Comments on: What Pastors Need to Know About the Internet http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/ Frustrate. Educate. Motivate. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:01:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Roy S. http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2731 Roy S. Mon, 09 Jan 2006 15:15:32 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2731 I'm a volunteer web designer for my church, and I think I've done a pretty darned good job here: <a href="http://www.gatewaymayville.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.gatewaymayville.org/</a> BTW, I also happen to work as a web designer... I’m a volunteer web designer for my church, and I think I’ve done a pretty darned good job here:
http://www.gatewaymayville.org/
BTW, I also happen to work as a web designer…

]]> By: MA Murphy http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2730 MA Murphy Sun, 25 Dec 2005 18:20:30 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2730 About the Volunteer doing the website. I am a volunteer for my church's website www.lifechurchwestmonroe.com but I also do it for a living www.calvarystudios.com . It can be done by volunteers "IF" they know what they are doing. You can't invest your website to just any person who says they can. You must go about it as if you were hiring a pro to do it. Ask for a portfolio and such. I see the same mistake over and over with church's not having a very good website. Don't just use anybody. About the Volunteer doing the website. I am a volunteer for my church’s website http://www.lifechurchwestmonroe.com but I also do it for a living http://www.calvarystudios.com . It can be done by volunteers “IF” they know what they are doing. You can’t invest your website to just any person who says they can. You must go about it as if you were hiring a pro to do it. Ask for a portfolio and such. I see the same mistake over and over with church’s not having a very good website. Don’t just use anybody.

]]> By: Kathy Kuskie http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2729 Kathy Kuskie Tue, 20 Dec 2005 07:36:08 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2729 About the volunteer-running-a-website thing...I think it's a good point. And I'm a volunteer! My husband and I lead the all-volunteer team that develops and maintains our church's website (<a href="http://www.sunsetpres.org" rel="nofollow">www.sunsetpres.org</a>) and I think we do a pretty good job. Funny thing is, all the staff thinks I'm one of them, even to the point of asking what days I work! A website <b>can</b> be done with volunteers, but it takes a staff-level commitment to do it well. About the volunteer-running-a-website thing…I think it’s a good point. And I’m a volunteer! My husband and I lead the all-volunteer team that develops and maintains our church’s website (http://www.sunsetpres.org) and I think we do a pretty good job. Funny thing is, all the staff thinks I’m one of them, even to the point of asking what days I work! A website can be done with volunteers, but it takes a staff-level commitment to do it well.

]]> By: kevin http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2728 kevin Tue, 20 Dec 2005 06:30:42 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2728 Hey Steve, I think pastors not responding to e-mail is not something limited to just pastors. I know if you e-mail me the chances of me responding within 24 hours aren't too good. And I'm online 12 hours a day. Hey Steve, I think pastors not responding to e-mail is not something limited to just pastors. I know if you e-mail me the chances of me responding within 24 hours aren’t too good. And I’m online 12 hours a day.

]]> By: Mark Howell http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 Mark Howell Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:18:57 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2727 The key is the first of the 8 things you need to know! There's no question that "your target audience for church growth is Internet-savvy." When you combine that with the second thing, "Your Web site will be your 'first impression' for many people" its just intuitive that we better be very intentional about our web presence. Putting a half-hearted website out there is not making a wise investment. The truth is that many of us need to take a look at our budget and repurpose some line items. This is a big opportunity that many miss. Thanks for the link to a great set of ideas! mark The key is the first of the 8 things you need to know! There’s no question that “your target audience for church growth is Internet-savvy.” When you combine that with the second thing, “Your Web site will be your ‘first impression’ for many people” its just intuitive that we better be very intentional about our web presence. Putting a half-hearted website out there is not making a wise investment. The truth is that many of us need to take a look at our budget and repurpose some line items. This is a big opportunity that many miss.
Thanks for the link to a great set of ideas!
mark

]]> By: Strategy Central http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2732 Strategy Central Mon, 19 Dec 2005 12:09:17 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2732 <strong>8 Things Pastors Need to Know about the Internet</strong> Are you invested the way you really ought to be? One of the things that improves investment portfolio performance is a periodic review and rebalancing. That practice carries over really well to organizations themselves. Doesn't it make sense that you 8 Things Pastors Need to Know about the Internet

