Beta version of site.

[ckvkkeek]

Well I've been working on a site for a church, their original was horrible. So I have a beta version of their site up and going, would love any input you may have.

This is truly a beta version ;-).

http://www.lovedtolove.org

ck

[chrisb_ebc]

Sites lookin good - keep up the good work.

I have been wanting to work on a new site design - but I have been totally unmotivated to do anything...specially this thanksgiving weekend.

[flutem3]

Sites lookin good - keep up the good work.

I have been wanting to work on a new site design - but I have been totally unmotivated to do anything...specially this thanksgiving weekend.

Hi, Chris,

Even the most dedicated web site editor needs a break from time to time...without feeling guilty about it. Just rest. Unless you are ill or hate your work, the motivation will return.

And sometimes we must proceed and pretend that we have motivation which also sometimes pushes it into returning. It is kind of like "act the part, and you are the part."

Rest.

Carol

[Faithhb_lutheran]

good clean design. I like the cool blue color scheme.

[StubbyD]

Only two minor critiques ....

It'd be better, IMO, if the whole page fitted a single screen. Having to scroll down to see what else is there and then finding it is just a couple of standard links / address puts folks off. If I have to scroll down, I expect to find substantial amounts of text / info ...

Secondly, and a pet hate of mine which I'm sure not all will agree with, but drop the pastor from the front page.

Other than these minor items, I like it.

[Faithhb_lutheran]

Only two minor critiques ....

It'd be better, IMO, if the whole page fitted a single screen. Having to scroll down to see what else is there and then finding it is just a couple of standard links / address puts folks off. If I have to scroll down, I expect to find substantial amounts of text / info ...

Secondly, and a pet hate of mine which I'm sure not all will agree with, but drop the pastor from the front page.

Other than these minor items, I like it.

Ok so you said people get to disagree with you so here it goes. I think having the pastor's image on the homepage really helps. especially if you have a sole pastor. They will most likely be the first person that a new visitor really gets to meet and thus if the person knows what they look like, they will feel more comfortable, this is even more true of pictures of your lay people, if a visitor finds the site and sees a picture of the Sunday school teachers on the homepage ( of course you have to have some news to put the picture along with ) then they will feel more comfortable about bringing their children to sunday school. Ok thats my two cents.

[StubbyD]

[quote=Faithhb_lutheran]Ok so you said people get to disagree with you so here it goes. quote]

Indeed I did.

I know I'm not alone in this dislike but to me ....

1. It can seem amateurish

2. It can put folks off. We all make snap decisions on liking (or not) poeple based on numerous factors If a visitor to the website takes against the picture (right or wrong) then you've lost a potential soul, new member, visitor, etc.

3. And the biggie for me - it tells me it is all about a personality.

By all means have your pictures, but put them on the About Us / Staff pages.

BTW - we have a sole pastor and we won't be putting him on the front page - he also doesn't want that.

[flutem3]

Hi, All,

I am going to jump into this picture puzzle here too. When I began our web site, I didn't use any pictures because I didn't do it very well. I am just now getting to the point of using pictures.

I view pictures in this way and from the point of view of a Methodist. Our ministers come and go after x number of years. What I don't like to see first thing on a home page is a picture of the church building. A building does not a church make.

And in the case of Methodists, the ministers change. Therefore, my preference which you will be seeing more of as time goes by is pictures of church members/children in their natural church activities. Right now, I do not have many pictures because nobody else will take them for web site use. I have run into a permissions problem which nobody has taken time to resolve yet.

If you go to the activities page, go down the right side to the word, photos, you will see more of the kinds of pictures I have in mind...people being people at church.

Carol

[ckvkkeek]

First thing:
1. Scrolling.
It will get a little better once I fully develop the archive section that the two intro boxes can link to articles about each event they mention. But scrolling is just a fact of life in websites, as long as it isn't to bad I live with it. I don't see this as to bad, just not optimized.
2. Preacher on the front page.
Will probably be replaced in due time, but its a filler content right now. However I am not against it by rule. Many people base what church they go to by the minister. If they stink, it doesn't really matter how friendly other people are IMO. When I needed a new church two years ago the minister was very key in me choosing a new church.