TIPS FOR YOUR FIRSTGIVING PERSONAL WEBSITE

Here are a few tips that we've learned from other event participants; these will help you maximize donations via your HD Walk sponsorship page.

1. Use your own e-mail as well as the facility on the page. Since you are already familiar with your own system, you can set up groups and you'll be able to send more e-mails at once than you can via your sponsorship page. Also, some of your potential supporters may feel more comfortable opening an email from the email address that they are accustomed to.

2. Change your email auto-signature at work and/or at home; after your name and title etc, add a line at the bottom including the address of your webpage. This will raise awareness of your event and ensure that every email you send out could prompt a possible donation.

3. Check that you've emailed all the groups of potential supporters, apart from friends and family these might be colleagues, former colleagues, college friends, fellow members of church/clubs/PTA and encourage them to pass on the message to anyone else who might support your chosen charity. The internet really widens the group of people you might immediately think of; for example, friends, family and colleagues living in different parts of the US that you rarely see.

4. Don't forget your friends and family abroad; friends, family and colleagues can give from anywhere. The Internet is global, so make the most of it.

5. Send a little e-mail update on your progress. It's nice for those who have already supported your efforts, and a nudge for those who haven't contributed yet. You know what it's like: people mean to donate, but sometimes they don't quite get round to it on the first request! We know this works well from other people's experience.

6. Make the most of your memorable web address for press releases and other publicity. This is great if you managed to get some publicity for your efforts in a local paper or radio station. We're happy to provide tips on writing press releases too, and some of our runners have had pretty good coverage to date. Doing a major run is no mean feat as you're all aware, and local papers do like to tell the public that people are running for a good cause.

7. Put a notice up in your gym, church, college, children's school, etc. Tell people to go to the short web address you've created (i.e. www.Firstgiving.com/johndoe) and people can donate from there.

8. Ask to be on your company's website! See if your company would be prepared to add your site to its public website or private company intranet. Many companies like to promote the charitable and public spirited efforts of their staff and you could get a lot of extra donations from this. Some companies may even offer a "matching gift" program where they offer to match any amounts you have raise, so this action could help you reach your target even faster.