Top 3 Website Pitfalls

Ministry Leaders BEWARE … Website Pitfalls
Ministry Web Tip (Don't miss the FREE bonus at the end)

In today’s digital age of communication you know how important a great website is for your ministry, but you don’t have time to spend dealing with website issues. So what do you do? Here are three pitfalls you will want to avoid.

Pitfall #1
The obligation to give the volunteer a shot at developing your new church website.

Your church website is much too critical a part of your ministry to be run by a volunteer. Yes, you are most likely busier than a one armed paper hanger but making an impulse decision to alleviate a little stress and save some time could invariably cause significant damage and increased frustration.  Building your website around one person is dangerous! Suppose that person gets too busy with other things, they can become a bottleneck and website content becomes out of date. Visitors to your website are now showing up for events that may have been rescheduled or cancelled. Your staff becomes frustrated because they cannot get updates, events, and other important information posted in a timely manner, and productive staff time is used apologizing to callers or visitors for wrong information. It becomes embarrassing and reflects poorly on your ministry. Here is something else to consider. The website volunteer may be very computer savvy and able to make your website do impressive things, but if no one else has his specific expertise you are left with no one to make additions or corrections during their absence. Many churches have tried using a volunteer for cost savings, friendship, guilt, pressure, and a variety of other reasons, but when that person moves on, gets sick, overwhelmed, or even disgruntled – that church is now stuck and may be forced into doing something that may cause even greater difficulty and frustration.

Another common part of this problem is that the volunteer is usually a web coder or a graphic designer – rarely both. Therefore, the website’s functionality or the design you receive has a high probability of being sub-par. How would you feel having to tell that volunteer, or for them to hear from others, that the website they put so much time and effort into just doesn’t work for your ministry? How do you gracefully fire a volunteer when the expectations of your church or ministry exceed the volunteer’s abilities?

Solution: Get the help you need from a team of people with experience providing great quality websites for ministries. They will understand your unique needs and your leadership can inform the company what they like or dislike without hurting anyone’s feelings. Then, empower your entire staff, even those with basic word processing skills, to easily update your website. Now, your ministry’s website will consistently display current, relevant information for your visitors and can be quickly and easily updated anytime from anywhere.

Pitfall #2
Leaving the overall direction of your website ministry in the hands of the webmaster.

People tend to stick with what is familiar. Many times a ministry’s webmaster will not agree with or understand the direction in which the leaders of that ministry want to head, and may not want to explore new options available for websites. Unfortunately, people sometimes become possessive over their perceived “territoryâ€. In the past only those with specific web design and coding skills along with advanced knowledge of HTML and many other complex programming languages and technologies could create and maintain a website. Not anymore. With new software called a Content Management System (CMS), even a basic computer user can setup a website and easily update its content. Even advanced technology like podcasting, online donations, blogs, calendars, and live news feeds become easy for everyone because of CMS technology.

Solution: Find out how web technologies can open up your website to be used by your entire team. Shift the responsibilities of your webmaster freeing them up to invest more time in other areas of your ministry. Have your webmaster oversee the content management system, setup editor accounts and permission levels, and maybe even setup the content management system with an approval process where the webmaster reviews updates to the website before the public sees it live on the website. Have the best of both worlds by empowering your staff to update your website and your webmaster to oversee, train, and assist your staff and volunteers.

Pitfall #3
The concept that a free or low cost website is adequate.

Your philosophy for preaching or teaching is not of the mindset as long as your message is adequate it works. Your message is a reflection of the God you serve – and so should your website. The website should reflect the true quality of your ministry and reinforce that you, your church, and its ministries do things with excellence.

People outside your local area and those relocating into your area will look at church websites to determine which church to visit. What impression do you want to give them? In comparing your church website to other church websites in your area - would you come to your church?

Solution: Make sure your website is attractive and engaging. With a small investment of money and effort, your website can be a very cost effective, outstanding first impression of your church ministry while communicating God’s saving message and ministering to the unseen, the shut in, and the searching - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Do your part. Be a good steward over the resources entrusted to you and ensure your website is doing everything it can possibly do.

Your Ministry Needs You
Avoid the pitfalls that hinder ministry websites.

Your ministry website is an integral and crucial part of your overall ministry. And, in many cases, it may be the first thing people see. Don’t let your first impression leave your visitors disappointed. You may need to say, “No, thank you†to the well hearted volunteer who wants to do the entire site for you. It may just be one of the best decisions you make – for everyone. Think about it.

Empower your ministry to effectively and efficiently communicate your message, God’s Word, and minister to your congregation, community, and beyond.

P.S. FREE Bonus: Real Proof that your Website is Effective (Stats)

See website solutions that will help you fulfill your mission and vision. Make Elexio your GoTo web site resource. We can serve all your current needs, and then some.To help you understand this concept more fully, critique your current site, or help you plan out a new website, please feel free to contact us at 888-997-9947 to speak with a web specialist regarding your specific needs.

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