WP-RELATED SITES
WP-RELATED SITES
- WordPress Plugin Repoistory
- WordPress Support Forums – If you have a problem, it’s probably answered in the forums somewhere
- WordPress Download Page – Make sure you’re downloading the latest WP for clients
- WordPress Templates Tags Page – Find the WordPress code you need here
- HTML Validator
- CSS Validator
- Weblogs Tool Collection – News and more
- FreelanceSwitch
- Small Potato – Great WP tutorials
- Smashing Magazine
- DailyBlogTips – Excellent WP specific tips
- Lorelle on WordPress – The queen of WordPress tips
- Matt – WordPress daddy
- Free WordPress video tutorials -from iThemes
Getting the Most out of your Web Site
(Costs quoted are what you might expect pay to find if you do the website yourself)
Many churches and non-profit-organizations are hesitant to consider getting a website, because they are unsure of the costs they might incur. In fact, most businesses are surprised to find out how inexpensive a website can be, especially considering the amount of exposure involved. The exact price will depend on the size and complexity of the page and whether we use your graphics or ours, but let’s look at some of the factors involved:
Websites can reduce your print advertising costs, while reaching a much larger audience. If you take a smaller print ad, but point the ad to your website, the print ad can be not only much smaller, but more effective. This is because, unlike print advertising, nothing is in concrete – your website can be changed in moments to reflect current conditions.
The costs you can expect to incur in getting a website include the following:
Website Design costs can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of the site. The industrial average for webmasters is a flat $50/hour for actual computer time spent on design or maintenance. A good rule of thumb to estimate how much you should pay for a website that is static is about $100 per individual web page.
Virtual Domain Name Registration will cost from $10 to $35 per year, depending on length of contract and “niche” service used. This is the registration process which gives you sole usage of “yourcongregationname.com” and is recommended for the serious church, but not required. We have the unique opportunity to offer you “your congregationname.elca.us.”
Web Hosting Fees – Costs can range from “free” (not really) to hundreds of dollars per month. Most of our sites reside with servers that generally cost about $15-$20 per month with reasonable set up fees ($15-25).
Search Engine Submission – This is probably the most important service available. Search Engine Services range from about $20 to $40 a month. This service is provided by many standalone submission services and by many website designers as part of their website hosting package (at an additional charge). It is also important to note that some of the most popular search engines are now beginning to charge to be listed in their search engines.
Additional Features – If you want to make a web site more interactive, with feedback forms, connection to database driven information and the like, expect the costs to go up.
Maintenance – Site maintenance is critical once the site is built. If you develop a page and never update it, this can reflect poorly on your congregation or organization.
Contact us for more information on this topic. We can be contacted at leithrugia@msn.com and we are anxious to help every congregation and non-profit have a clean, neat and relevant website. We will work with every organization every budget. All of our websites are custom built.
Disclaimer: This page is designed to provide information only and is not a substitute for advice that is specific to your church or non-profit. Before acting on any of the information above it is important you seek further advice from a professional who has taken into consideration the nature and circumstances of your business.
Affordable and Simple
Simple and Affordable
Create web pages, capture news, post sermons online, offer podcasts, and blog online. Our services are perfect for churches who want to reach people using all means available for generations to come.
Friendly and Flexible
Enjoy warm smiles and helping hands from real people. We’re friendly, easily accessible (in person), and invested in making this the best solution for you.
Low Cost
Save thousands in setup and design fees. We’ve been around a long time; we know how to keep costs down. The more churches that participate, means reduced overhead for everyone!
Setup
Getting setup online is fast and easy. We make it simple so your church can focus on other things you’re called to do.
Ease of Use
Access the site from anywhere in the world, instantly making changes live. From the mission field in South America to the coffee shop down the street, you can reach people in real time.
Current
Choose from all the latest tools: blogs, photo galleries, audio sermons, podcasts and many, many more. As technology advances, so does your website; but simply and affordably.
Attractive
Choose the look of your site and integrate it with the message of your church. You get endless design choices and color combinations to create the look and functionality you need.
Getting Started
Spend some time planning and talking to figure out what kind of site you want to have. Some of the questions you might want to ask are:
What kind of info do you envision, and how often will you update it? Are you just going to have an online brochure-type site with just basic contact info, service schedule, etc that doesn’t get updated often… or perhaps something people are drawn back to by ever-changing content and current, detailed information? Warning: if you let the info go ’stale,’ it can be useless. If you post the type of information that should stay current, keep it current or remove it.
