Archive for August, 2006
Granger’s ‘Focus on Five’ aka the Keep it Simple Plan
Posted by: | CommentsSo often we get busy — super, crazy, insanely busy — with programs, ministry events, activities, the buzzing and dull roar of church life that we miss out on the basics of the Christian life.
That’s why I really LOVE Granger’s “Focus on Five,” a five-point “life” checklist designed to “simplify and prioritize what’s important.” It’s a straight and clear pathway that will help lead their congregation through spiritual growth and outreach. [It's even tied in with a sermon series titled "Click" -- how appropriate!]
The blurb on it says it perfectly: “Our goal for the next year is to help each other live healthier lives with more energy, more joy, more hope, more purpose. And more impact. By raising the bar – for each other and ourselves – and by making a lifestyle shift, we can change the direction and the substance of our lives.”
Here are the five elements they’re going to focus on:
I also love their “Starting Point” groups … how simpler and more effective can you get? Not only do they have groups specifically for those taking their baby steps in church life … but they wave a red flag saying, “Begin Here,” with the starting point terminology. Think anybody’ll get confused where to start? No way.
This is why Granger [and Kem] continue to set the communications bar.
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2 Web Sites For Care and Prayer
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out these two sites for “care” and “prayer:”
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Also, check out: 20 Reflections on Redesigning My Church’s Web Site and if you enjoy these posts, sign up for the FREE Church Communications Pro Email Newsletter.
Cool Web Site #6
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t know if I necessarily classify this site — Far Hills Community Church in Dayton, Ohio — as the “coolest” I’ve ever seen … but it absolutely rocks for “guest” information.
I like their navigation … the pull-downs, uh, well, they pull UP.
But check out their “Guests” tab … here’s what they do REALLY well:
1. They use the word “guests” instead of “visitors”
2. The “Welcome” link includes a photo of their pastor preaching (yes, church guests are drawn to people and in particular the pastor)
3. An ingenious, free, printable coupon for coffee (PDF) — This gives their guests an “action” to follow, and an excellent way to track their site guests. Brilliant!
The site is also simple, straight-forward and clear with good navigational links. It’s classy, kinda hip … love the church logo. The site loaded fast. Oh, and I easily found the “home” button (see No. 10 on “20 Things I Learned from My Church Redesign”).
Grade: A
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20 Things I Learned from Redesigning My Church’s Web Site
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On Friday, I went “live” with our church’s new Web site redesign — a process that took about 2.5 months.
As a “veteran” of two previous redesign projects, I decided to do it again … only this time without the aid of a “professional.” In other words, I essentially did it by myself, with the trusted help of a gracious church member who is also a computer programmer.
Looking back on it, this all seems rather hilarious … because I am an average graphic designer, of the print variety, who dabbles in Web site stuff for fun, knows how to work Photoshop enough to be dangerous, can hack code like a jack-hammer operator who is asked to fill in for a makeup artist (just look at this site’s code), has a system of organization that includes stacking papers in piles and random Post-It notes, and is just dense enough and cheap enough to try it Lone Ranger-style.
So, as more therapy for myself than anything, I offer you these 20 lessons that I learned while going through my church’s recent Web site redesign. (Really, this post should be titled “20 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Design Your Site by Yourself.”)
Here goes …
1. Web design is a time-consuming process. Plan to sweat, bleed, and cry. But mostly, plan to pull your hair out.
2. Ninety-nine percent of people don’t have a clue how much time it takes. And they think when it’s done it should be perfect. Quick, read No. 3.
3. Only Jesus walked on water. Web design doesn’t happen overnight, or with the snap of a finger. Often, the process moves like the speed of a bureaucratic government process for buying toilets.
4. Everyone has an opinion and most people are experts. But for some reason, their high school guidance counselor pointed them to the wrong career field.
5. Professional web designers charge more than I thought. But they are worth it.
6. Buying and using a Web site template was an adventure that I both enjoyed and hated. And I’ll probably do it again because, evidently, I enjoy self-inflicted torture.
7. Volunteers have family and work time commitments. But …
8. Volunteers with genuine servant hearts, who just want to use their skills for the Kingdom, are a blessing to work with.
