URL: http://www.laughlinpoultry.com

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

This site is was designed to be able to get jobs that Laughlin has out onto the Internet. It utilizes some custom post types for jobs and a private area for inter company news.

URL: http://www.goldsborophysicaltherapy.com

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

These guys were amazing to work with. Greg Warren and Ken Keesee have an amazing staff and made this one of my favorite jobs of all times. This site utilizes several custom post types for fading images, testimonies and news.

URL: http://www.fpmin.org

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

When Ken Cowan approached me about designing a new website for Fully Persuaded Ministries, he wanted a website that not only looked good, but was easy for him to update. This features a custom post type for his itinerary.

URL: http://www.fellowshipse.com

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

When we started this design process, we wanted to make sure that we designed a website that was effective but still utilized today’s latest technologies available to us. We implemented a JQuery slider and some great Social Media aspects to this website. But our main goal was to have a website that was easy for anyone to navigate and use. We feel that was accomplished.

We all know that today’s society is technology driven. Most homes have computers and some form of a broadband internet connection. And so many of us carry small computer around with us all the time with the smartphones of today becoming more and more powerful with each day.

For too long, the church has lacked in utilizing the technologies, but we are finally starting to catch and also becoming the leaders in a lot of techniques that are out there.

In this series, I am going to tackle some steps that I see for having an Effective Church Website.

1. Avoid the Clutter.

It’s hard to not post examples of this but I don’t want to be accused of calling out people. But the great thing about a website is that you are allowed to have more than one page. I look at a lot of websites for churches and ministries and there seems to be a tendency to post way too much information on the start page of the website. It’s information overload.

I visited the website of a church in my local town a few days ago and this is what I saw on the start page of their website:

1. Schedule of Services
2. Welcome Message
3. Church Picture
4. Vision Statement
5. Mission Statement
6. Java-based Slideshow (Not Javascript)
7. Today’s Scripture Reading
8. Visitor information including directions and an embedded Google Map
9. Contact information
10. Scrolling list of upcoming events
11. Statement of Faith from their denomination
12. And my favorite, the infamous “Hit Counter”!

So as you can see there is a lot of information on this page. A picture would explain better, but as I stated, I do not want to point anyone. What was thrown together on this one single start page, could have been spread out over about 5 to 6 pages.

Churches have a tendency to utilize what I call the “Junkyard Effect”. We keep throwing stuff onto the page with no sense of order. It’s clutter at it’s best.

A church website should be treated just like any other business website. It is a representation of who that church is and who the people that attend that church are. We would never place random objects up on walls in our church that who no correlation between them. We need to take this same approach with websites.

So, my advice. GET RID OF THE CLUTTER!!!! Take all of that random information, find out what you really need on your website, and find other spaces (preferably on separate pages) to place it.

I’ll give you a little information. We have found out at my home church that our website has become a very effective tool to bring people into the doors. On the front page of our website (www.bethelchurch.info) you will find a rotating javascript based image slideshow that is a feature area for ministries and upcoming events. This area changes weekly. You will also find beside a very brief welcome message. Below this you will find a list of upcoming events, a list of worship songs from the previous weeks, and the most current 3 podcasts from our pastor.

I encourage you to take an educated look at your church website and see if there is clutter on it. If you feel that you are not the write person for that, find a business who specializes in website development for churches and ministries. (This is a hint by the way and a blatant plug for my services!).

Good luck and check back for Part 2 of the series “Steps For Effective Church Websites”.

URL: http://www.porministries.org

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

It’s said that a first impression can last a lifetime and when we met Pastor Terry Jones from the Place of Refuge Ministries, we were impressed at how amazing this man was. He’s passionate about teaching young people in and outside of the church, basketball and seeing the ministry of his church grow. He stated that he wanted a contemporary style website that would attract visitors to their church.

URL: http://www.williamstreetyouth.com

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

What is WSYM? WSYM stands for William Street Youth Ministries and it is the Student Ministries of Bethel Church. Youth Pastor Daniel Weeks wanted a site that was like no other. This site needed to be a site that would become a portal for this growing student ministry. But it also needed to be a site that would be easily managed by the students themselves. Stay tuned for a new Mobile site that is coming soon!

URL: http://www.thetowne.mobi

Framework: Mobile Compliant HTML, CSS, JQuery and WordPress

Part of the design of the new website for Town Pointe was the creation of a mobile site. The vision for this site was for a potential home buyer to be able to drive into their subdivision and be able to see they homes that they have to offer on their smartphone. We integrated a truly mobile site that is easy to navigate and loads quickly. We also integrated an amazing script that determine your OS type and automatically direct you to the desktop site or the mobile site.

URL: http://www.thetownepointe.com

Framework: HTML5, CSS3, JQuery and WordPress

Part of our partnership with Jacksonville Realty Group was the development of a website for their new residential home development called “Towne Pointe”. This site was designed to utilize the colors of the homes that are being built in this development but also to use an innovative design just as the builders in this development use innovative home plans.

URL: http://www.jrgrp.mobi

Framework: Mobile Compliant HTML, CSS, JQuery and WordPress

When we first met with Jim Normile from Jacksonville Realty Group, the one thing he emphasized was being able to capture the mobile user. His vision was for a potential home buyer to be able to drive into their subdivision and be able to see they homes that they have to offer on their smartphone. We integrated a truly mobile site that is easy to navigate and loads quickly. We also integrated an amazing script that determine your OS type and automatically direct you to the desktop site or the mobile site.