• 10 ways to make church websites better

     

    1  Include what time the services are and how to get there. If you are making big plans for a festival then make big plans to put it online. Some churches appear to have given up celebrating Christmas if you read their websites. (And remember, people do read websites and most read little else).

    2  Have things that are up to date. And only things that are up to date. That means today’s date.

    3  Say what the worship is like. Remember in your writing for the web that feelings matter.

    4  Use a design which reflects and promotes the ethos of the church. (Pay for it if you must, but really, you needn’t).

    5  Think about how to describe what it is like to worship there for the first time.

    6  Include some details about the stuff you do that isn’t worship but remember to work out which is icing and which is cake.

    7  Have details right there on the front page about which church denominations around the world that you are in communion with and which you are not in communion with, if you think such information is going to make other people come to your church. (Hint: I don’t.)

    8  Collect good pics of people doing things and ask around to see whether people think they might be a better introduction to your church than a tired “Welcome From the Rector” message that never changes.

    9  Video is good but needs to be refreshed. Every week, if not more often. (Yes, really).

    10  Try praying this prayer in your intercessions for a couple of weeks in church and see if God answers your prayer: “Help us O Lord, to build a website that reflects how wonderful we think you are”.

     

9 responses to “Tales of the City #6”

  1. Ritualist Robert Avatar
    Ritualist Robert

    Thank you for introducing the word “stoor” to those of us in the non-Scottish world.

  2. Hermano David | Brother Dah•veed Avatar
    Hermano David | Brother Dah•veed

    Have you been glowing again?

    Honestly, I think that it really says something great when they know, even if in a setting where they might not know!

  3. Ruth Avatar
    Ruth

    I agree! As daughter of a C of S one, I’ve spent time in the company of more than my fair share. Some have ‘the aura’ and some, most definitely do not…..

  4. PamB Avatar
    PamB

    Did we know that the Norwegian for vacuum cleaner is “stoorsooker”?

  5. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Huge compliment.

    And any time you want to come here and be calm at workmen, feel free. Then I can be free to go somewhere quiet and just lose it, as I have been longing to do for some weeks …

  6. kelvin Avatar

    @PamB – we didn’t, but we are delighted.

    @Rosemary – thanks but no thanks. Being calm at someone else’s workmen is surely too much for anyone.

    @Ruth – the day I was ordained, the wife of a bishop told me my aura was golden. She saw them regularly.

    @Hermano David – You couldn’t see the glow for the dust.

    @Ritualist Robert – happy to be of service. It is the perfect word for what is produced when you mess with chimneys.

  7. Ritualist Robert Avatar
    Ritualist Robert

    @PamB – delighted indeed!

  8. Hermano David | Brother Dah•veed Avatar
    Hermano David | Brother Dah•veed

    You couldn’t see the glow for the dust.

    It is obvious that the VDW could. Good on yer.

  9. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    What I now need is somebody to come back and be very very UNcalm at a joiner. Very very unclam indeed – new floor ends two foot short of the wall, and yes, there WAS enough wood. And good neighbour/joiner is hors de combat following a RTA.

    Or you could try coming and being very calm at me, if your nerve is good enough.

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