Burn Out

[JackWolfgang]

Completely burned out? I don't think so.

Frustrated with offers of help that did not pan out? Definitely yes.

Encouraged by people's compliments? Surely.

Lacking the time to do what I want? Surely.

Lacking the equipment/software to do what I want? Again, surely.

Summary:
To help your church webmaster, follow through when you offer help, be liberal with truthful praise, and be gentle with constructive criticism.

[crowsfan85]

Oh, yeah. I get burnt out sometimes, but what I've learned is that most of the time it's my fault. I'm either doing too much or not using the resources I have around me effectively.

I believe God has an ideal list of things He want me to accomplish in a day, no more and no less. I've learned to organize myself a lot better, to prioritize tasks, to document, delegate, and clearly communicate projects to volunteers, to encourage and communicate with volunteers so they don't feel burnt out, to recognize that its God's website and not my own, etc.

I hear ya Jack on your comments regarding encouragement. It's amazing how a short email or positive comment can make a huge difference. It puts things in perspective that the time you spend is blessing and having an eternal impact on people.

Another thing that helps me is to check the site's statistics, and try to picture the unique visitors as actual individuals.

[JackWolfgang]

Back when I was just a member at First Christian Church of Tallahassee, I was their volunteer webservant/webmaster. I got an e-mail one day from one of our members who had looked at the web site, and was impressed. She had a couple questions, but I remember how encouraged I was by her e-mail.

[pmburrow]

Both of you made some very good points. As much as I enjoy working on our site, there are times when it seems to become overwhelming. As with any volunteer based ministry, the volunteer usually has a full time job that he or she has to hold down. Often times, these two collide with each other. When they don?t they will to conflict with your family time. As Nick pointed out, you have to prioritize these things.



Being a part of any ministry allows one to realize the value of letting others know that you appreciate the job they do. When one feels unappreciated, they can start questioning their worth and begin to burn out. Each one of us has spent nights hammering out one problem after another making something work, only to have no one notice. Not that we should be doing things to be noticed, but it makes us feel good when somebody appreciates our efforts. I know that I that I?ve been guilty of not doing the same to others.



Phillip

www.discoveryumc.org (http://www.discoveryumc.org/)

[JackWolfgang]

Both of you made some very good points. As much as I enjoy working on our site, there are times when it seems to become overwhelming. As with any volunteer based ministry, the volunteer usually has a full time job that he or she has to hold down. Often times, these two collide with each other. When they don?t they will to conflict with your family time. As Nick pointed out, you have to prioritize these things.



Being a part of any ministry allows one to realize the value of letting others know that you appreciate the job they do. When one feels unappreciated, they can start questioning their worth and begin to burn out. Each one of us has spent nights hammering out one problem after another making something work, only to have no one notice. Not that we should be doing things to be noticed, but it makes us feel good when somebody appreciates our efforts. I know that I that I?ve been guilty of not doing the same to others.



Phillip

www.discoveryumc.org (http://www.discoveryumc.org/)

Very good synopsis, Phillip.

[David Gillaspey]

What's surprising to me is how few church websites actually include a link to the webmaster -- at all! (You'll note I included "add an email link to the webmaster" [right on the home page] as part of one of the tips included on the Top 10 Church Website Design Tips page on my site. You would think this would be standard operating procedure.)

I mention this because, on many church websites, it would be very hard for a visitor to send a note of thanks or appreciation or a compliment or a suggestion to the webmaster because there's no way to contact him or her.

However, this point narrowly applies only to communications via email, and from visitors to the site. Of course, I would hope that members of a church -- and especially, staff -- would encourage their church webmaster in other ways -- in person, by phone, by written note, etc. But that assumes they even know who the church's webmaster is.

So I guess that's another reason to include a link on the home page to the webmaster -- that is, to yourself. The first is to enable visitors to report problems. The second is to enable visitors to send thanks, compliments, suggestions, etc., to yourself.

Speaking personally, I can say that the few (surprisingly so) emails I get from visitors to Great Church Websites always encourage me.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[pmburrow]

David I agree. I can?t imagine not placing a link to contact the webmaster. One gets too little feed back as it is.



Phillip

www.discoveryumc.org (http://www.discoveryumc.org/)

[David Gillaspey]

Well, as I said, you wouldn't believe....

Whenever I add a church's website to my database of home pages, I always send the senior pastor (or minister or preaching minister) an email explaining that I've selected his or her church's website for inclusion in my database. (In part, I do this to obtain tacit permission to use a screen shot of the website.) I am rarely able to copy the email to the webmaster, however -- much as I want to -- because webmaster links are so often missing.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[pmburrow]

I wonder if some of this might stem from a false feeling of guilt. Some people may see this as being prideful and stating ?look what I do? at the bottom of their page. Therefore, they feel that it is better to leave their name off their work. Of course, I?m sure that this should go for the pastor?s name as well, if it were to make sense.



