NTEN 2009 Your Website as an Experience of Your Brand Kam Santos, Director of Communications

Cross-Cultural Solutions was founded in 1995 and is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering. Each year, over 4,000 people volunteer abroad with CCS in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. . Who We Are

Cross-Cultural Solutions was founded in 1995 and is a recognized leader in the field of international volunteering.

Each year, over 4,000 people volunteer abroad with CCS in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe.

Our vision is of a world where people value cultures different from their own, are aware of global issues , and are empowered to effect positive change . Vision

Our mission is to operate volunteer programs around the world in partnership with sustainable community initiatives , bringing people together to work side-by-side while sharing perspectives and fostering cultural understanding . We are an international not-for-profit organization with no political or religious affiliations . Our Mission

Shared Humanity When people of different cultures have an opportunity to connect, there comes an understanding of our shared humanity. Respect We accept, appreciate and respect that people know and understand what is appropriate for their own communities. Integrity We commit to ensuring the safety, flexibility, professionalism, transparency and excellence of our programs. . Values

Shared Humanity When people of different cultures have an opportunity to connect, there comes an understanding of our shared humanity.

Respect We accept, appreciate and respect that people know and understand what is appropriate for their own communities.

Integrity

We commit to ensuring the safety, flexibility, professionalism, transparency and excellence of our programs.

. Our Programs

. CCS Website 2005

CCS Project Brief Ensure sustainability Be dynamic, interactive, current, exciting, elegant Involve brand advocates, be authentic Reinforce CCS vision, mission, values Keep on-brand

Ensure sustainability

Be dynamic, interactive, current, exciting, elegant

Involve brand advocates, be authentic

Reinforce CCS vision, mission, values

Keep on-brand

Brand Qualities Connecting People, Opportunity for Cultural Exchange International, Global Reach Dynamic, Engaging Excellence in Programming, Leader in our Field Inspiring, Transformative Experience: The Experience of a Lifetime

Connecting People, Opportunity for Cultural Exchange

International, Global Reach

Dynamic, Engaging

Excellence in Programming, Leader in our Field

Inspiring, Transformative Experience: The Experience of a Lifetime

Age 18-30 Women Web-savvy, current, social networkers People in transition, typically students or recent graduates Primary Audience

Age 18-30

Women

Web-savvy, current, social networkers

People in transition, typically students or recent graduates

99% of CCS volunteers who completed an evaluation rated their overall program experience as "Excellent" or "Good." Over 75% of our volunteers agree to represent CCS, and share stories about their CCS experience At least 5 NTEN attendees are alumni. Harness Brand Love

99% of CCS volunteers who completed an evaluation rated their overall program experience as "Excellent" or "Good."

Over 75% of our volunteers agree to represent CCS, and share stories about their CCS experience

At least 5 NTEN attendees are alumni.

. CCS Community 2008

. CCS Website 2009

10 Things We Did Differently Invest in CMS Incorporate years of volunteer survey comments Incorporate staff feedback Develop user personas Design multiple wireframes, >6 by launch.

Invest in CMS

Incorporate years of volunteer survey comments

Incorporate staff feedback

Develop user personas

Design multiple wireframes, >6 by launch.

10 Things We Did Differently (cont.) Relate site to CCS Community Planned site map with SEO/SEM Use Brand Manual & Style Guides Learned from Google Analytics, HeatMapping! Sought inspiration from peer orgs

Relate site to CCS Community

Planned site map with SEO/SEM

Use Brand Manual & Style Guides

Learned from Google Analytics, HeatMapping!

Sought inspiration from peer orgs

Insights We Gained Keep Brand Manual, Style Guide, Project Brief At-Hand Through Design & Implementation Commit to Ongoing Brand Development. Launch, Revise, Launch, etc. More User Testing by Stakeholders Before Lauch.

Keep Brand Manual, Style Guide, Project Brief At-Hand Through Design & Implementation

Commit to Ongoing Brand Development. Launch, Revise, Launch, etc.

More User Testing by Stakeholders Before Lauch.

How to Get Started Look at your qualitative and quantitative data. Listen to buzz, and embrace the positive brand love. Learn from your peers, and other key players you feel are in a non-competing position.

Look at your qualitative and quantitative data.

Listen to buzz, and embrace the positive brand love.

Learn from your peers, and other key players you feel are in a non-competing position.

www.crossculturalsolutions.org