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Posted on May 7, 2013, 10:04 am
Churches have always had data.  In the 21st century there is more to it than just being able to put address labels on envelopes or send out yearend giving summaries.  Like it or not, churches need to be aware of cyber security issues.  Read more »
Posted on April 15, 2013, 11:03 am
Visiting your website should feel like stepping onto your church’s physical property. This is especially true when you’re thinking about catering to a first time visitor.  Read more »
Posted on March 25, 2013, 12:18 pm | 1 comment
In upcoming weeks, Facebook will roll out a redesigned, less cluttered News Feed to users, and there are some things your church needs to think about to be ready. While it’s hard to know exactly how the modifications will affect how you administer your Facebook page, here are a few things to consider. Read more »
Posted on March 12, 2013, 7:02 pm | 2 comments
Twitter may not be the biggest social media platform, but it’s growing.  Its short-form, 140-character style of posting makes it a unique arena to quickly communicate with your followers.  If your church is thinking about tweeting, here are a few things to consider as you get started. Read more »
Posted on February 28, 2013, 3:16 pm
There is an art to creating a social media page.  You have header images to make, background pictures to add and content to create before you can even start sharing.  Here's a free guide to help you figure out the sizing of all those different images so you can get the most out of your various social media sites. Read more »
Posted on February 13, 2013, 6:39 am | 4 comments
Two weeks ago I was privileged to sit in on a consultation on preaching hosted by my colleagues. One theme we circled back to often had to with the use of social media in the preaching event. Many of us who were at the consultation had been pastors of congregations in the past and we admitted to each other that it's an odd thought to ponder someone in a pew Tweeting about a sermon even as we are delivering it... Read more »
Posted on January 22, 2013, 12:00 pm | 1 comment
Last week, Facebook gave a preview of its new search feature that looks for answers by exploring your Facebook experience as well as what your friends have shared. While Google searches the entire web, Facebook Graph Search gives you results based solely on your Facebook social life. It’s personalizing search. Read more »
Posted on December 26, 2012, 1:26 pm
We may be doing everything right in terms of good communication, great Sunday worship and connecting people with the community, yet personal preference may keep someone from making a first (or return) visit to your church. It’s the classic relationship line, “It’s not you, it’s me.” So if we know that people’s preferences play a role in determining where they go to church, there are a few things I think we should always keep in mind ... Read more »
Posted on December 13, 2012, 12:06 pm
Building and maintaining good, useable websites are a struggle for churches of all sizes. Large and small alike have websites that don’t accurately represent who they are and don’t help people better connect with their church. There are many reasons why websites don’t reach their potential, but here are three things I think churches commonly underestimate about the web. Read more »
Posted on December 6, 2012, 11:46 am
Managing a Facebook page has become a frustratingly depressing task for many. But like many things we do, managing a Facebook page isn’t easy.  You have to look at how all the features of Facebook work together and also understand the realities of how Facebook fits into your overall communication strategy.  Read more »
Posted on November 14, 2012, 11:32 am
Are you familiar with the concept of responsive web design? If not, then it may be time to learn a little bit about it. Responsive web design is a new way of building websites that eliminates the need to think about a separate mobile version of your website for each of a variety of platforms.  Instead, you spend time designing one site that works on any platform: desktops, tablets or smartphones. Read more »
Posted on October 23, 2012, 12:41 pm
There's a great PBS short video that explored the art of web design.  It’s not only a brief look at the history of where the web’s been, but also a guide to what’s happening now.  As I watched, nine greats points emerged that I think are useful for both web design veterans and newbies. Read more »
Posted on September 26, 2012, 1:31 pm | 1 comment
We often talk about the importance of a website acting as your church’s front door.  It’s a way to make a good first impression about who you are and what you believe.  Yet often times our websites are full of barriers that keep people from fully being a part of our congregations. Read more »
Posted on September 17, 2012, 12:07 pm
Don't rely on your websites to protect your information – that's your responsibility. Your accounts are all linked because they belong to you and use your personal information, and that can make you vulnerable to a chain reaction. But never fear: there are some little things you can do to make a big difference in your security. Read more »
Posted on August 23, 2012, 1:05 pm | 1 comment
It’s tempting to link all of your social media accounts together. If you post something to Facebook, it’s simple to have it automatically feed to Twitter.  While linking accounts may feel like a way to simplify your work flow, I would argue it’s weakening the community and impact of your social media accounts. Read more »