May 12, 2009 - 4:31pm
That tends to be the problem
That tends to be the problem with church websites that need work. That is why we have people on staff that will help churches develop copy for their websites, we find that most churches get writers block when trying to develop updated content and messaging for their website.
May 12, 2009 - 5:59pm
content for web sites
On the podcast Boagworld.com 164. Case Study, the subject of content for web sites is discussed a bit. You might like to listen to what is said there.
Have you ever considered asking for the content before you proceed with the rest of the site?
May 12, 2009 - 6:08pm
Content before starting
EdRoss, you've hit on my new process flow! I decided just today that if a church is willing to commit a little money (like for a decent hosting company) AND to supplying me a functional layout and 2-3 pages of content, only then would I commit my time. This sounds a little harsh, but I think I would have started less than half of the church sites I already have and reduced my stress level a lot.
I'll listen to the podcast also.
Blessings.
May 12, 2009 - 6:17pm
May 13, 2009 - 12:41am
Amen!
Hey Dave,
Welcome home!!
I kind of understand what you are going through.
I agreed to help update a website for a ministry. It's a BARE bones, Frankenstein site in PHP. But updating info went pretty smooth. They wanted a new look, but I don't know enough CSS to make the Frankenstein site look like a super model. So I thought a good CMS was the way to go. I setup a "new" site in Drupal, thinking that all would be ok. Everyone liked it and I thought all was well. Only later did I find out about their web hosting being pretty LAME. They don't have any intention on switching hosts, and I have yet to hear about them trying to "up" their hosting plan.
It left me scratching my head. I told them that their current hosting plan can't support the site I have just built. If I had the brains of both Rob Feature & MF, then I might be able to get the new site on their hosting. But I feel like the contractor who builds a test house for a friend to look at. ONLY to find out that the foundation of the old house won't support the new house that is going to be built on it.
But the good news is that I know a LOT about Drupal now, and I really like it! Of course, I'm learning CSS because I still want to make Frankenstein look pretty.
Have a great day and God bless ya'll in your ministry!
May 13, 2009 - 1:08am
oh yeah.
Hello again, Dave,
Sorry I forgot something.
I also noticed that! Whether it's content or design, there is a desire to have the site, but the motivation to act is missing. So not only are you brought in to do website design, you almost find yourself also being a "cheerleader" for the website to get the people you are working with motivated enough to "see the light". But I also met some folks who truly wanted a better site, but sincerely had no idea how to wade through the "politics" of that ministry to make change.
I also realized how important communication is. It IS vital. Of course, getting them to actually communicate with you is another story. Sometimes I think that all we can do is PRAY
"Why can't you make our free-web-hosted site look, and function, like CNN.com or sony.com?". I get those questions. Getting people to realize that a good web hosting "foundation" is vital to a good website........ Well,that's the fun part.
And those are my thoughts of the day
May 13, 2009 - 2:57am
Check web hosting features before you build the site
Speaking as someone who sets up free and paid web hosting accounts as part of their job, I'd just say: please, please, please, check out what your web host can provide before you build a site using technology that it doesn't support. It saves everyone time and money!
My wife and I are missionaries back in the US after four years overseas. As I am a computer geek wanting specialize in web sites (rather than trying to do everything hardware and software), I decided to volunteer some of my time my helping churches upgrade their websites.
Most of the churches I have contacted tend to be smaller churches (under 300 people) and they were using either a crippled home-grown CMS or static pages. In most cases, moving to Drupal was a no-brainer.
The problem I am having is this: Their excitement about improving their website is obvious but when it comes down to writing content or even just editing what they already have, it's like their motivation just disappears. As a particularly bad example, one missions group I am working with took over three weeks just to get me their mailing address.
A small minority of the churches I am working with got real excited and had definitely "run with the ball". Others stayed with what I did, and others "want" a new website but their does not seem to be a desire to put any effort into the work.
I really want to help these people. Any ideas on how to get them to want to make their website succeed? They know they need a website and rightly recognize what it could do for their church, but don't seem to want it bad enough to sit down and find someone to do some content writing.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Blessings.
Dave