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The Internet is Dead (not)
With all the business news about sliding tech stocks and failing dot-coms, I should hesitate before putting my church on the internet, right?
Actually, the internet continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. Addresses and pages are being added by the millions. 760 new U.S. households join the internet each hour.
This growth has created new problems for users trying to find your site. It is actually becoming more difficult for them to locate you on the popular search engines.
A few years ago, as search engines improved, an increasing proportion of the internet pages were "indexed." The number exceeded 80% on some search engines. While the search engines have continue to improve, the growth of the internet has outpaced them. The result on many sites is that 70% and less is indexed.
Is it realistic to expect visitors to flock to my new church site?
Probably not, and this is why many dot-coms are failing. Many thought it was sufficient to put up a flashy site, get on the search engines, and watch the sales pour in. Or, they paid too much to advertise to attract visitors to their site, with little thought how to make money once they got there.
What is realistic?
You can, and certainly will get new visitors on your church site. Without a site, for example, it is virtually impossible for an out-of-state visitor to discover you from their home. With a site, it is at least possible.
Just don't expect a new web site, on its own, to double your growth rate.
How do I maximize the impact of my church site?
Maximize the impact of your church site by understanding its limitations. First, consider it an adjunct to your existing bulletin and newsletter. Publish the web address in those bulletins and newsletter. Your local congregation will have no trouble finding it.
Offer your local flock convenience and service on your site. Duplicate the weekly and monthly calendar. Take surveys. Let them order audio tapes (or download the sermon from the internet).
Publicize the web site as you do your church. Put it on your business cards and in your newspaper advertisement. Ask other ministry sites to link your church (make sure your denominational conference has your site listed.) Mention it in articles. And register at those search engines.
What can I expect?
Our church has just started a search for a new youth minister. We placed free links on half a dozen ministry sites, referring back to our church web site. There were two responses within an hour, and several more in the first day - including out-of-state candidates who could not have possibly heard about us otherwise. An email link and an on-line form, all of which automatically forward to the entire search committee, round out the package.
So what about those failures. Do I need to worry about who I do business with?
The dot-com failures you see every day in the newspaper are companies that needed tons of sales to support their lavish "burn rates." In a word, they spent far more than they made.
It is possible for small web site developers to cover their costs on each individual site. It is possible for hosting resellers to break even with as few as 4-5 sites. These suppliers can stay in business as long as they care to.
Of course you should be careful who you do any business with. Check their work, ask for references, and ask for a draft of your site before you pay anything. See our article last month on protecting yourself even if they do go out of business.
Then, put your trust in the Lord, and step out in faith!
-Ned
www.veroned.com
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