Website Content

at 09/06/11 3:09PM
So, I have been at the Elm Street Church of Christ for over a year now. And, while things have generally been a lot more demanding and time-consuming than I could have even imagined*, I have decided to take on another project: a congregational website. It is because of this that I am asking you, the people, these questions: what do you go to a congregation's website for? Also, when you go there, what do you expect to find? Finally, if you were putting a website together for your congregation, what would you avoid and why?

I thank and appreciate you all for your time, consideration, and answers.

I love you all.
I love you.
~Curtis






*NOTE: I am NOT talking about anything specific or complaining or anything like that here. I am just saying that the general work of an evangelist is hard and time-consuming. It's a good and rewarding work and I am happy to be doing it. So, all I was saying is that, in general, it's really hard work. I don't want to even run the chance on anyone possibly taking this the wrong way. So, I hope that we're all clear on that. Thanks.
  • deusvitae
    I appreciate clear and simple design. The front page need not have everything on it; nevertheless, basic information about the congregation, its meeting place and directions, and such things should be easily found. Articles from bulletins and lesson outlines/mp3s are useful to have on websites; links to other pages can help; I am a big fan of a contact form, especially for prayer requests.

    Above all things, avoid the impulse to have audio come on when someone visits the site automatically. Nothing is more irritating than that.
    by deusvitae at 09/06/11 3:24PM
  • deusvitae
    Current website: Venice church of Christ

    Social media has value as well, especially Facebook: Venice church of Christ
    by deusvitae at 09/06/11 3:31PM
  • whipsmile
    Has it been a year already?! Wow.
    by whipsmile at 09/06/11 3:36PM
  • ucnclmeal
    We have a really good website. www.eastshelby.org
    I think the two most useful items on our site are the member directory (password protected) and the digital sermon recordings.
    I'm glad you are busy and that things are going well, even if they are hard work. And congrats on the expected addition to your family!
    by ucnclmeal at 09/06/11 3:53PM
  • ninja_penguin
    We have a lot of older people who are not so web-savvy and we just don't have a lot of members. Couple this with the fact that over half our congregation is family, I don't think an on-line directory will be necessary. However, it is a good thought for the future.
    by ninja_penguin at 09/09/11 9:50AM
  • braindrain
    The most important thing is to understand is your audience and what you want them to do with the information you're providing. If your goal is to reach the lost and (ideally) get them to attend the service or set up a Bible study, etc., I would concentrate on doing that to the best of your ability. Make sure that every piece of information is on there for that reason. I don't know that a congregation has to post *every* sermon preached from its pulpit. It's nice (and may be beneficial to your members who miss due to sickness, etc.), but it allows the website to become a surrogate for attending the worship service. Focus on the ones that they need to hear. If you're set up for it technically, put "bumpers" on your sermons that clearly identify the congregation, location and times of worship, and specifically invite listeners to attend the actual assembly.

    In observing and maintaining church websites over the last 10 years, I've noticed a trend away from this. In the "good ol' days," we couldn't put audio on the website -- the technology of the day wouldn't allow it in any practical form. As such, the sites tended to be more focused on motivating people to attend. At Manslick Road, we had a specific set of articles written for non-members to move them down the road to Christ and to attending. We eventually added the bulletin to the website. As we've gotten more advanced, churches have moved away from this and embraced advances in bandwidth and web technology. I'm not sure it's a good thing. I'm working on a redesign for the church where I preach, and I'm trying to keep the focus of the site in mind.

    I think I like social media for this purpose. Facebook and Twitter are both good tools for promoting upcoming sermons, meetings, etc. I'm not sure about congregations using Twitter to post scriptures of the day, etc. Again, keep things focused. I'm sill trying to wrap my head around the concept of "liking" a congregation on Facebook.
    by braindrain at 09/17/11 10:20AM