Successful Church Websites begin with Ownership

At one point in your life I’m sure you’ve heard some variation of this concept; own the moment. As an agency that exists to empower our clients, we want to tell you this. Your ministries should own the website. 

When we say you should own your website, there are a few key ideas that we are hinting towards. These concepts are important in many facets of life, but also in the context of your ministry’s online communications success.

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Responsibility: When it comes to a successful website, there needs to be an emphasis of responsibility on the website succeeding. Whether it is one individual or a team of 50, there needs to be someone responsible for the website.  Ownership begins when with identifying responsibility.  

Significance: Another way that a Ministry’s website can succeed is when those who take ownership see the significance of an effective website. When your team values the significance of a well designed, maintained and executed website, your online presence will drastically improve. Responsibility isn't enough, there needs to also be an understanding of the value; the significance. 

Focus on what you Have/Choose the Correct Tool: Now, these ideals may seem a bit contradicting, and in some ways they are. However, they are important to analyze together. When you focus on what you have, you will realize what you need. When you realize what you need, it’s important to choose the correct tool. In essence, both of these concepts focus on the idea of evaluation. In order to find success with your website, you must take ownership and evaluate accordingly. It’s a process; do your due diligence.

Set an example: The final piece of taking ownership of your website is setting an example. In each of the previous concepts, it’s important to note that somebody must set the tone; they must lead. A successful website begins with taking ownership. You must be the example; you must take ownership. Remember, even if you are not the decision maker, you have a voice. If you understand the responsibility, significance and evaluations that are necessary, you can help your Ministries succeed online.

Death by a Thousand Web Banners

As churches and ministries adapt to the trends and innovations of the design industry, there is still one major problem, the Internet is experiencing Death by a Thousand Web Banners. Now, the web banners are not the only issue here, this current trend and potentially devastating concept is mostly caused from lack of brand guidelines, qualified designers, and individuals not paying simple attention to detail. However, with education and a little perspective, we can develop the understanding necessary to protect the Internet, our designs, and the mission/vision of the ministries we’re supporting.

Amidst an inspired generation of hipsters, creatives, and yes, geeks, the originality, imagination, and innovation of the – seemingly archaic termed – World Wide Web has all but taken a break throughout the past decade. With endless amounts of agencies, freelancers, and do it yourself opportunities, digital design is steamrolling its way through multiple fields, in multiple ways, and on multiple platforms. Whether you are a designer, creative director, head pastor, or volunteer in charge of graphic design, you’ve likely experienced much of this innovation, and – most likely – some web banner design error as well.

Increases in possibility and opportunity have also given way to the probability and likelihood of increased design error. In an ever-advancing digital society, our own innovations and ideas can – sometimes – hinder our endeavors. These errors or hindrances occur for many different reasons; most of which can be credited to us the creators and maintainers. Although it may be difficult to admit that we are the problem, this is a concept that we must identify, accept, and challenge.

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Examples of deadly web banners

The Color Blinder: Banners that are colorblind fall into two categories:

1) The colors do not match the schematic theme of the incorporated website.

2) The banner was created in CMWK when it should have been created in RGB (CMWK is for print; RGB is for digital).

Fixing a Color Blinder is simple, choose colors to incorporate within the banner that are relevant to your brand and websites representation and approach; and make sure they are formatted in RGB.

 Pixely Problems: We’ve all seen an image that is just – simply – hard to see; it’s too pixely. When it comes to creating web banners we must be careful to use images that apply the correct pixel coordination to the size of the image.

A good rule of thumb is that Print images should be at 300 DPI (dots per inch) and Digital images should be at 72 DPI. It is important that you adjust your designs accordingly. 

Grandpa Glasses: If your banner is not legible, readable, or understandable, your audience will – most definitely – be confused; asking what is it? What’s it about? What’s the purpose?

Make sure that your web banner is created with a relevancy and readability. If your audience does not understand its concept, content, or focus, it’s – simply – worthless.

