Web Content

[Faithhb_lutheran]

I have heard a few of us talking about content in the last couple of days, so here is the question;

What information is necessary to be on your site? On your homepage?

[flutem3]

I have heard a few of us talking about content in the last couple of days, so here is the question;

What information is necessary to be on your site? On your homepage?

Hi, Kyle,

I have a few basics for every page:

Name of the church
Address of the church
Phone number
Contact information (I don't think it is necessary to have email for every last soul serving the church unless they want one...or you have a large church. Our church is about 400 +-, and we have a contact for the church and for me...nothing specific for the ministers. I have started using a "contact us" page rather than email addresses which, hopefully, keeps us from spam. We don't get any.
It is important to have all of the information on every page because you never know on what page a person will enter the website.
Content will depend upon the goals set up by each individual church and will possibly change some from pastor to pastor...especially in the United Methodist Church. I don't know how pastors are selected or for how long in most other churches.
Content will also depend upon the demographics of your church as well as the demographics of your target audience.
Content changes over time.
Interactivity may be important, but I don't know how important.
Having fresh material periodically does matter.
Having up-to-date content is important. If that cannot be done, a static site needs to be in place with just the basic information.
In my opinion it is essential to have the worship times front and center on the index page. That is what a church is about.
If the purpose of the website is one directed at those who do not go to church, it will take on an entirely different look. It will not use words such as worship, Sunday School, etc. on it. Those words are known to those of us who grew up in the church but turn off people who are just searching in general....at least I think that is true.Well, I am going to stop before I run out of paper. :D These are personal opinions and may or may not be accurate.

However, I think the questions need to be asked~~over and over again.

Carol

[mrbelfry]

I'd echo pretty much what Carol said. I'd also have directions or an obvious link to a directions page on the home page. Service times are also important and I'd put them on the home page.

mrbelfry

[Faithhb_lutheran]

Carol good post you hit on a lot of stuff.

Two quick supplements;

First as carol said you have to keep information up to date. I pasted this from a post I made earlier these are the basic management approach to useful information
1.)Accurate- You have to have people that can answer questions about the areas you want to focus on.
2.)Complete- cannot be a persons or groups soapbox all must have the chance to talk
3.)Relevant- Has to fit the ministry your congregation does. Talking about the poor in africa when your church has never even volunteered at a soup kitchen before is wasteful.
4.)Timely- Has to be about the present and near future not ten years from now and definitely not in the past.

Second, in a zeal to make sites visitor friendly some churches have removed all "church talk" from their sites, in my opinion this is detrimental. While church jargon shouldn't make it's way to regularly onto a main page, every church should have a section for beliefs and practices. While we look to bring new people into the kingdom we don't want to dishearten or push away any already there that could make amazing additions to a congregations ministry.