web first

If you want your website to be the main source of information for your church you have to start by making some changes to how you do things.

First, always think “web first”. Whenever you publish new information, put it on the website before you print it in a bulletin or in a newsletter.

Print less information. Some people will not take the time to use the website if they can keep doing things the way that they always have. Sometimes you need to just stop printing certain information, especially if it mostly pertains to a web-based demographic in your church (i.e. you’ll probably want to keep the knitting circle in the bulletin).

Put your website everywhere. Put in on announcement slides. Put it in your bulletin. Put it in the newsletter. Put it on your bumper stickers and coffee mugs and pens.

Give an extra incentive for website users. Post videos early. Give out exclusive information. Give them a behind the scenes look. Think “bonus features” …like on a DVD.

filter your messages

There are a lot of important things going on in your church. I know that you want to advertise every single one of them. I know that the knitting circle and the gun club want no less than 2 paragraphs of copy in the newsletter. I know that the children’s ministry wants people to know about the upcoming Christmas pageant 6 months ahead of time.

But you just can’t advertise everything. You can’t make everyone happy.

Pick the announcements that relate to the largest portion of the congregation. If you want anyone to hear anything you have to filter out your messages.

The more information that people are presented with the less they will hear.