Helpingchurches return to the centre of communities
Most Christian websites are designed for Christians “The overwhelming majority of Christian websites are written purely for Christians. The Body of Christ seems to spend most of its energies ministering to itself. ” Tony Whittacker –
We will be considering: What most people want The opportunity for the church Making community websites ‘sticky’ Relationships Way forward
What do people look for Sport (news) Health (information) Relationships and personal issues (guidance) Hobbies (networks) Local information Tourism ideas (information) Humour Films / Music News-related things (news) Famous people ……….. plus a million other things!
The Opportunity 61% of population use the Internet Parish websites can be best for current local information Reality A round 2% of us use Christian sites Most community sites are split between church and community – dividing the community into churchgoers and non churchgoers
Websites and People
If you have a site on Hollywood million hits Women today – an extensive site Solving life’s problems – Google page one
Great Church Community Sites Kamloops - definitive Downham – Possible
Ideally the Church needs sites which: have the best current local information solve trivial problems quickly – TV / weather are quick and cheap to create have up-to-date non-church information anyone can contribute to are financially self-sufficient stay up-to-date …. And tell people about what is going on in church If you can include these elements you will have a site used by the whole community
The Problems are ….. Finding a person with: - time / ability - and who is not going to move house immediately! Getting the website used Funding the website Lack of interest in the Internet The site needs to be virtually self-maintaining, self- funding, updateable by anybody and able to survive neglect!
Or …… a full Church Community site
Physically promote your site Newsletter - pew sheet Posters Wallet / purse card with URL Local press Word of mouth 20,000 hits a year per 1,000 people should then be a minimum expectation
…. and on the web Church sites – Find A Church etc CAB and Tourist Information Christian media websites Local websites and portals Directories – Yell, Thomson, Scoot Village and town directories Local Government This is crucial work – and can absolutely transform your ranking on the search engines. Lastly check your status on Google regularly
The way forward ….. Find a sponsor within the congregation Find a computer user with promotional skills Announce events with photos / captions Use the sponsor panels for fundraising and to engage with the community to engage with the community Consider linking to a Sunday page
Result … you have a site everyone uses and can: Engage with non-churchgoing community Engage with existing congregations Have a real website presence Raise money 20,000 hits a year per 1,000 people should then be a minimum expectation
Church websites must ideally: Appeal to everyone - even non churchgoers Appeal to everyone - even non churchgoers Include everything people need Include everything people need Be accessible to everyone who has something useful to contribute – not just one webmaster Be accessible to everyone who has something useful to contribute – not just one webmaster Be up-to-date - or set to not go out of date Be up-to-date - or set to not go out of date Be able to survive neglect - absolutely crucial Be able to survive neglect - absolutely crucial Change visually regularly even when neglected Change visually regularly even when neglected Be able to run by somebody else Be able to run by somebody else Be financially self supporting Be financially self supporting
The beginning of a revolution The beginning of a revolution “I consider 2day Church Community websites a wonderful tool both as a way of reaching out to the local community and of keeping members up to date with any news” Rev Stephen Waters Contact Richard Searight - 2day Microportals Ltd or ring – website