As Toastmasters, we know the importance of a good first impression. The first impression a prospective visitor gets of your club actually happens when they visit your club website. Think about the things we invest our time and money in. We typically review them online first.
The crucial question at hand is whether your website:
Conveys essential information about your club and Toastmasters within 15-20 seconds?
Gives the impression that your club is not open to the public?
Contains visibly outdated content, such as a promotion for a past event labeled as "upcoming"?
References Table Topics® (internal terminology) without clarifying the importance of impromptu speaking practice?
Appears uninteresting and unappealing?
Touches upon Pathways?
Highlights what sets your club apart from others?
Here are some ways to make your club website a better marketing and recruiting tool.
Brand Yourself (Your Club)
Establishing a brand for your local club using the brand portal is crucial, especially with the increasing popularity of online and hybrid clubs globally. Being able to appeal to members worldwide is exciting. However, it also means that you are competing for attention with all other clubs around the world that are meeting at the same time, whether in a hybrid or fully online format.
Toastmasters Brand Communication: The "Abridged Brand Manual"
The Toastmasters Brand strategy defines the key elements of when, where, why, and to whom our brand message will be conveyed. This guide is designed to assist you in communicating and applying the Toastmasters International brand.
The Home Page (Engage the visitor)
Highlight Toastmasters in action by showcasing videos of a member delivering a powerful presentation. Mention to potential visitors that even the skilled speaker was once a beginner. Keep in mind that the target audience includes newcomers and individuals unfamiliar with Toastmasters. Avoid featuring staged photos of people displaying certificates on the homepage as it may not create the desired impact. Opt for images and videos that convey a positive message. Don't underestimate the significance of written content. According to many social media experts, you should aim for a word count between 600 and 800 words for the benefit of search engine optimization.
Provide Essential Information
At the top of the page, clearly state the location and meeting schedule. Since your website can be accessed globally, be specific about the meeting place, whether it's Canada, Tennessee, England, or Australia. If online participation is allowed or encouraged, specify the meeting time along with the time zone. Ensure all details are up to date and accurate.
What exactly makes your club so special?
An example of this is the Keystone Toastmasters Club. Keystone, as a hybrid club, is attracting attention online by focusing on a specific skill such as networking. Networking and building connections can be important for personal and professional growth. This subject also connects to a Pathways Elective project.
FreeToastHost Website: Access to Support (learning how to manage your site)
Select: "Register for Support" (create your profile/login and password)
How to use FreeToastHost (click on picture below)
Add Depth to Your FreeToastHost Website
Having a comprehensive, multi-page website provides visitors with a greater number of pages to navigate and search engines with more content to index. If your website contains a standout article detailing ways in which speakers can enhance their body language or improve their slide-sharing skills on Zoom, it could potentially achieve a high ranking on Google or attract backlinks from other websites.
Search Engine Optimization
"Maximize the number of credible links pointing to your website, as Google takes these into account."
Improve Your Google Ranking Using FreeToastHost
Website and Social Media Login and Password
It is essential to ensure that two to three members have access to the login and password for your club website and social media accounts at all times. This scenario is akin to having only one person listed on the signature card for a bank account. If any issues arise with that individual, other members may find themselves unable to carry out essential tasks such as signing checks, paying bills, or making withdrawals. In Toastmasters clubs, there have been instances where only the individual in charge of the website and social media had access to the login credentials. In the event of an incident involving this person, the rest of the members were effectively locked out of the website and social media platforms, rendering them unable to update or recover the sites.
Include Club Social Media Links
Adding the club's social media links to your website is crucial. When a potential member visits your website and stays engaged for over 20 seconds, they usually search for your social media links. On FreeToastHost websites, the club's social media links are displayed below the club's individual pages on the left side of the page. Prospective members should be directed to each social media page when they click on the link.
Go to the website and view the "Social Media Links" section and select each icon to see the benefit of adding social media to your FreeToastHost website.
The Toastmasters Communication Program sharpens you with:
Communicating better on TikTok,
Selling yourself in job interviews
Improving your ability to network and connect at business or social events
Creating or improving your online presence
Communicating better on YouTube
Creating awareness of your improved leadership or communication style through a speech
Becoming an influential public speaker
Improving your ability to speak off-the-cuff (saying something without having prepared or thought about your words first)
Providing and receiving effective feedback. (also how not to take it personally)
Communicating better on Podcasts
Blogs:
#toastmastersinternationalclub #toastmastersvppublicrelations #toastmastersvicepresidentpublicrelations #toastmasters #toastmastersinternational #oklahomatoastmasters #toastmasterspathways #d16toastmasters #toastmastersvppr
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