As with any ministry, pastors included, it is the attitude of the person?s heart. I?m sure that it is a matter of pride with some, but there is also a need to be able to reach people in certain ministries.



Phillip



www.discoveryumc.org (http://www.discoveryumc.org/)

[Kimberly G]

Well, I guess I'm not dealing with burn out yet as I haven't been doing this long. I get all excited everytime I try something new and it works! (we'll not comment on when it doesn't work) In fact working on the site is my creative outlet and I find it kinda relaxing.


Hmmm . . . posting the "webmaster" contact on the site. I know why I don't do this - those with a critical spirit might find me!:rolleyes: Right now, I'm invisible and that is "safe"! I kind of agree with the "pride thang" too. Would others see it as Kim tootin' her own horn?

Many things to ponder . . . thanks

[David Gillaspey]

Hi Kimberly,

Thanks for your comments.

I agree with your points.

Much of ministry goes uncredited ... so it's not surprising that so many church webmasters don't think to credit themselves, even on a "staff" page.

Concern about pride is part of it, too. (Phillip mentioned this, also.) However, just providing a link to "webmaster" -- since that is pretty anonymous -- on the home page would seem to help avoid any issues of pride.

And then there's that third reason -- church webmasters just fail to consider how a visitor can contact him or her about a problem on a website.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[wbcderek]

Looking at this and while I have gotten burned out in various aspects of ministry, this (so far) has been one area that I have not. For me anyway I am happy while I am working on the website, trying to incorporate new and fresh ideas into the site to draw more people to the site and more importantly to our Wonderful Living Saviour.

[grogers]

I haven't gotten burned out yet but I've only had my websites for about 5 years. I keep learning and trying new things so it's been quite challenging for me.

I think one reason some don't post their email address is because of the spam it generates. I'm sometimes overwhelmed by the volume of it I receive, but I still post my email address, my name and regular address, even my phone number.

I do get a few telephone calls, usually in response to a purchase. If I could eliminate all the spam, it would be really great. Even with spam filters, loads of it still manages to get through. Guess it's part of being on the internet.

Gwen

[Craig]

I think one reason some don't post their email address is because of the spam it generates. I'm sometimes overwhelmed by the volume of it I receive, but I still post my email address, my name and regular address, even my phone number.This may help, simple JavaScript generator to encrypt email addresses.

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/emailriddler/

[grogers]

Thank you, Craig, for that URL

Gwen

[Bob96]

I get most feedback regarding our church's website from comments in the guestbook. I also get some spam, but that can be deleted. After the Index page, the guestbook is the next most viewed page in the site. It is a good feature. You can see our guestbook at http://www.creekwoodbc.org/cgi-bin/guestbook/guestbook.cgi It can provide you with some encouraging words.
Bob96 :)

[flutem3]

Bob96 wrote,

"I get most feedback regarding our church's website from comments in the guest book. I also get some spam, but that can be deleted. After the Index page, the guest book is the next most viewed page in the site."

Hi, Bob,

That is a very nice guest book you have. Where did you get it and was it free? Is there html which can be copied and used on a website for those of us who don't know html to speak of?How did you get people to use it and look at it? How long have you had it? We get very few people writing in the guest book and fewer still reading it.

What is your secret to "Guest book success?"

We have had spam once on ours as well...for a well-known pill which will remain unmentioned at this time. I was surprised to find it, but I know I should have been. I ditched it. I can tell you that I keep closer watch on it than I did before though. :rolleyes:

Carol

[Bob96]

Flutem3 wrote,

That is a very nice guest book you have. Where did you get it and was it free? Is there html which can be copied and used on a website for those of us who don't know html to speak of?How did you get people to use it and look at it? How long have you had it? We get very few people writing in the guest book and fewer still reading it.

What is your secret to "Guest book success?"

Thanks for the compliment. I got this guestbook from Active Scripts. It is free for non-commercial use.

It can be installed from here: http://www.active-scripts.net/active-guestbook.html There is a guiding manual to help with its installation. It works from the cgi-bin on my host's server.

After I installed it, it took awhile for some viewers to enter comments, but then they started to appear. I've had it on the site for over a year now.

It does get a number of spam messages with compliments, but I delete those complete messages that include advertisements for commercial products.

I don't know any "secret" to success with a guestbook. Many guests seem to appreciate the thought provoking statements about "heaven" and the Christian life that I have included along with the usual statements and "billboard" announcements of our church's ministries. I think that this mix of statements for non-Christians and Christians has something to do with generating comments in my guestbook.

If your website is providing "interesting" information to viewers, some of who may just stumble across it, they may leave a message in your guestbook. It should be a part of your "dialogue" with the world.

May God bless you in your effort to improve this "dialogue".

