Comments on: Web or not? https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/ A look at how trends in communication technology impact individuals and organizations. Fri, 10 Feb 2023 12:54:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Knock Knock Jokes https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/#comment-484085 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:34:43 +0000 https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/?p=21234#comment-484085 Web or not? | Christian Web Trends Blog I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my problem. You’re incredible! Thanks! your article about Web or not? | Christian Web Trends Blog Best Regards Shane Craig

]]> By: Chad Gleaves https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/#comment-379689 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:04:52 +0000 https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/?p=21234#comment-379689 Hi this is Chad of http://getyourchurchfanpage.com/fm , One of the biggest factor for small churches is bang for buck.. Websites are very valuable BUT a smaller church will spend (alot) of money and time, these type of churches will be short on both. With Facebook as a primary webpage, a small church will get INSTANT response and often better interaction because of how tight nit the smaller churches are.

So for these three reasons, smaller churches really should start on Facebook.

1. Cheaper,

2. less time intensive,

3 Higher readership (by far!)

Most smaller churches can do everything they need to right on Facebook. But the MOST important thing Facebook provides that websites can't is EASY outreach to the surrounding online community. When a person Like, comments or shares – EVERYONE on their list has the potential to see that action.

Since most people have 300+ friends, 5 actions translates into 1500 potential outreaches. For this reason, small churches should invest on Facebook first and then consider a website down the road.

]]> By: Rick Phillips https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/#comment-377058 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:18:06 +0000 https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/?p=21234#comment-377058 In reply to Brad.

I agree Brad, but only if your community has internet users in it, and some rural or poor communities still are not there yet. Our church uses our website in the ways you mentioned as well as using http://onthecity.org for inter-church communications. But often we find it a challenge to get our people to engage on or sometimes even simply go to the site. We do however, continue to drive our communications in that direction as it is ultimately the best way we have available now. Thanks for the comment I'll be sure to check out churchwebsite.org.

]]> By: Rick Phillips https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/#comment-377055 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:11:20 +0000 https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/?p=21234#comment-377055 In reply to PaulSteinbrueck.

I see your point Paul but you can also make sure your organizations information is updated with Google as well as the other major search engines and still appear in generalized searches that way.

]]> By: Brad https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/#comment-376827 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:10:41 +0000 https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/?p=21234#comment-376827 I still maintain that the church Website is not only the hub of all of the communications efforts, it serves many purposes that cannot be served elsewhere. At least not without lots of third-party widgets and a fat roll of duck tape.

Here are a few things that really belong on the church's Website:

– forms for leadership applications, volunteer signups, surveys, etc.
– online giving
– integration with the church database platform (ACS, Fellowship One, Shelby, etc.)
– sermon archives
– calendar of events, with online registration

I'm sure you can take a list like that and find tools online to fulfill each of them. But why? Is there a problem with having all of those capabilities (and many more) under one umbrella, where the staff can manage them all?

Definitely integrate with the best-of-breed services for social networking, live streaming, blogging, etc. But let your church Website do the heavy lifting and your online ministry efforts willb e the most effective.

We talk about these issues and more over at http://www.churchwebsites.org. Thanks for the great work you guys are doing here on this site!

]]> By: PaulSteinbrueck https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/web-or-not/#comment-376791 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:10:49 +0000 https://www.ourchurch.com/blog/?p=21234#comment-376791 Hey Rick, thanks for writing today's post. I think for a lot of organizations a website is less important than it used to be, however, I'm not at the point where I'd say any organization can do without a website for one big reason – search engines. Most people start their search for a church (or pretty much any other kind of organization) on Google. You can't optimize a Facebook page for search engines. So, if you want people to find your organization in search engines, a website is still key.

Oh, and another free/inexpensive DIY website option is… https://ourchurch.com 🙂

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