Miranda Jordan has been successfully designing and developing web sites for over 13 years. Specializing in working with charities, nonprofits and small business with an emphasis on empowering through knowledge.  Miranda developed the Mississippi Nonprofit Technology Assistance Program (MSNTAP.org), a partnership that aims to assist Mississippi nonprofits to utilize technology successfully.  The MSNTAP mission is to help Mississippi nonprofits to better serve the community. MSNTAP provides professional, affordable technology services, innovative technology solutions and access to technology related resources that nonprofits need to be successful in today's high-tech world.  A new site that replicates the goals of MSNTAP, but serves the needs of people without geographical restrictions is currently under development.

The following are some of the workshops we offer.  Workshops are available in Australia periodically. Training can also be provided online and via video tutorials. Please contact us for details.

Mistakes and Myths Organizations Face on the Internet

Common problems organizations face on the Internet and what you should know to avoid them.

This workshop provides information on websites and email usage for any business or nonprofit organization who seeks to have an on-line presence. This workshop will help you to sort fact from fiction and empower you through knowledge. If you are building your own site, or having a site built by a professional, this workshop will help you to avoid the many pitfalls in the on-line world.

Websites That WORK!
The do's and don'ts of website design.

This workshop will help you understand a little about what makes Websites succeed or fail, and what can be done to increase the chance of success. Topics covered include a look at skills such as HTML, graphic design, coding, and search engine knowledge. We look at key issues such as knowing your purpose, the benefits of simple design, and good communication techniques for a successful website. Also what a good website should contain and what should be avoided.  Web design and development is an expansive and dynamic area that grows and changes every day. While it's impossible to document everything there is to know, this workshop aims to help you understand the basic principles of creating good Websites.

Beyond Websites

Strategy for Effective Online Networking

Many nonprofits, although they sense the potential of technology, are unsure of effective strategies for applying the power of electronic networking to their work.  While most organizations regularly communicate with their supporters, clients or members by mail, phone and fax, few are using email and the Web effectively to communicate with their activist base. Are you missing a huge opportunity to reach out electronically?

Guide to Social Networking

Learn how to use social networking as the powerful marketing tool that it is for your organization.

Social networking is radically changing the traditional marketing landscape. On-line social networking can help you find referrals, generate word-of-mouth advertising, and lets potential clients check you out. Social networking puts a public face on your organization. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, MySpace, etc. These sites give entrepreneurs more opportunities to get the word out about their companies, but they've also made many feel overwhelmed, trying to keep up. This workshop will discuss the advantages and limitations of social networking on-line and provide an introduction to the many social network sites and how they work. Social networking is here to stay. Most businesses and non profit organizations will need to know how to use it.

DIY Web Site Workshop

How to develop and maintain/update a website.

Building a Web Site with our do-it-yourself package and 'how to" workshop is fun and easy. In this workshop we will build a one-to five-page Web site. Because our package is built around pre-defined Web site designs, anyone can create a Web site from scratch in a few, simple steps. You can spend more time building your site and adding extra pages at any time. Along with creating a website you will also learn Internet Basics, Search Engine Basics and Website and Email do's and don'ts. Some preparation is required for this class, for example you will need to gather images and text for your site before the workshop, but you will be provided with a checklist and guide prior to the workshop giving you ample time to gather your information.

Netiquette Basics

How to represent your organization on-line.

Definition of Netiquette - “Contraction of Internet etiquette, the etiquette guidelines regarding acceptable online behavior.”  Common courtesy, social graces and socially acceptable behavior are all used in a civilized society where humans interact with one another. The Internet is no different. How you will be perceived, the type of person that you are, your credibility and your levels of professionalism and ethics will be judged by how you communicate online. Lack of proper Netiquette may very well deter those who otherwise may have considered doing business with your organization. Topics include: Email, Urban legends and virus warnings, bandwidth usage and more.

Search Engine Basics

Master search engines; Find what you want faster and with more accuracy.

The problem with the Internet is not that it’s difficult to find something -– you can find just about anything. The challenge is in finding the specific piece of information you’re looking for. Search engines help you do just that. Imagine going into a large library where the books are not organized in any particular order. You would have no problem finding books –- and lots of them would be very interesting – but it might take you a very long time to find that one book you wanted. Try thinking of the Internet as your library, and the search engine as the librarian. When you tell the librarian (Search Engine) the specific topic (keywords) you want, the words communicate exactly what it is you’re looking for (a query).

Get Up to Speed: Computer and Internet Basics

Technology can make life easier.

The use of technology has become a necessity for all businesses. This workshop will bring your organization up to speed on computer operation and how to use the Internet. This workshop will benefit anyone who needs an understanding of how technology can help in virtually every phase of operation. Participants will learn about computer and Internet basics, including how to use E-mail and search engines, Internet safety and security, data storage, software installation, anti-virus software and much more.

NOTE: The above workshop can also be broken into the following separate workshops for a more in-depth coverage of any of the components listed below.

Computer Basics - Beginners guide to computers. Topics include; familiarization with the parts of the computer, scanners, microphones, digital cameras, output devices, CD and DVD drives, types of computers, software, upgrades, maintenance and cleaning, backup methods.

Internet Basics - Beginners guide to all that is "the Internet".  Topics include Servers, WWW, important web terms, Internet access, browsers, ISP's, search engines, pictures, printing, tips on secure passwords, ecommerce, security, firewalls.

Internet Safety - Spyware, viruses, or worms affecting your computer's performance? We discuss how to scan your computer for spyware and other harmful code, but also how to protect and remove these dangers. We discuss free resources and commercial products that aid this effort. We also discuss firewalls and how they can be used to protect your computer and family from outsiders who try to access your computer.

Email Basics  - Email Basics does not teach specific email client software. Rather, it provides a general overview of email functionality. What is email, how does it work, email addresses, email clients, web mail, attachments, mailing lists.

Utilizing Technology (Introduction)  - Topics Include: Meta Tags, Search Engine Submission Services, About Domain Names, SEO myths, Web site etiquette (good design rules), on-line privacy issues, listServs, Email marketing.