Community Tip - Strengthening Your Online Presence – Self Assessment Tool

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is increasingly important for community organisations to be able to reach their audience, communicate their message and raise awareness and support. However, building an online presence can be challenging, especially for those who are new to the digital landscape. Just when you think you’ve got your head around things, a new gadget, software update or social media platform comes along to humble you. 

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at a useful tool developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment in collaboration with Digital Journey, that aims to help organisations strengthen their online presence. Whether you're looking to improve your website, social media presence, or digital marketing strategy, the resource shared below is a great place to start. 

The toolkit includes three quick assessment tools to help you check how well you are using online platforms and what you can do to level up. 

These three self-assessments are: 

• Your website 
• Your digital marketing/engagement 
• Digital tools and how people use them (working together, accounting and HR, backup and recovery)   

Your Website: 

As a community organisation, your website serves as the digital face of your organisation and is a vital tool for communicating your message, sharing your mission, and engaging with your target audience. A well-designed website can provide visitors with valuable information about your organization, its initiatives, and its impact. It can also serve as a central hub for sharing news and events, recruiting volunteers, and accepting donations. The website self-assessment tool takes 5-10 minutes and will give you a better idea of your website's strengths and weaknesses, as well as practical tips and links to expert advice to improve it. 

Start the website assessment here. 

Your Digital Marketing/Engagement 

The second assessment looks at your digital marketing and engagement. This tool is designed to help you identify areas of strength and weakness in your current digital marketing strategy and provide recommendations for improvement. By answering a series of questions about your organization's website, social media presence, and overall digital marketing approach, you can gain valuable insights into how to better engage with your audience and achieve your goals. 

Start the digital marketing assessment here. 

Your Digital Tools: 

The third and final assessment tool is designed to help you identify the digital channels and tools that your target audience is most likely to use and how to effectively engage with them. The assessment, like the other two above takes just 5-10 minutes and will assess how well you’re using online tools for accessing business info, working together, accounting and HR, and backup and recovery. 

Take the three assessments here - https://www.business.govt.nz/getting-started/building-a-brand/strengthening-your-online-presence/ 

A Note on Digital Exclusion: 

It's important to note that not everyone in your community has equal access to digital technologies, which can result in digital exclusion. This means that some members of your community may not be able to access your website, social media platforms, or other online resources, limiting their ability to engage with your organisation. To address digital exclusion, be sure that your organisation's services and resources are accessible to everyone, regardless of their digital literacy or access to technology. You can do this by providing alternative ways for individuals to engage, such as phone or mail-based communication, in-person events and workshops, and printed materials. By taking steps to address digital exclusion, you can ensure that your organisation is accessible to everyone in your community and that no one is left behind.