![Using the web: beginners’ guide
–find a church
–latest news in the Recorder
–buying from Wilkos
–what’s on at the Showcase?
–looking for people [Google]
– Switch to URLs tabbed Beginners’ Guide](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-3-320.jpg)
![Church websites explored
• Neath & Port Talbot Circuit
• Wollaton Road Methodists [see address]
• Bramcote Parish Church
• Nottingham churches
• Sudbury Methodists
• Trent Vineyard](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-4-320.jpg)
![8-min Exercise: write 100 words for
the church website about one topic
• The Wesley Guild in Beeston
• Sunday morning’s service [pulpit exchange]
• The Carol Choir or Benevolent Society
• Beeston Methodist Churches together
Add text to draft post(s) already prepared, then publish](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-9-320.jpg)
![Website visitor characteristics
• Half have visited only once (so far)
• Just over half leave the site immediately
[bounce]
• Average visitor looks at 2 to 3 pages
• Average visitor spends two minutes on the site](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-11-320.jpg)
![Popular pages visited
• Home page 687 19%
• Concerts 544 15%
• Visitors 449 13%
• Premises photos 398 11%
• Services 396 11%
• Find us 338 9%
• Contact [church office/minister] 292 8%
• Events 245 7%
• Minister 235 7%
• Total of 9 most popular pages 3584 100%](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-12-320.jpg)
![CRMC website: practical issues
Audience/readership: who is it for?
Resources available: cost, expertise,
inspiration, authority
Balance between:
o fixed pages; e.g. Guild entry
o contemporary page; e.g. Services
o rolling page; e.g. “blog” [web-log]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-13-320.jpg)
![Current problems for editor: I
• No formal appointment; no line
manager; no terms of reference
• Shared management [responsibilities,
control]
• Appropriate content [complaints about
blog posts on Royal Family and ASBOs]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-14-320.jpg)
![Current problems for editor: II
• Promoting interaction with church members
[comments; guest blogger]
• Appropriate style
[broadsheet v tabloid; church v chapel;
local v (inter-)national]
• Keeping going
[enthusiasm; discipline/timetable; succession]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/guildtalka-120124055434-phpapp02/85/Guild-talk-A-15-320.jpg)
Guild talk A
- 1. The Chilwell Road website: putting the church on the wwworld map
- 2. Chilwell Road’s website: questions • who is it for? • what is its purpose? • what is in it? • what should it look like? • what is the editor’s role? • Etc!
- 3. Using the web: beginners’ guide –find a church –latest news in the Recorder –buying from Wilkos –what’s on at the Showcase? –looking for people [Google] – Switch to URLs tabbed Beginners’ Guide
- 4. Church websites explored • Neath & Port Talbot Circuit • Wollaton Road Methodists [see address] • Bramcote Parish Church • Nottingham churches • Sudbury Methodists • Trent Vineyard
- 5. What are the aims of a church website? • provide information • preach a message • teach/train members • communication medium for members • contribute to wide debate about church issues • provide outlet/opportunity for display of skills as writer, designer, publicist, analyst etc
- 6. Parallels for the church website: local • Church Notices • Church Newsletter (including Junior Church Newsletter) • Church notice-board • Church brochures, e.g. Welcome pack • Church information published by Beeston Express/Nottingham Post/Methodist Recorder/Beestonia
- 7. Other parallels for the church website • Other websites – Circuit website – District website – Connexional website – Other local church websites • Methodist Recorder • National newspaper coverage of church issues • Shop window • Wayside pulpit
- 8. Current contributors Page compilers Frequent updates • Music • Weekly notices • Youth work • Services • Front page • Events/concerts • Blog posts • Church charity • History • Photographs of church Overview • Insurance • Editor • Technical consultant
- 9. 8-min Exercise: write 100 words for the church website about one topic • The Wesley Guild in Beeston • Sunday morning’s service [pulpit exchange] • The Carol Choir or Benevolent Society • Beeston Methodist Churches together Add text to draft post(s) already prepared, then publish
- 10. Website visitor numbers Previous website Relaunch, Easter 2011 Fewer than 100 visitors per week • Slowly rising usage since re-launch • Currently around 175 visitors each week, more than attend morning worship • 3,386 people have visited the site last year • Best day recently recorded 34 visitors
- 11. Website visitor characteristics • Half have visited only once (so far) • Just over half leave the site immediately [bounce] • Average visitor looks at 2 to 3 pages • Average visitor spends two minutes on the site
- 12. Popular pages visited • Home page 687 19% • Concerts 544 15% • Visitors 449 13% • Premises photos 398 11% • Services 396 11% • Find us 338 9% • Contact [church office/minister] 292 8% • Events 245 7% • Minister 235 7% • Total of 9 most popular pages 3584 100%
- 13. CRMC website: practical issues Audience/readership: who is it for? Resources available: cost, expertise, inspiration, authority Balance between: o fixed pages; e.g. Guild entry o contemporary page; e.g. Services o rolling page; e.g. “blog” [web-log]
- 14. Current problems for editor: I • No formal appointment; no line manager; no terms of reference • Shared management [responsibilities, control] • Appropriate content [complaints about blog posts on Royal Family and ASBOs]
- 15. Current problems for editor: II • Promoting interaction with church members [comments; guest blogger] • Appropriate style [broadsheet v tabloid; church v chapel; local v (inter-)national] • Keeping going [enthusiasm; discipline/timetable; succession]
Editor's Notes
- #2: Title sampler only
- #3: Intro who is it for?what is its purpose?what should it look like?what is in it?what is the editor’s role?Etc!
- #4: Using the web: beginners guidefind a churchlatest news in the Recordertake a holiday at Willersleybuying from Wilkoswhat’s on at the Showcase?looking for people