9. Meet the needs of a defined target audience and focus on their “experience.” Imagine what they might be looking for or needing and give them a path to follow. Then try to offer something of value for everyone else.
10. Sometimes you’ll forget the really, REALLY important things. Like a link back to the home page on the site’s inside pages. [Hair loss begins.]
11. Learn from the Big Boys. Here, here, here, here, here
12. Perfection is an unrealistic goal. Refer back to No. 3, then read No. 13.
13. A Web site is a work in progress. Something will always need to be updated, edited, changed, deleted. Speaking of which, I should really stop typing this to go do some of that …
14. Sometimes you just gotta “go live,” even when some things are still unfinished. Refer back to No. 13.
15. Your sanctification will be tested. So find an outlet to relieve your stress by hitting golf balls, or going to the batting cages, or finding another line of work, like stocking shelves in a grocery store.
16. Patience is a virtue … that I must continually rely on the Holy Spirit to provide.
17. Redesign is mostly about taking one more step to improve what you had. Baby steps, Bob. Baby steps.
18. When you’re finally finished and “live,” you’ll see another site you wished you had. Or another toy or function you really want, I mean badly, but can’t have because it would mess everything up and you’d have to start over because you didn’t design for it.
19. A pastor (or boss) who believes in what you do, has confidence in your abilities, and empowers you to act is priceless. With that support in place, you can reach farther than you thought.
20. The last thing you do in a redesign … is starting planning for the next one.
… thus is the life lessons of an amateur, do-it-yourself church Web site (re)designer … who desperately wants a vacation far away from a computer screen.
Grand total cost (besides the lost hair, lost sanctification, and much frustration): About 65 bucks.
See what the site looks like now … and then, using the super cool Internet Archive Way Back Machine, see how it has looked over the years.
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Why This Site Exists … Why I Do This
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I felt compelled to write a post about why this site exists. On why I spent the money to buy the domain name and hosting for this site, and then to take the time to go to all the trouble of trying to keep it maintained.
And I think writing it out will help me understand too why I’m doing this.
So now … for an honest answer.
I want a forum for my ideas. I want to share what I’ve thought about and dreamed about, or seen others do that I think would be awesome if more churches used those ideas.
I’m a learner. I love to read, to explore, to chase an idea or subject and exhaust it, to suck the information out of it and put it to practical use in my life and work. And I want to have a place to share the things I’ve learned and continue to learn so others can benefit too.
I realized in 2005 that God wanted to use the skills I learned as a newspaper writer and editor, as a journalist … and sheepishly, I’ll admit at one time, I thought those would all go into the junk drawer and not be used as I pursued a “pastoral calling.” But God doesn’t waste anything. He uses it all. This site is one expression of that lesson learned.
I enjoy using guerrilla marketing tactics very much, and like many, am still wading through how that works in the local church. [And by that, I mean, how to use those tactics biblically and appropriately in a way that doesn't tinker with the actual content of the Message and remains faithful to the ultimate Client we serve.]
I think I want to start a conversation here … but, frankly, am scared of what it’ll turn into or what people may say. So the jury’s still out on whether this becomes a true blogging-type “conversation” site or mainly a “content” site loaded with ideas, examples, tips, tactics, strategies, case studies, links and more links, news, great quotes, book reviews, and whatever else I find relevant and appropriate to the topic of communicating and marketing that assists the Church in fulfilling her Commission.
But if it’s really conversation you want … I think that can best be explored over at ChurchMarketingSucks or the blog I started for Church Communication Directors.
Also, if I’m being honest and transparent … this is a business site for me. I do freelance writing and communications work on the side and this is a way to bolster that work. I hope eventually to do more. [Stay tuned.]
Pastor Mark Batterson at Evotional.com says, “The greatest message deserves the greatest marketing.”
I happen to agree.
I think marketing, public relations, advertising, and communication tactics and strategies can be salvaged, tweaked, redeemed and used as tools in our arsenal for accomplishing our missionary endeavor of reaching the world for Christ.
… and I’d like to make a small contribution with my “time, talent and treasure” to helping the Church do that.
… all for the honor and glory of the One who salvaged and saved me — the ultimate life purpose.
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