Scammers love to trick you by pretending to be someone they're not. For instance, how many times has "PayPal" or "Your Bank" attempted to get you to confirm or re-enter your personal information for their records? They're basically saying, "Haha, we're not real... Yoink*!" (*That's the sound of your information and identity being snatched.)

 
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a stranger to your organization. She's never heard of you, and through the magic of marketing, search engine optimization or sheer luck, this newbie is navigating around your website. Will she think you're for real or just a scam?  

 
Letting  people know there are actual people on the other side of that shiny website of yours is one key to proving your legitimacy. Here are few tips to prove that people can contact you--a real, live person:
  • Include the two key words--"Contact Us." PRWeb yesterday announced that a nonprofit organization called "Takes All Types" built the first blood donor network on Facebook. Above all of the "woohoo!" comments, one concerned Facebook visitor asks, "Is it serious?" No way to reach them, but they're asking for all sorts of information to sign up. Don't let your potential supporter bounce from your website thinking, "What's the deal?"

  • Put "Contact Us" everywhere. Include a link on your homepage and all of your subpages, and make that link easy to find. Many websites put the links in the top navigation as well as the very bottom of the page--different web-users have different reading habits, and you try to satisfy as many as you can.

  • Less isn't always more. Sometimes more is more. Don't hesitate to give out as much information as you can: an email address (that someone at your organization actually checks and responds from), a physical address and a phone number.

 
Bottom line: It feels easy and safe to play Oz, but don't be afraid to come out from behind the curtain--let folks approach you. (By the way, you can reach us at fundraising123@networkforgood.org.)