Are you invested the way you really ought to be? One of the things that improves investment portfolio performance is a periodic review and rebalancing. That practice carries over really well to organizations themselves. Doesn’t it make sense that you

]]> By: nate klaiber http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2726 nate klaiber Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:49:53 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2726 RE: Chris - I agree with not letting volunteers doing the site. Look at ANY church site on my church district and it looks like pure garbage. Not just to my standards, its the typical oversized images, animated gifts, repeating backgrounds, etc. If thats a first impression - they are hurting immensely. RE: Anthony - I agree with some, but I think even some of the templates look like crap. Truewell, in particular, makes sites that are cookie cutter (they ALL look the same) and their functionality is very weak for the most part. So, even with a template a crappy site is possible (The NYI site for my district is a perfect example). If you put people who have NO IDEA what they are doing in control of a website, its bound to go by the wayside. Would you let just anyone pastor your church? Would you let just anyone teach your kids? I dont see why we lower the bar for something like this. RE: Chris – I agree with not letting volunteers doing the site. Look at ANY church site on my church district and it looks like pure garbage. Not just to my standards, its the typical oversized images, animated gifts, repeating backgrounds, etc. If thats a first impression – they are hurting immensely.
RE: Anthony – I agree with some, but I think even some of the templates look like crap. Truewell, in particular, makes sites that are cookie cutter (they ALL look the same) and their functionality is very weak for the most part. So, even with a template a crappy site is possible (The NYI site for my district is a perfect example).
If you put people who have NO IDEA what they are doing in control of a website, its bound to go by the wayside. Would you let just anyone pastor your church? Would you let just anyone teach your kids? I dont see why we lower the bar for something like this.

]]> By: janna http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2725 janna Mon, 19 Dec 2005 11:28:06 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2725 you also have to remember that pastors receive plethoras of emails...in my church or 2,000+ there are people that relentlessly email the lead pastor even though we have other staff that could deal with things. if he answered every email, we wouldn't have very effective sermons on Sunday! :) you also have to remember that pastors receive plethoras of emails…in my church or 2,000+ there are people that relentlessly email the lead pastor even though we have other staff that could deal with things. if he answered every email, we wouldn’t have very effective sermons on Sunday! :)

]]> By: Anthony D. Coppedge http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2724 Anthony D. Coppedge Mon, 19 Dec 2005 10:22:37 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2724 <i> Brad wrote: "attend a big church that has a dedicated webmaster, but I think Warren may be going overboard by saying not to let a volunteer run the site. For some, that's just not feasible."</i> It's feasible for every church. With companies offering "cookie cutter" templates that include hosting for around $15 a month for a basic website, there's not a reason to have a pathetic website. Period. Now if a volunteer can do a <i>better</i> website <b>and</b> create a back-end software interface that allows for staff updates on the fly, <b>and</b> understands that it may be necessary for the church to hire help from time to time when the demand is higher than a volunteer can be expected to handle. My 2 cents, Anthony Brad wrote: “attend a big church that has a dedicated webmaster, but I think Warren may be going overboard by saying not to let a volunteer run the site. For some, that’s just not feasible.”
It’s feasible for every church. With companies offering “cookie cutter” templates that include hosting for around $15 a month for a basic website, there’s not a reason to have a pathetic website. Period.
Now if a volunteer can do a better website and create a back-end software interface that allows for staff updates on the fly, and understands that it may be necessary for the church to hire help from time to time when the demand is higher than a volunteer can be expected to handle.
My 2 cents,
Anthony

]]> By: brad http://www.churchmarketingsucks.com/2005/12/what-pastors-need-to-know-about-the-internet/comment-page-1/#comment-2723 brad Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:29:09 +0000 http://cms.bigbadcollab.com/?p=433#comment-2723 I attend a big church that has a dedicated webmaster, but I think Warren may be going overboard by saying not to let a volunteer run the site. For some, that's just not feasible. I attend a big church that has a dedicated webmaster, but I think Warren may be going overboard by saying not to let a volunteer run the site. For some, that’s just not feasible.

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