Using volunteers to get content for your website

[crowsfan85]

One of the things most lacking on church websites is good up-to-date content. One of the reasons for this is because too often there are too few people who have a vested interest in the content that makes up the site.

Everybody knows that they want their church website to be great and that they want the content to be fresh and relevant. But if you're the webmaster then you're probably too busy to be able to write fresh new stories all the time. Besides, you're the webmaster; you're probably better skilled at graphic design and/or developing code. You're not a writer or a photographer, nor should you be.

At our church, we've set up a couple ministries that have been enormous blessings to us: The Writer's Ministry and the Photo Ministry. Led by people who are talented and enthusiastic to use the gifts God has given them, they continue to help make the website new and exciting.

Consider how you can leverage the talent of those around you for the church's benefit. Many people are just waiting for an opportunity to get involved, especially if it's something that they love to do. Besides if you continue to do it all yourself, you could be robbing them of the blessing of being used. Remenber: many parts make up the whole body.

Thoughts, comments, further ideas on this topic?

[David Gillaspey]

Hi Nick,

I have several questions:

1) Who is responsible for copy editing, to ensure webpages on your site are free of typos?

2) Does the Photo Ministry team receiving training in picture taking skills? (I've earned a Master's Degree in photojournalism, so I know there are ways to make photos more appealing.)

3) Do you have a corresponding Video Ministry? Such as ministry might shoot video of various activities, but also produce custom videos for the website such as video testimonies.

4) Do you use any sort of content management system?

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites

[JackWolfgang]

One of the things most lacking on church websites is good up-to-date content. One of the reasons for this is because too often there are too few people who have a vested interest in the content that makes up the site.

Which the question becomes shouldn't everyone have vested interest in the content on the site since the site is representing the church?

Everybody knows that they want their church website to be great and that they want the content to be fresh and relevant. But if you're the webmaster then you're probably too busy to be able to write fresh new stories all the time. Besides, you're the webmaster; you're probably better skilled at graphic design and/or developing code. You're not a writer or a photographer, nor should you be.

Are you saying you can't be all three, or are you saying having the ability to be all three is rare?

Consider how you can leverage the talent of those around you for the church's benefit. Many people are just waiting for an opportunity to get involved, especially if it's something that they love to do. Besides if you continue to do it all yourself, you could be robbing them of the blessing of being used. Remenber: many parts make up the whole body.

Thoughts, comments, further ideas on this topic?

While I love the idea (how many times does the image of the church as the body of Christ get presented in the New Testament?), the big problem is follow through. At my former church where I was volunteer webmaster, someone asked me what they could do to help me with the website. I had a section set up for prayer requests, and I responded that they could type the prayer requests from the bulletin into an e-mail to me each week. The person never did it, and I ended up with a ton of forwarded e-mail (you know the stories that circulate around the internet) from the person. So my question is, how do you encourage follow through on this?

1) Who is responsible for copy editing, to ensure webpages on your site are free of typos?

I echo David's question about proofing/editing. I think too many times, churches send out materials (internet or print) with typographical errors, spelling errors, and grammar errors. What does that say about our commitment when we don't have time to check our work? For example, a recent newsletter I received from a ministry misused the word there instead of their. Perfectly acceptable to the spell checker, but caught instantly by my wife and I as we read.

[crowsfan85]

1) Who is responsible for copy editing, to ensure webpages on your site are free of typos?

Along with our team of writers, we also have editors who proof each story for spelling, grammar, accuracy, and acceptability before the stories go up on the website. This editing process only applies to our stories though. We don't yet have anything formal in place for checking the other parts of the site.

On a similar note, we use a style guide, to help us be consistent with our content. It makes for a more professional, and therefore more reputable, website.

The Rock Church Style Guide:
http://www.therocksandiego.org/styleguide/

2) Does the Photo Ministry team receiving training in picture taking skills?

No, as far as I know there is none. But, we've been very happy with the quality of photos they've produced.

3) Do you have a corresponding Video Ministry?

We don't yet, but I'm sure we will eventually. And I love the idea of having video announcements and testimonies on the website.

With all these pieces, you can see how the church webmaster's job can become more managerial. As the site grows, a church webmaster needs to learn how to be good at finding, utilizing, and encouraging volunteers... something that likely doesn't come naturally to a skilled designer/developer.

4) Do you use any sort of content management system?

Yes, we do, one that I custom built and continue to develop. A CMS is crucial to any big site that hopes to divide the work of maintaining the site among a number of people. Currently our admin section allows for special access to manage events, stories, photo galleries, content, staff members, Sunday messages, etc. I can't stress the importance of having a good CMS.

[crowsfan85]

shouldn't everyone have vested interest in the content on the site since the site is representing the church?

Yes, I think they should. And I think you can tell when a church website has ample support from other staff/volunteers because the site is fresh and relevant.

Mainly, I think the webmaster should build/refine the system that allows for content management, and then do his/her best to promote it so people will use it.

Are you saying you can't be all three, or are you saying having the ability to be all three is rare?

I think you can have many different skills. But if you're doing most of the work yourself, you're spreading yourself too thin. Be smart and talented, but delegate what you can.

I had a section set up... The person never did it, and I ended up with a ton of forwarded e-mail

Don't get me wrong. At least for me, managing volunteers isn't natural. I think it's even harder than managing employees, because employees can't flake.

It is hard to find good volunteers. They're like gold, and they should be treated that way.

I'm no expert on using volunteers, but I'm working on it. Thankfully, there's other churches that do a great job and have documented their successes.

Willow Creek's Vounteer Revolution (http://www.willowcreek.com/product.asp?invtid=PR25066&action=details)

I suppose any Google search on church volunteers (http://www.google.com/search?q=church+volunteers) will pull up some good info. Here's some tips from Lisa Crayton (http://mo.essortment.com/churchvolunteer_rymp.htm) on retaining volunteers: Communicate goals effectively.
Make the volunteer experience meaningful.
Match volunteers to their interest, not just church need.
Make volunteering easy (i.e., respect time constraints, offer to pay for lunch, or transportation expense).
Provide ongoing support, encouragement and feedback.

[wbcderek]

Searching through the threads I hadn't seen any activity on in awhile. This peaked my interest and as most things do got me thinking on how can I incorporate some of these ideas at our church.

I love the idea of a writer's ministry, I keep trying to get people to help but the wording "Writer's Ministry" may be the trick. Our church likes to get involved but they like to have a ministry, and when things are called a ministry they are less inclined to get involved. Strange and doesn't make sense, but hey we've all got our quirks.

We have people that take photos for various thing but not official or organized as in it's own ministry. Guess I'll throw that feather in my hat as well.

Amazingly it's our youth that seem the most organized, they have the video team that produces awesome videos, the scrapbooking team that has all the photos and has them organized. If we could only incorporate that across the board.

[David Gillaspey]

At least for me, managing volunteers isn't natural. I think it's even harder than managing employees, because employees can't flake. ... It is hard to find good volunteers. They're like gold, and they should be treated that way. ... I'm no expert on using volunteers, but I'm working on it. Thankfully, there's other churches that do a great job and have documented their successes.Your sentiments are probably shared by many ministry leaders.

Here's help, potentially: Check out Washington State University's unique fully online Volunteer Management Certificate Program (http://capps.wsu.edu/vmcp/). I'm enrolled in this program myself, though I'm having trouble making much progress because of job hunting, selling our house and packing for an impending move across town.

Sincerely,

David Gillaspey
President
Great Church Websites