For those of you that didn't visit Global PR Blog Week 2.0 here is a re-post of the article I wrote about event blogs:

Blogs offer a cost-effective solution for non-profits to promote, cover, discuss and wrap-up events

Events often pose smaller non-profits a problem with their limited web site budgets. Some non-profits might have basic content management tools that allow them to add a news item or calendar event, while many others have standard flat HTML pages. Often a new event was not in the 'master web plan' when the site we designed a year or two ago. In these situations an event will receive very limited exposure, if any, on the web site and is often shoe horned into an existing site structure. If a non-profit has additional web funds they will sometimes create a micro-site for the event, but it is often a flat/static page with few updates and no life beyond the event. Blog software can help change this.

From a technical standpoint blog software is an easy-to-use content management system that allows users with limited technical skill to post web content. Blog software can do more than just run blogs though. Organizations are quickly bootstrapping software such as MovableType, WordPress, Expression Engine and TypePad to create non-blog content. Fellow Global PR Blog Week contributor Lee Lefever runs his entire website at CommonCraft.com using MovableType.

A great example blog software in a a non-blog use is the University of Florida's Newsroom. The UF site uses WordPress to manage all press releases, photos and podcasts. Using blog software also allows UF to easily provide an RSS feed of all the content posted. University of Florida webmaster Mark Trammell says, "WordPress has not only streamlined the release workflow, but keeps the focus on developing smart Web content. Making the move created a database of stories allowing us to easily change the structure and aesthetics of the site down the road." Plus it's easy for the communications department to use.

These same blog software tools can create an effective event site as well.

It's Cheap:
The majority or blog software is relatively inexpensive (MovableType for non-profits starts at $49.95) or in the case of WordPress is free.

Easy Set-Up:
Need to set up a site for a new event? Use the 'Create New Weblog' wizard in either TypePad or MovableType (WordPress and Expression Engine have similar tools) and within a few minutes your 'site' is up and running. A small amount of HTML knowledge or some 'donated' time from a local geek can help customize the look of the site template. The majority of the time the focus is on the content not the design so templates can be relatively simple.

Easy To Manage:
Existing bloggers know how easy it is to publish content; enter your title and the body and click publish. When users realize how easily they can post and manage content, they quickly embrace their new-found tool. Training for staff members is short and sweet.

Using Categories for Content Sections:
Using the built-in category system of blog software allows an organization to create a navigation structure similar to a traditional site. Categories for an event could include: News, Schedule, Speakers, Travel & Accommodations, Sessions, Wrap-Up, Photos etc.

Need to post the list of conference hotels? Create a new post and put it in the 'Travel & Accommodations' category. How about a list of speakers with their bios? Post a daily schedule? No problem.

Forgot to provide an area for post-event wrap-ups? Create a new category and rebuild.

RSS by Default:
Using blog software to manage an event web site automatically creates an RSS feed of all your content. The tech-savvy audience will appreciate this. RSS feeds can also be used to syndicate content to other parts of the non-profit site. For example a list of the latest event updates can be posted on the home page of the non-profit web site.

Less is More:
Many content management systems are overloaded with features and tools confuse the end user and make training difficult. Blog software provides the bare essentials that are needed to post and manage content.

Comments Too:
With each entry the non-profit can turn on/off comments. Looking for some quick feedback on an issue? Post a question and allow the attendees to comment. Conference speakers can also post questions and initial topics to gauge interest and knowledge level. Some items such as a speaker bio might not need comments.

Live-Blogging:
During the event the blog can be used to post notes from the sessions. Those who could not attend, but are still interested in the content, can follow along remotely. Once the session is over comments can provide additional resources and follow-up.

Pictures Are Easy:
Flickr has made it incredibly easy to crop & edit photos and create photo galleries. Create a Flickr account and upload photos at will. Including photos in the event site can easily be accomplished in a number of ways.

Tag It:
Event organizers can encourage participants to utilize tags to aggregate external blog content and photos. During BlogNashville the event web site had a Discussion page that automatically aggregated all blogs and photos tagged blognashville.

The End is Just the Beginning:
Once the event is complete the site can be used to post: session recaps including downloadable versions of handouts, photos, post-event surveys and pre-plan next year's event.

Conclusion

Non-profits have always faced issues with limited funding and staffing along with a reliance upon volunteers to help carry out their mission. Doing a lot with a little is a way of life.

Considering all the features listed above coupled with the low-cost and ease of use; blog software can effectively provide non-profits a robust web publishing system that can be used for event web sites.