Community Tip - Strengthening Your Online Presence – Self Assessment Tool

Communications Officer • May 10, 2023

In a new blog series we are calling Community Tips, CNA will be discussing tricks, tools and resources that can support and help out our member organisations and their kaimahi.

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.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Solving Board Problems with Bullet(s) Points...

April 8, 2025

Being part of a community organisation is exciting, rewarding, and sometimes a little chaotic. From passionate debates to trying to make decisions that serve everyone’s needs, it’s no surprise that things can get a bit tangled at times.

Hapori Aotearoa Conference Wrap-Up

By Community Networks • March 10, 2025

Last week Patrick represented CNA at the Hapori Aotearoa – Growing Communities Together in sunny Tauranga presented by Inspiring Communities and the Tauranga City Council. A two-day conference focused on providing practical resources amplifying community development. With each day having multiple concurrent workshops there were difficult (and esciting) choices to be made. The hottest topics were Social Return On Investments / Social Investment, Te Tiriti, and (no surprise) funding within the Sector. There were great speakers and a lot of table korero, spilling of tea, and sharing ideas and resources. Did you know there is a Regional Data Explorer on the Social Investment Agency website ? How might organisations use this to target their mahi and applications? “The Social Investment Agency’s Regional Data Explorer supports access to data for regional and sub-regional decision-making. It brings together 70 datasets or 'indicators' which can be filtered to meet a particular need." Another great workshop (Belinda Gorman ) looked into connecting with businesses to explore various ways of funding. Looking at alignment, how to approach and creating that relationship. One contribution we were able to make was a handy dandy doc on how to use the free version of ChatGPT to create a start – how to create a document that begins your journey on support, sponsorship and funding. Here it is – Using ChatGPT to Get $. And it was a great chance to catch up with Members – SociaLink (also a supporter of the conference); Volunteer Kapiti and Community Networking Trust. It was a time to catch up with friends from other organisations and to make new connections, both strengthening our reach around the Motu. Whilst conferences are expensive, attending can hit many birds with one stone and its important to get out of your own area, headspace to remind yourself that you are not alone in what’s going on; that there are people with ideas around you; and that (while it can be a draining experience) it is a fantastic way to recharge your spirit. We look forward to hosting our Members at our Members’ Only Hui on Friday, 7th November in Te Whanganui-a-Tara /Wgtn for exactly those reasons. Oh, did I mention it’s also our 50th Anniversary celebrations? Patrick Davies, Engagement Officer