Comments for Future of Church Web http://futureofchurchweb.com Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:18:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Dekker Stadler http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-353#comment-1428 Dekker Stadler Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:19:49 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-1428 If the church stuck with the Boomers as their leaders then it will retire very soon.The church had to move seriously with Generation x and afterwards with the y group to asure a church wirh people. In Judges2:7-11the next generation was lost. Dont let it happen again. Make sure you use the next generations because God wat to use them still when we are old and dead. If the church stuck with the Boomers as their leaders then it will retire very soon.The church had to move seriously with Generation x and afterwards with the y group to asure a church wirh people. In Judges2:7-11the next generation was lost. Dont let it happen again. Make sure you use the next generations because God wat to use them still when we are old and dead.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Brian http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-164#comment-674 Brian Tue, 05 May 2009 03:03:40 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-674 Future church websites will adapt to the person accessing it - providing dynamic content based on the user demographics. Churches will flip internal models upside down as they rely on a fusion of mobile technology and social media tools to push relevant content out in the ways people best receive it...on their terms. I also think we will see a great shift in providing more media and social tools in the form of mobile and desktop apps instead of relying the user to constantly revisit the site. A great example would be a suite of mobile apps for church media, events and social networking. Ultimately, I think church sites need to embrace a community that is on the go, and may not always have time to randomly revisit the website just to see if things have been updated for new content. Future church websites will adapt to the person accessing it - providing dynamic content based on the user demographics. Churches will flip internal models upside down as they rely on a fusion of mobile technology and social media tools to push relevant content out in the ways people best receive it…on their terms. I also think we will see a great shift in providing more media and social tools in the form of mobile and desktop apps instead of relying the user to constantly revisit the site. A great example would be a suite of mobile apps for church media, events and social networking.

Ultimately, I think church sites need to embrace a community that is on the go, and may not always have time to randomly revisit the website just to see if things have been updated for new content.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Jared Stephens http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-163#comment-671 Jared Stephens Mon, 04 May 2009 21:16:08 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-671 The future of church websites is less about technology and more about intentional ministry. The reality of the web as ministry outreach tool, and not an announcement platform or advertisement, is something that churches and ministries need to grasp. And it is not about posting the steps to salvation somewhere on your church website. It's about INTERACTION. Its about INTENTIONALITY. Its about seeing beyond the walls of a building and creating relationships with people who need the message that you have been entrusted with. But then, that is what ministry has always been about no matter the medium. It would be awesome, though, to create a 'web' ministry at a church whose purpose is not update the church website, but to connect with people and minister to them through the web. The future of church websites is less about technology and more about intentional ministry. The reality of the web as ministry outreach tool, and not an announcement platform or advertisement, is something that churches and ministries need to grasp. And it is not about posting the steps to salvation somewhere on your church website. It’s about INTERACTION. Its about INTENTIONALITY. Its about seeing beyond the walls of a building and creating relationships with people who need the message that you have been entrusted with. But then, that is what ministry has always been about no matter the medium. It would be awesome, though, to create a ‘web’ ministry at a church whose purpose is not update the church website, but to connect with people and minister to them through the web.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Sean Bailey http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-150#comment-618 Sean Bailey Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:46:54 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-618 We recently got rid of our magazine and went 100% online with it. Saved us a lot of money and is actually reaching lots more people. We average about 33,000 hits a month and 16k unique visits. We also enabled facebook sharing which is ridiculously easy, every church site should embed this free feature. We also use tweetlater to auto tweet any news or events updates so that as it changes online our users can keep up. We are a mega church, and i mean mega complicated, too many stories to tell and too many events to promote. The web is the only way to do it. Thanks for the opportunity to share. The future of church web is to un-complicate the complicated, tell the stories, connect the audience and watch Jesus change lives. We recently got rid of our magazine and went 100% online with it. Saved us a lot of money and is actually reaching lots more people. We average about 33,000 hits a month and 16k unique visits. We also enabled facebook sharing which is ridiculously easy, every church site should embed this free feature. We also use tweetlater to auto tweet any news or events updates so that as it changes online our users can keep up. We are a mega church, and i mean mega complicated, too many stories to tell and too many events to promote. The web is the only way to do it.

Thanks for the opportunity to share. The future of church web is to un-complicate the complicated, tell the stories, connect the audience and watch Jesus change lives.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Mickey http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-98#comment-411 Mickey Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:03:35 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-411 Rather than recreating their own social tools, I think churches will increasingly use existing tools -- Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, FriendFeed and whatever comes next. Our church already has thousands of users on Facebook (and hundreds on Twitter/LinkedIn), so we're making use of it the best we can. As for the actual site, churches need to focus more on basic SEO and it can go SO far. Very few churches handle basic onsite SEO like H1 tags, title tags, canonicalization, clean navigation, etc. Our church has had over 50,000 visitors from Google in the past year, and it's not an accident. I think the future will bring cleaner sites with less copy and less crap (animations, flash, etc), with the church members congregating on the hot social site of the week. The next few years should be very exciting! Rather than recreating their own social tools, I think churches will increasingly use existing tools — Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, FriendFeed and whatever comes next. Our church already has thousands of users on Facebook (and hundreds on Twitter/LinkedIn), so we’re making use of it the best we can.

