A lot of non-profits are still struggling with how best to dive into the “Web 2.0″ world. As crazy as it sounds to some of us, most are still not doing much outside of emailing their constituents. Non-profits are notoriously understaffed, so this should not come as a surprise. So how should a non-profit start out in this world? As simple as it sounds, it’s as easy as this: start a MySpace page.

A MySpace page will allow you to test several areas in one spot and it will be an excellent testing ground as a first step. It also has the lowest threshold. For one, it is free, and two, most groups will have the content already generated that you can put up online (unlike YouTube or even Flickr to some extent). This can take as little as two hours per week to maintain. Here are some simple steps you can take to start your MySpace page.

  • Use a 25-50 word description to tell people who you are and what you do at the top of your page. Keep it short and to the point.
  • Place a visible link back to you homepage.
  • Send all your action alerts using the bulletin feature and blog tool.
  • Moderate all comments (don’t allow spam comments through).
  • Promote the site to your email list.

    • These might sound simple, but it is the easiest way to build up a presence on MySpace, and will let you see how much more your staff can handle.