3) This is the 20 Million Dollar Question. Usually it is a long term approach. Showing that you are an active, modern club helps. A simple easy to use website that you can keep updated will help you there. A Club Photo Flickr album that riders can share photos with (and keep more photos flowing through your group), maybe some friendly “lets ride” type of events to meet new people. Most important thing you can do is to make your club stand out by providing useful information with your trail system.
People who know your trail conditions will ride them more, and visit them throughout the week when planning for rides. Your website will keep your club in the front part of their mind, and build rapport with the rider. Only if you keep it updated though.
7) Pick something that is easy to use.
Don’t force yourself info a HTML page you have to edit to update. Every time something needs to be tweaked it’s an agonizing process. Use one of the many content management systems out there. ClubHosting of course is setup in a way that clubs find it amazingly helpful, but there are other alternatives are engines that use WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal.
8) Make it easy for Club Members to join.
Don’t make them print and mail things if they don’t want to . Let the lazy people setup an auto renewing paypal subscription so your club gets money every year. Add paypal donate buttons next to trail maps. Make cheap people who won’t join your club at least buy you a gallon of fuel for the groomer!
Nick from ClubHosting.org
FTC Disclosure: Clubhosting.org is a website hosting provider for snowmobile & atv club websites. We do not get commissions for any other referrals or suggestions made in this article and have not been paid by third parties to endorse or recommend the above .