Keep the website simple to navigate with clearly labeled tabs and few pages. The home page should provide a clean summary of who the chapter is. Include the SWCS logo to show it is part of the larger organization. Maintain a consistent layout across pages and include contact information. Keep the website current with a calendar of events and links to newsletters to show what the chapter does. Choose an easy to use platform and have one person maintain consistency. Link to social media to help keep the site current and edit all content for quality and errors.

1. 10 Tips for an Effective Website
SWCS 73rd
Annual Conference, July 30, 2018, Albuquerque, NM
1. Keep it simple. Make your site easy to navigate, with clearly labeled tabs to as few pages as you can
manage while still getting your information out there.
2. Home page: Make your Home page a clean, clear summary of who you are as a chapter.
3. Use the SWCS logo. This will call out that your chapter is part of the larger organization, with a
common mission, but with regional “flavor” or specific goals that speak to issues common to your
chapter demographic and geographic area.
4. Keep your layout consistent. With each page click, the visitor should know this is your website.
5. Include contact information. Include a call to action that invites the visitor to be in touch. Everyone
who visits is a potential “customer,” whether a current, future or reinstating member, a professional
with a training need, a student with a research question…
6. Keep your website current. Websites that aren’t up-to-date lose credibility. A calendar of events, or
Events page, and an easy-to-find link to newsletters stored chronologically can help the visitor find out
more about who you are and what you do.
7. You can be professional without being a professional website developer. Choose a platform that is
easy to work with. (Weebly, Wix, Squarespace are some options.) It’s a good idea to have a single
website admin who keeps the site clean and current, for consistency.
8. Link to social media. Put a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram button on your website to link to your
social media posts. This will help you keep your site current, even if you aren’t updating the actual site
as frequently.
9. Always edit your content! A second set of eyes is invaluable in spotting even the smallest grammatical
error or missed punctuation, not to mention glaring errors that can detract from professional quality
and turn the visitor off.
10. Most of all- have fun getting the word out! Use pictures can help tell your story. And consider teaming
up with other chapters to link your websites for networking and sharing.