Bob96

[flutem3]

Bob wrote:

"After I installed it, it took awhile for some viewers to enter comments, but then they started to appear. I've had it on the site for over a year now."

Hi, Bob,

Thanks for your response. I am going to check out the information you sent me. I like that format a lot. Our guest book has just been up for a few months so perhaps when more people see it, they will write.

However, I will have to admit that I seldom write in guest books on other websites so perhaps I need to give people the break I give myself!!

I understand the importance of content and am constantly working to improve it. I am very new in this arena, but I truly enjoy it. And building the website reconnected me with our church. I am don't get out well or too often. My previous connection with the church was through the newsletter. That was it. I grew up in this church and my grandfather was the minister here from 1937 - 1941. In my earlier years I was also active in the church.

However, I have discovered an entire community of people who are barely connected to the church they attended and served their entire lives as stewards and servants in the best meanings of the words. I am trying to think of the best way to include this group of people so that they once again feel part of the church community. End of sermon. Sorry. I just get wound up and am unable to stop. :D If anyone has ideas or your church has an effective program, please let me know!!!

Thanks again.

Carol

[cwgraves]

It's great when you get words of encouragement about your work on the website.

I wanted to comment on the webmaster having a link to his or her email address. Most of the church sites I have worked on don't even have domain email addresses. In other words, they have email addresses like someone@yahoo.com but not webmaster@churchdomain.com.

As part of the design process, we need to let the pastors and others know it is just as important to have branded email addresses as it is to have a website.

[flutem3]

CW wrote:

As part of the design process, we need to let the pastors and others know it is just as important to have branded email addresses as it is to have a website.

Hi, CW,

Welcome aboard. For myself, I don't care whether an email address is "branded" or not. What I do care about is the ability to contact somebody connected with a given church.

Our ministers do not even have email addresses on the website. All email goes straight to the church or to me as site editor. Evidently, it does not matter too much. I have never received an email from the website and neither has the church.

I am a person, however, who will write email to churches to ask various questions. I just care about getting a correct answer. I have received answers from pastors, site editors, and secretaries. I am just happy to receive a response. From whom it comes matters not...whether it is Yahoo, church domain name, or Timbuktu. I just like accurate answers to my questions. :D

I hope you enjoy the forum. It is a dandy place in my not so humble opinion.

Carol


Carol

[cwgraves]

While I agree that you don't NEED a branded email address, let me explain WHY you should have one.

If you use myemail@yahoo.com or myemail@hotmail.com or some other email address, the first thing that comes to mind is unprofessional and amateur.

If each pastor or staff member has a branded email address such as bsmith@mychurch.com with an alias of pastor@mychurch.com, it is much more professional. Some companies and end users don't trust some of the generic email providers and will only do business with a branded email address.

The main thing to keep in mind is representing Christ as His ambassadors to church members, non-church members, and the rest of the general public. We are told in scripture to do "everything as unto the Lord." I take that to mean do everything my very best, or don't do it at all.

I have mentioned in some of my other posts that many times Christians, especially pastors don't like to use the word "marketing" when speaking of their church. After all, "it's the Lords ministry".

Unfortunately, times they are a changin'. In order to get and keep people in our church, we need to do things to maintain a relationship with them. They like to receive birthday and anniversary cards, special recognition for their work in the ministry, and just contact in general. The more the members of the church keep in touch with the person, the more the person wants to attend the church.

Churches may not do direct advertising like a business, but it is still marketing. Part of good marketing is to come across as professional and quality. When a church or ministry uses branded email addresses, they appear to be more professional and it reinforces the name of the church with every message.

If I receive an email from bob@hotmail.com, I may or may not read it. But if I receive an email from pastorbob@mychurch.org, I instantly recognize it, and open it.

Remember, we are competing with the hundreds or thousands of spam emails that people receive. Yes, we can "get by" without branded email, but let's "do everything as unto the Lord!"

[Websquad]

I look at my log stats every month. They show the number of page views the site gets on a monthly basis (page view = one person looking at one web page). The page view is a much better metric than "hits", which is just the number of files, including graphics, that were fetched by browsers in a given period of time.

So my logs tell me if I'm doing OK or not ... a fairly reliable feedback tool. When we were aiding the Hurricane Katrina victims in Sep '05, we peaked at 19,700 page views; a normal month now is 14K-16K per month.

I do run a small one-way ListServ using Mailman to notify members of changes to the site (we make between 15-30 changes/month), but it only has 30 members ... they seem to appreciate the service.

Also, on our site we have a "CONTACT" menu item at the bottom of each page ... on that contact page is a list of the four of us on the Internet Ministry team.

To minimize spammers trolling for "mailto:" tags, all of our Email addresses are activated by JavaScript ... this code is freely available via an Internet search.

I'll be 66 next month, and am a long way from being burned out. PTL.

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