THE IMPORTANCE OF PARISH WEBSITES TO YOUR MINISTRY

First Contact

BRIAN FUNK-KINNAMANCOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Scenario

On any Sunday, your church’s greeters at the door are engaging with people and hand your visitor the church bulletin.

The organist is playing the prelude and creating a prayerful space.

There has been a great sermon series on evangelism which includes inviting your friends to church.

It takes a lot of courage, but you finally invite your friend. To your surprise, they say yes!

They then go home and just to be sure. [Because they like you but they don't know your church] They "check" your church out online.

cont.

Your church website is managed by the church secretary, who got their nephew and niece to put something together because they understand all that kinda stuff and they spend far too long on Facebook anyway.

And all that good work is undone. In a single click.

They call and make the indefinite raincheck excuse.

Excuses to Not Have An Updated Website or Even Have a Web Presence

Small congregation with no clergy“We don’t have time to make one.”“We don’t know how to make one.”“We don’t have the money.”etc.

Reasons to Have an Up-to-date Church Website

EvangelismGrowthEngagementAnd so much more!

5 Things Great Church Websites Have

1. It is obvious they have invested into the website

2. The website is mobile friendly3. They write for visitors4. They explain what a first time visitor needs

to know5. They make the visitor feel something

positive about the church

6 Pieces of Content for Every Church Website

1. Your street address, city, state and zip code – with a link to a map (Google has a great tool for embedding a map right on your website at http://maps.google.com)

2. Photos of people, looking at the camera, looking joyful3. The names of leaders at your church (including positions)

and some information about them (bio, what they read, movies they like, something about WHO they are)

4. Worship/service times, with a brief description of each, in easy to grasp, experiential language.

5. What to expect when they arrive. Anticipate the “anxiety questions” that newcomers have.

6. Your phone number, fax number, email address and any other way people can contact you

Anxiety Questions

1. Where do I park?2. How do I dress? (And don’t say “wear

anything!” as this doesn’t actually reduce the anxiety, especially, for women)

3. Do you have childcare? Can I bring my kids?4. Can I participate/receive communion?5. Are you Christians? Or How do you feel

about non-Christians/seekers/agnostics?

Who is Your Website For?

In order of importance: Newcomer church-seekers who know nothing at all

about The Episcopal Church, Anglican Christianity, or your parish history

Experienced Episcopalians who might be in town for a Sunday or have just moved

Parishioners People interested in getting married People wondering about the Christian faith

Some of Our Successful Church Websites

http://stjamesepiscopal.episcopalky.org/index.html

http://www.calvaryepiscopal.orghttp://www.gracepaducah.nethttp://www.stfrancisinthefields.orghttp://www.stlukesanchorage.orghttp://www.stmatthewsepiscopallouisville.orghttp://www.stpauls-henderson.orghttp://www.stthomaslouky.org

How to Build or Redesign a Website

Step 1: Organize a Committee

Find a couple of volunteers who are willing to dedicate their time and talent Talents needed:

Ability to write well Have an extensive knowledge of your church Newcomer or Outside perspective

Contact your Communications Director

Step 2: Answer the Question “Who Are We?”

Sit down with prayer and truthfully answer: “Who are we as a church?” “What are the first 5 things that come to mind when I

think of my church?” “What impact does my church have in our

community?” “Why would I want to invite someone to my church?”

Step 3: Build Sitemap

A site map (or sitemap) is a list of pages of a web site accessible to users. It can be a document in any form used as a planning tool for Web design typically organized in hierarchical fashion. Browse other churches for ideas Keep It Simple. You can always expand later on.

Sample Sitemap (http://www.gracepaducah.net) I’m New Who We Are What We Do Resources News & Events Contact Us

Step 4: Gather Resources

Write copy for each page in your sitemap. Consistency is key!

Collect images to use throughout your website. If you don’t have any or very few, then task someone to take pictures for the website over the course of a couple months. Remember:

Joyful people in lieu of buildings Show your ministries Be true to who you are

Step 5: Choose a Web Platform

This is the step where typically the talent in a congregation runs out, so…Call your Communications DirectorPlatforms

SquareSpace Digital Faith WordPress and many more…

Don’t be afraid of paying annually for a website.

Step 6: Choose a design

Provide whoever is designing your website with: the answers to your “Who Are We?” questions Any files you have of church logos and the images you

collected Honest and realistic website management resources

within your congregation Credentials to access and edit your domain name

Step 7: Edit design

Edit, edit, edit, edit

Step 8: Publish!

Set a day to publish the new websiteEnjoy!

Step 9: Manage Your Website

Keep up your website management responsibilities.

An outdated website is a huge turn off to visitors

Sources

http://www.stevefogg.com/2010/01/28/why-good-design-really-matters/

http://www.fatherchristopher.org/?p=1012http://www.stevefogg.com/2014/09/11/best-ch

urch-websites/

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/top-5-your-website

http://www.stevefogg.com/2014/10/30/tips-ideas-strategies-church-communications/