Once upon a time, there was a local charity in need of a website.
Not just any website: a basic website. No fancy Flash animation. No crazy apps. Nothing out of the ordinary.
They went with the first quote they received – a friend of a friend – and excitedly started the project.
We’d like 20 pages, but we’d like to update the content ourselves.
Oh, that’ll cost you, the website designer told them.
Oh, and it would be nice to have our Facebook and Twitter feeds on it too.
Those are quite expensive, the designer lamented, and those will certainly take many hours to implement.
What about links to external websites? Extra fee.
What about pictures? Extra.
Words? Extra.
Colours? Sorry, extra.
By the time the charity’s new website was live, it was already outdated, more than $4,000 over budget and still didn’t meet website visitors’ needs.
The charity’s team in charge of the project spoke highly of the value they place on the completed project. “Of course it was worth it – it’s on the Internet and looks marvellous. It even has pictures!” they said, while cutbacks in their programs and services pushed away those most in need of the few donations they received.
The website designer? She also spoke highly of the value of her services, and was able to place yet another trophy on her mantel.
And both the charity and designer went on with their lives. The end.
Or is it? I’ve said this many times before, but I need to say it again: it’s time that marketers stop pillaging our charities for every nickle they can get, and instead partner with them to deliver exceptional services for the betterment of our entire community – especially those who rely on charities.
I find it embarrassing that so much value is sucked out of the charitable sector for the profit of an individual or two who don’t understand morality.
Some free advice: if you’re a charity, get a minimum of two quotes for any project over a certain threshold. If you’re after a “basic” website, don’t spend any more than $2,000 max. Ask around and see what others have paid for similar solutions.
When it comes to print projects, keep in mind that although you may be using a local marketing team, most large projects are printed in the GTA – you may be spending 100-200% more simply to use a local middleman. Supporting local is important, but be sure you have a clearly defined plan regarding this….what’s more important, supporting a local printer or providing your charity’s services to XX more people? It all depends on where you place the most value. How you do that is up to you.