[DDN] Google could love you: free SEO from Grassroots.org

[Dave Chakrabarti]

Greetings DDNers,

Grassroots.org has been testing and fine-tuning a new program for  
nonprofits over the past couple of months. We're now offering free  
telephone consulting sessions on search engine optimization for  
nonprofits, along with a guide covering the fundamentals of nonprofit  
SEO at seo.grassroots.org . We've even got a forum for your SEO  
questions, answered by our team of SEO experts.

The idea: There are over 625 million searches every day on search  
engines such as Google, MSN, or Yahoo. For an increasing number of  
people, a search engine is how they find information online, ranging  
from weather forecasts to news. The corporate world has known for  
years that high visibility in search engine listings is necessary for  
success, even for non-internet businesses. The same is even more true  
for nonprofits, many of which are desperately in need of new ways to  
reach potential constituents, donors, and partners online.

When someone does a search for "Chicago computer training" ...do they  
find the nonprofit CTCs doing incredible work here, or do they find  
only for-profit businesses? Why is that, and how do we address it?  
What does this mean for someone who is looking for a CTC to make a  
donation to, or an individual looking for a free or low-cost training  
site? I suggest that website visibility in search engine results is a  
determining factor in the success or failure of nonprofit web  
development.

I'd love feedback on the project, and on the idea in general. And,  
for all those working in the nonprofit sector (especially NTAPs!),  
I'd encourage you to check out the site and schedule a consultation.

Thanks,

   Dave.

------------------------
Dave Chakrabarti
Director of Programs
Grassroots.org