The future of the internets is up for grabs (although I’ve got my thoughts about it) but at least one thing is definitely for sure: Mobility.
Devices that are mobile-web enabled and capable are becoming an ever-increasing hot-ticket item on people’s online software product roadmaps and geo-location software and services are the coolest thing since slice bread (well, not completely… but gaining steam).
And the iPhone has a lot to do with not only raising the bar but also pushing the need for weight-savvy developers to utilize data feeds to the max.
Yes, did I hear you say “syndication?” RSS, perhaps?
Well, if you’re interested in being a leg-up on the “competition” and providing simple access to your content for those that are on-the-go, here are two very simple ways to make your blog and/or ministry website go mobile.
Please note: Static html sites with no syndication need not apply (but you might want to think about a nice conversion experience to WordPress to get started…?)!
1. ::: Intersquash
Intersquash is a pretty lame name (in my very personal opinion) but it makes sense: “Squashing” content for the interwebs. What it essentially does is take your RSS feed from your site and/or blog and create a very gui-ish visual for mobile handsets or tools.
As you can see, ChurchCrunch has been “iPhoneized”:
Simple as pie you can be running an optimized site in literally seconds. They’ve got a cool 2 min video if you need any more explanation:
2. ::: MobilePress
This one is the bomb. MobilePress makes your WordPress-powered blog and ministry site go mobile with the click of a button.
It’s so easy, so effective, and so simply beautiful (default theme… but whoa, you can customize the theme…!) that I really can’t spend much time on a comprehensive review because all I can really say it that it kicks massive booty.
Check this handsome iPhoneized-WordPress-powered-ChurchCrunch:
So, there you have it. 2 super simple ways to go Mobile.
Are you mobile? Drop me a line in the comments and I’ll check it out on my iPhone and I’ll list it here:
Blogs / Sites that have Gone Mobile:
- Anyone?
I agree completely! mobile is the present and future…the Church must be mobile!
Great tip. Nice apps! I am about to try it with my blog.
I had been using Alex King's “WordPress Mobile Edition” plugin for a couple years and it works fairly well, but isn't really styled at all and does some irritating things with images on my blog. I didn't know about MobilePress. I just tried it out and I like it a lot better.
Thanks for the heads up!
wow. those are some great thoughts Jose.
Here's a question for you since you're in the middle of it:
Since the church, in your opinion, is more like the enterprise, and since the enterprise is a "little" behind, does that leave room for the church to innovate?
Interesting thoughts… I have done a lot of thinking in the past on mobile strategy for the enterprise and just launched a new blog on the topic – http://m-strat.org As it relates to the church there is a lot that can be leveraged from mobility. Typically (or at least in a web 2.0 world) trends start with consumers and then move to the enterprise… however if we speak of mobile technology the church could probably learn a lot from the enterprise (which is still VERY far away from where it can and should be). Ministries need to go mobile… because people are mobile.
I need to clarify… since I don't think the church is like the enterprise.
- In Web 2.0 consumer trends are impacting and influencing enterprise applications. For example all this networking and connections started with us the consumers first and are now making it into the enterprise … we now have enterprise messaging platforms and even enterprise communities like Lotus Connections (and others)
- The church (please note the small 'c') or ministries in general have not leveraged web 2.0 as well as they could/should and have utilized (to my limited knowledge) mobile technology even less.
So now to answer your question: there is enormous room for the church to innovate and to leverage mobile technology to win souls for Christ. There is a gentleman by the name of Russ McGuire who coined McGuire's law: "The law states that the value of any product or service increases with its mobility, where the value of mobility is realized as availability and contextual relevance."
What is the service we are offering? The life-changing, thought-provoking Word of God! Yaaay!
When we are mobile we still need encouragement… we still hurt… we still need the word of God… we still need community… we are still part of the body of believers – the Church… with a big 'C'…
Two points to further the discussion (potential article coming?):
- What mobile tools and resources can we provide Christians so they (we) may live a more Christ-like life?
- What mobile tools and resources can we utilize/leverage to preach the Gospel?
(The only thing I don't like about the "Intense Debate" plugin is that my link doesn't show back to whatever site I input… so as an FYI the Mobile Strategy Blog referenced in my other comment is one blog but my personal blog is Four Winds Stirring at http://jose.cr ).
agree with you totally about churches not adopting web 2.0… yet. and i never had heard of mcguire's law, but i'm going to keep that in my back pocket now (and thank you for the introduction!)
is the "potential article" coming from you (or me…?) seems like you'd be a better candidate to write one up… want to think about guest posting? love your thoughts here and the community would enjoy the conversation too!
I will contact you offline to discuss some ideas.
sweet. super cool and excited. get some rest.
http://www.bravenewcode.com/wptouch/ - another.
are you still using intersquash?
nope.
Hi,
I'd like to add my new mobile plugin for wordpress to the list: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wapple-archit…
I've added loads of functionality (more than any other mobile plugin) and it gives you a mobile blog that not only looks amazing, but retains your URL structure and preserves SEO links.
If you fancy giving it a go I'd love to hear your feedback – it's constantly being worked on so it's very possible that any suggestions will make it into the next revision!
Wow, thanks for this!