Whether your parish website is your online presence or your online ministry, there are a few basic features that reveal how serious you are in presenting the Good News to today’s audiences effectively.
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Listening is the First Stage in Planning Our Online Presence
As more and more communication takes place on the Internet, organizations and ministries are recognizing that not all websites, social media sites, or blogs are equal. Some are more effective than others. Some are really good and others are really bad. What makes the difference? One of the variables has to be the planning process that brings a site to life. To be successful on the Internet whether we have…
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An Integrated Online Presence Takes Planning and Team Work
At the end of March, the Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio, launched a new website. This website is the centerpiece of a multi-channel online presence which includes blogs, social media and links to various SND ministry sites. The goals of our online presence as an apostolic religious community are to: 1) advance our mission; 2) attract vocations; and 3) engage supporters. These goals were uppermost in our minds…
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Working with Tech Experts Takes Expertise
Most people in ministry are not experts in technology, social media or online advertising. If you want to successfully use the Internet for ministry, you are going to need “experts” to help you. However, it takes a lot more than contracting with an expert to be successful.
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Website Traffic, Part II: Interaction is Important
Once you have determined the audiences for your website (see Part I of this series), you need to think through how you want to interact with them. Website interaction is one of the most important elements of the Web 2.0 era. If a website is static, the likelihood of attracting new or returning visits decreases.
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Website Traffic, Part I: Forethought is Best
Some years ago when Catholic parishes, dioceses, religious institutes and organizations first started setting up their websites, our goal was to “have a website.” It was the new phone book listing only with more content. We found someone who could create it for us, figured out what we wanted to post and put it up. We announced to everyone we met that we had a website.