Whether you have already started to reopen, plan to soon, or are not planning to reopen for a while, one of the most effective ways to stay connected with your people and keep them informed is through social media.
All of the themes available in our WP-EZ Website Builder have a “Social Widget” in the header which can be used to show social media icons that link to your social media profiles.
Previously, to update these icons and links required updating the HTML code in the Social Widget. For the average person, this was not easy to do.
So, we created a new, super-easy Social Media Links editing tool. Now, all you have to do is go to the WP-EZ Dashboard, click the More menu, and select the Social Media option. Put the URLs of your social profiles into that form, and those are the icons and links that will be displayed at the top of your website. Leave the box next to any social media site blank, and the icon for that network won’t be shown.
For most people who built their website before April 26, after you enter the links to your social media profiles into the Social Media Links editor, you will need to enable those links by entering a “shortcode” into the Social Widget. (We are gradually doing this for all sites, but it’s a manual process and will take months to do this for everyone, so we encourage you to do it yourself.)
You can find instructions, help, and a video tutorial on the Social Media Links help page.
During this time of social distancing, helping and encouraging one another through social media is one way we can love one another and reveal Christ’s love to the world. See 7 Ways Your Church Can Minister Through Social Media During COVID-19 for ideas.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:35
For more information see our COVID-19 Response Resources, Coronavirus Inspirational Quotes, and our COVID-19 Update with info on how we’re helping our users with their church websites.
Comment and Discuss… What comments or questions do you have about the new social media links editor? How have you been using social media during the coronavirus pandemic?
Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com
Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.
An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.
Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.
4 Comments
Paul Steinbrueck:
Somehow I have not made the connection as to how I got on your list until this communique. Your thoughts today are spot on and a good part of the purpose of my website drjerryback.com. You might want to check out some of my articles on who’s in charge, spiritual gifts, etc. With the Americanization of the gospel it is all about entertainment and marketing and little to do with the makeup and purpose of the church, I.e., the body of Christ and the edification of the saints. I look forward to more of your insights. Switching hosts to ourchurch.com has been a wonderful answer to my prayers.
Hi Jerry, thanks so much for your comment! I’m glad that God led you to us. I will check out your articles. “Marketing” often gets a bad rap among Christians for being superficial and manipulative. But our team here at OurChurch.Com believe online communication doesn’t have to be that. Done right, it can be used to communicate the gospel, connect people in the body of Christ to one another, build relationships, foster spiritual growth and collaboration as led by the Holy Spirit.
I just signed our church up for a new web site on Ourchurch. I had already produced two websites using a free sight, then shifted over to Godaddy and utilized their programs to produce a web site that we have had for the past 5 years. I was impressed with the look of the Ourchurch site, and our board (at the recommendation of a board member) purchased the program. I have tried now for several hours to use the “simple” steps in switching out text ands photos from a template to produce the website. I have had very little success. The Godaddy program was much easier for a computer layman to navigate. What am I missing?
Hi Jeff, thanks for building a website with us. Have you see our video tutorials on how to WP-EZ 2.0, it’s drag-and-drop editor, and the page templates? https://myocc.ourchurch.com/knowledgebase.php?action=displaycat&catid=98