The Blushing Brand: Your banner may be a beautiful creation and representation of an event, series, or whatever, but if it’s not consistent with your brands image and guidelines, it will lose its effectiveness.

Make sure that your banner is not blushing too much and taking away or deviating from the original guidelines of your brand.

For Matt: Is your web banner “formatted” and optimized for the web? Without the proper formatting, you may as well be placing the banner in the trash instead of on the web.

Some things to consider include color, size, location, focus, etc…

WHY is more important than WHAT

As a business we are continuously balancing our corporate and spiritual perspectives. With more and more of our culture pursuing worldly tokens, we often remind ourselves that why we do what we do is truly our signature.

Relevancy is Key: We believe it’s no longer okay to treat your website like a transactional product; it must become a part of your ministries daily, monthly and annually. As we enter this new age of relevancy, it’s important to understand that your website is alive, dynamic and in need of continuous care.

Websites are Tools: Your website is simply a tool, a vessel for communications possibilities; it’s not the end all be all. It’s important to realize that any tool is only as good as it’s craftsman. We want to help you think through not only what tool (website) you choose to build, but also how you will use it.

Everything starts with a Strategy: We believe that strategy is the foundation to succeeding in Ministry communications. A strategy consisting of prayer, relevant goals and complete team commitment will provide the groundwork needed to accomplish your communications objectives.

“We believe that Christ is King, relevancy is key, websites are tools and that a solid strategy is the foundation of communications success.”

As an agency we have realized that our beliefs are the foundation of what we do; they are our why. As we continue along this journey, may we always remember that why we do what we do is more important than simply what we do. Our signature is not the websites we build, it’s the ministries we have the opportunity to help build. It’s more than a product; it’s a belief, a passion and our mission!

The New Model of Relevancy

 

Websites are no longer a transaction that should take place every few years; they are ongoing.

 

As an agency that has worked in the industry for the better part of five years, we’ve seen the need for ongoing design, and now, in this age of relevancy, the traditional – cyclical – model of websites no longer makes sense for Ministries. The traditional model concludes that websites have a lifetime (1-3 years, depending on who you talk with) that determines its relevancy. Thus, between updates, redesigns and complete overhauls, the relevancy of your website is constantly dwindling, being recharged and dwindling again. However, the traditional age of websites is changing and the new model of relevancy is approaching.

The new model of relevancy is approaching and you must understand this: your website is alive, dynamic and in need of continuous care.

It’s no longer okay to make your website a transactional product; it must become a part of your ministries; daily, monthly and annually. As we enter this new age of relevancy, agencies must also introduce a new model of their solutions. There needs to be an emphasis on relationships and ongoing designs; a solution that embraces the changing industry, the rising needs of ministries and the essence of the new model of relevancy. It also needs to make sense financially.

In the age of technology, we can't stress relevancy enough. How your ministries approach this issue is crucial. Connect with one of our team today, we'd love to share how we can help keep your online ministries relevant. Click here.   

The Custom Church: Uniqueness is not arbitrary.

"If you are reading this, you are custom; a fact you should not take for granted."

Although change is prominent, especially in the communications industry and the Church, I can’t help but think about the fact that each ministry is custom. How cool is that! Whether it’s the missions, focuses, individuals, passions and/or approaches, just to name a few, your ministries are custom and unique to you.

The reason I am thinking about this today is because I love my job! As an agency, we have the opportunity to come alongside ministries, empowering them within their uniqueness’s to further advance the kingdom of Jesus. But it’s more than just providing a tool (website). It’s the partnerships, friendships and the fact that Jesus is at the center.

As we progress as a company, the one truth we will always project is this: Jesus is the core of who we are and each ministry that comes through our doors is unique, custom, and deserves to be represented as such. The designs implemented within your ministries – websites, brochures, mailers, etc. – should be unique to you. We believe they should represent and reflect your audiences, your visions, your emotions and your missions.

Remember, your Church is custom; how cool is that!!!