Focus: Is your site focused on info for your members or on drawing outsiders in? Is it about a ministry or a tool of that ministry to teach/reach others? Who is your target audience?
Message: What are you trying to get across about your church? Beyond address and service times… Try to show what makes *your* church different, or worth visiting.
Note that visitors may guess about your ministry priorities by what areas show the most information or detail.
Work with your Church/Ministry Staff and Leaders. We’d strongly encourage anyone planning and designing a site to communicate with their pastor(s) or other leaders and staff. They’ll probably be able to provide additional good ideas for content for the site, as well as being able to tell you when something would mean too much work for them.
Be somewhat informal in your writing style, it’s more friendly and attractive. Remember, you’re writing about this great group of people you get together with to worship this amazing God.
Quality is important, but it’s not everything. The quality of your site, expressed in look, usability, spelling, working links, good html, quick loading, clear navigation, etc is important. It will get across that someone cares enough to be careful and diligent and it will make using your site less frustrating and more effective.
Webbed for Success
Seek organizational support. The support of your church communication committee, congregational council, committees, staff and congregation will be extremely helpful in undertaking this information intensive/cooperative effort that will call for on-going budget support. Go to www.elca.org/webministry for links to articles and statistics that will help you explain the importance of this vital communication tool in your congregation.
What does it take? Computer capability, modem, browser (Communicator, Firefox, etc.), ISP (Internet service provider), software if designing in-house (Dreamweaver, FrontPage, etc.), a host site, and registration of a domain name. How much will it cost? How much can you spend? There are many low-cost options including template sites* and free hosting, for example on Thrivent’s Lutherans Online Web site at http://www.lutheransonline.com/servlet/lo_ProcServ/DBPAGE=cge. Probable costs are: monthly hosting fee, domain name registration ($70 for two years), possible monthly fees for some optional programs. Note: Your ISP may offer free hosting for a modest-sized site. To register your domain name go to http://www.networksolutions.com, http://www.godaddy.com or http://www.register.com For inexpensive hosting try these http://www.iceishot.com, http://www.hostcompare.com, http://www.createafreewebsite.net/web_hosting_comparison_chart.html
Template/Database Site:
If using a template site* there may be an initial set-up cost, then a monthly fee that includes hosting, and possible additional costs for increased requested services. Choose a company where technical assistance is included in the monthly fee. If choosing to design and maintain the site rather than using a template site: Designed by professional:
Expenses are usually by the hour. Ask for references (check them) and to see several samples. Make sure you sign a contract that includes the date of delivery and fees. Gather all your content and have it ready in documents before giving it to the designer. Major changes and additions will add to the cost. Decide who will maintain the site before you begin. If it’s other than a staff member or volunteer, this could add greatly to your monthly costs. Get a copy of the site on CD. Make sure in the contract that you own the site design.
Designed by volunteer:
This is the most economical but riskiest option, especially if the designer is a member. It’s difficult to be honest about how you feel about the design. This is not a paying job so it will be on the volunteer’s timetable. Make sure you ask for a back-up disk of the site in case the person leaves the congregation or moves. Ask which program was used to create the site; FrontPage and Dreamweaver are the most commonly used.
Consider a database:
It has interactivity options like calendars and photo albums, updates without HTML, and can be updated online from various locations and therefore by several folks. This is how a template site works but could also be a requested part of a designed site. Who will design, build, manage and maintain the site?
Volunteer vs. professional, congregation or staff member, or a team? These are extremely important considerations in considering the complexity of the design and content. Make sure you can keep your site a manageable size so it can be kept fresh and updated. Who will provide the original content?
Pastor, a member of the congregation or staff, a committee? This can be a lengthy process. Having the content ready and proofed before the design phase can save considerable time and money. A site map is critical. (This is a layout of how the pages will flow from one to another.) Where to find help?
Helpful Resources are available from the ELCA.
ELCA Web Works – resources for enhancing your Web ministry: www.elca.org/webministry
Don’t forget to promote it. Put the address (URL) on all your stationary, business cards, brochures, e-mail signatures, newsletters, church sign. Send it to the synod www.elca.org/scriptlib/it/cds_CongrWebPages/cds_main.asp to be included on their sites.
*A company that provides simplified Web site design and hosting for a fee. You select from template pages and insert your information. They can be maintained without special html coding knowledge and have a professional appearance. There are many; go to a search engine and check for “church web sites.” http://www.cyberchurch.com
