Online Volunteering Technology, Tools, and Tips by Randy Tyler

Promote Your Cause, Fundraiser on Other Blogs, Web Sites Quickly, Easily and without Cost

Promote your cause, fundraiser, onsite or online volunteer opportunities quickly, easily and without cost using a widget. Most blogging platforms, such as Wordpress, automatically create feeds (RSS or Atom) of your content (posts). With your feed's URL copied, head to Feedsweep ( http://feedsweep.com/products/fs/create.aspx) and create a required free account (an account allows you to use your widget, change, save and create as many widgets as you like).

With your account created, paste your feed's URL into the Custom Feed URL box (about half way down the page), which is part of the free basic designer option. After filling in the remainder of the fields (e.g., widget title, number of posts to show), customize your widget's appearance and then click on the "Get Code" button, wherein you will be directed to a page containing your Feedsweep widget code (please see the screen capture above of a sample Feedsweep widget showing two posts). If you like the way your widget looks (your widget will be shown beside the code), save it.

The JavaScript-based widget code can now be copied and distributed (e-mailed, made available on your Web site and/or blog) to any of your associates, donors or friends' blogs or Web sites to help you (virally) promote your organization, a fundraiser and/or your volunteer opportunities.

Feedsweep's free option, through their Advanced Designer option, will also allow you to combine feeds, filter content and format your feed using HTML Tables or CSS to match a Web site or blog.

For further information about how a non profit organization can develop a productive virtual volunteering program through the use of appropriate technology, please visit this Online Volunteering Resource.