We're about to redesign our church website, and give it a major overhaul.
I know what makes a bad website, but what makes a good church website? What's your favorite one? What features do you look for? What features seem cool but never actually get used? I'd love your thoughts.
I know what makes a bad website, but what makes a good church website? What's your favorite one? What features do you look for? What features seem cool but never actually get used? I'd love your thoughts.
Comments
What is the objective? If it is to serve the members of the church, I'd ask the congregation what would be useful for them.
If it is to present an outward face of the church to the community, for the purpose of evangelizing or inviting people to come to a service, that is a different objective with different requirements.
2. a listing of service times and type of worship.
3. A link to denominational doctrinal principles.
4. A correct address and phone number.
5. An updated calendar of events.
6. The church's address and phone number, both of them correct.
7. If a picture of the pastor is present, it should not be featured prominently on the home page like a blinding sun giving forth holy light to the sinners.
current newsletter (pdf or html)
Maybe a faq section with an opportunity for questions to be asked in a blog format that will be emailed to someone and responded to quickly with a follow up email and post?
I've done 2 nonprofits websites and it is a lot of work. Good places to go for info and for basic design planning:
http://www.adobe.com/support/dreamweaver/layout/site_planning/
http://www.digital-web.com/articles/creating_a_site_design_plan/
If you have a committee, look at something like this:
http://www.wilsonweb.com/worksheet/pageplan.htm
It's all very do-able. You are wise to plan before you edit!
:)
d
I've done 2 nonprofits websites and it is a lot of work. Good places to go for info and for basic design planning:
Dreamweaver Support
Site Design Plan from Digital-Web
If you have a committee, look at something like this:
Planning survey from Wilson Web
It's all very do-able. You are wise to plan before you edit!
:)
d
d
I've spent a lot of time with those deeloping the new umc.org and what is intriguing to me is that it focuses on the people and stories of our church, not information or structure.
Story: At Christmas I was visting the SF Bay Area and wanted to go to a UMC. I am accustomed to a racially diverse, theologically open, vibrant worship experience. None of the websites of local churches I found showed pictures of the church or staff, or really gave me any sense of what I would experience when I walked in the door. I want UMC church sites to tell me if I will feel comfortable when in this place.