As for the actual site, churches need to focus more on basic SEO and it can go SO far. Very few churches handle basic onsite SEO like H1 tags, title tags, canonicalization, clean navigation, etc. Our church has had over 50,000 visitors from Google in the past year, and it’s not an accident. I think the future will bring cleaner sites with less copy and less crap (animations, flash, etc), with the church members congregating on the hot social site of the week.

The next few years should be very exciting!

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Cleve Persinger http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-57#comment-245 Cleve Persinger Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:30:04 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-245 I wanted to take time out to thank everyone who contributed their thoughts to futureofchurchweb.com. There are some great comments here. We're moving forward with planning the new Chapel.org, but please continue to share. Also, check out the "Special Thanks" on the right. These professionals spent face time with us as we discussed this topic. I wanted to take time out to thank everyone who contributed their thoughts to futureofchurchweb.com. There are some great comments here. We’re moving forward with planning the new Chapel.org, but please continue to share. Also, check out the “Special Thanks” on the right. These professionals spent face time with us as we discussed this topic.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Richard L Reising http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-38#comment-168 Richard L Reising Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:23:26 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-168 Web building is an act of service for your community and your congregation. The measure of your success is how well you engage people at every spiritual level and in every path in life that your church is geared to serve. Engage them and take them deeper. Track it. Manage it. Perfect it. Be relentless. Give it more thought, initial investment and ongoing upkeep than you do the entryway/foyer of your church. For after all, it is. Web building is an act of service for your community and your congregation. The measure of your success is how well you engage people at every spiritual level and in every path in life that your church is geared to serve. Engage them and take them deeper. Track it. Manage it. Perfect it. Be relentless. Give it more thought, initial investment and ongoing upkeep than you do the entryway/foyer of your church. For after all, it is.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Buddy http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-33#comment-149 Buddy Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:52:18 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-149 1. Just because you CAN do something with a web page, doesn't mean you SHOULD. 2. Make it useful for 1st-time visitors (MAPS? etc.) 3. NO MUSIC ON AUTOPLAY. 4. Remember to keep it CURRENT! No schedule items overdue by more than 2 business days. This can be AUTOMATED!!! 4. The SENIOR PASTOR should visit EVERY PAGE every day. This is HIS CHURCH's image. 5. Have PROFESSIONAL pictures made of the staff. LOOK professional (not stuffy, though). 6. Make it EASY to navigate. 7. KISS: Keep It Simple, Staffmember!!!! 8. Make phone numbers/contact info EASY to find! Include EMERGENCY CONTACT info (staff pager #, etc.). Put these in IMAGES so they aren't scanned by BOTs. 9. You're site can have MULTIPLE purposes, but that may require MULTIPLE "sub-sites". Example: One for visitors/new members, one for existing members looking for different stuff. 10. Put sermons, etc., in iPod/MP3 downloadable formats. DON'T LIMIT them to STREAMING!!!! 11. 18 months=makeover. 1. Just because you CAN do something with a web page, doesn’t mean you SHOULD.

2. Make it useful for 1st-time visitors (MAPS? etc.)

3. NO MUSIC ON AUTOPLAY.

4. Remember to keep it CURRENT! No schedule items overdue by more than 2 business days. This can be AUTOMATED!!!

4. The SENIOR PASTOR should visit EVERY PAGE every day. This is HIS CHURCH’s image.

5. Have PROFESSIONAL pictures made of the staff. LOOK professional (not stuffy, though).

6. Make it EASY to navigate.

7. KISS: Keep It Simple, Staffmember!!!!

8. Make phone numbers/contact info EASY to find! Include EMERGENCY CONTACT info (staff pager #, etc.). Put these in IMAGES so they aren’t scanned by BOTs.

9. You’re site can have MULTIPLE purposes, but that may require MULTIPLE “sub-sites”. Example: One for visitors/new members, one for existing members looking for different stuff.

10. Put sermons, etc., in iPod/MP3 downloadable formats. DON’T LIMIT them to STREAMING!!!!

11. 18 months=makeover.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by David http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-32#comment-145 David Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:20:08 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-145 We desperately need a website that supports our faith and refutes atheism. They are getting bold as lions and we have sheep defending the faith because they have not been taught how to defend the faith yet. If we don't have something like that set up, many will continue to fall away. We desperately need a website that supports our faith and refutes atheism. They are getting bold as lions and we have sheep defending the faith because they have not been taught how to defend the faith yet. If we don’t have something like that set up, many will continue to fall away.

]]> Comment on What is the future of church websites? by Brad Singleton http://futureofchurchweb.com/what-is-the-future-of-church-websites/comment-page-17#comment-86 Brad Singleton Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:25:15 +0000 http://futureofchurchweb.com/?p=1#comment-86 Less of the static informational sites, and more of the user/member created content driven site. It will become a hub for communication within our groups and between our members much like a social networking service Less of the static informational sites, and more of the user/member created content driven site. It will become a hub for communication within our groups and between our members much like a social networking service

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