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Web, WordPress 6

Easiest Way to Install WordPress Is…

Posted By on May 15, 2009

easybutton

The easiest way to install WordPress on your server is now available in the form of EasyWP. This thing is so epic I can’t even tell you… so you’ll have to try it yourself.

All you have to do is download one file and the script does everything else for you (downloads the latest version of WordPress from WordPress.org, extracts it, and then jumps you to the setup page).

It even deletes the easywp.php file for you…! Auto-cleaning power!

One catch: Make sure the permissions of the folder that you’re installing it to is 777 to begin with (you can change it back after installing).

Ok. Now go tell others about this yummy goodness.

Blogging, Creative, Design, Marketing, Strategy, Web 2

Best Web Design Practices for Non-Profits

Posted By on May 15, 2009

picture-2

A recent SmashingMag article was killer in terms of outlining some best practices for web design for non-profits. I would definitely give it a look sometime in the near future, especially if you’re considering an overhaul.

A couple of key ingredients that they cover:

  1. Make your site Donor-Friendly
  2. Make your site Media-Friendly
  3. Make your site Volunteer-Friendly
  4. Make your Mission obvious and apparent
  5. Make your content take center stage
  6. Make your content consistent with other promotional material
  7. Make your purpose front and center
  8. Include News Section or Blog

They then provide a number of great examples to highlight their perspective.

One of the things that I’d additionally add is that a Non-Profit site needs to be simple. Not necessarily simple in terms of the number of functional layers and applications but simple in terms of messaging and experience. It needs to be dead-simple and obvious.

One of the things that I’ve been looking into as I’ve been a part of the non-profit space helping others to see the need for simplicity and “obviousness” of message. I think far too many sites are overly complicated, especially for ministries and churches.

I’m so passionate about it that I’m going to do something about it. Stay tuned.

Blogging, Web 16

Publish Your Blog on Kindle

Posted By on May 15, 2009

kindle_publishing_blog

I went ahead and did it. I’ve started publishing my blog on Kindle, which is pretty neat to start. If you’d like to try it out, check out my landing page for ChurchCrunch here.

There’s obviously a number of issues that have cropped up in regards to this new initiative, the main one being that anyone can publish someone elses blog material and profit from it (see TechCrunch’s writeup here).

But, otherwise I think this is going to be a smashing hit, and it’s a brilliant move by Kindle. I think the Kindle is going to only increase in market share, so jumping on board now is valuable.

If you’ve got a Kindle, I’d love to actually “see” how my blog looks on it… so, if you could purchase a copy of my blog I’ll pay you back (just make sure to put up some really good screen shots on your blog perhaps)!

UPDATE – Screens of ChurchCrunch on the Kindle Below! Thanks so much Adam!

Continue Reading…

Analytics, Code, Google, Plugins, Strategy, Web 11

Fire Analytics Firefox Plugin for Google Analytics

Posted By on May 15, 2009

analytics

Pretty simple and slick, this sweet Firefox extension is something I’ve been messing around with the past week and I’m really digging it.

Can’t believe it took me this long to find it. If you’re interested in keeping track of your analytics (you should be) check out Fire Analytics and let me know what you think.

If you’re looking for Google Analytics Desktop apps, check out Polaris.

Analytics, Google, Strategy, Web 2

An Introduction to Google Analytics Funnels & Goals

Posted By on May 14, 2009

funnelThis is a Guest Post by Scott Magdalein who blogs over at ReadScott.com.

One of the most useful tools in the Google Analytics toolbox is the ability to set and track Funnels and Goals.

Goals are specific pages or actions you want site visitors to hit or click-to. Funnels are the tracks or courses of action you want your site visitors to take to get to those Goals.

For example, if you have a contact form you want visitors to fill out, you’d set up a Funnel or process to get people to the Goal or page with the contact form. Sometimes they’re simple and sometimes they’re much more complicated and involve several steps to reach a Goal.

John (@human3rror) posted an article here on ChurchCrunch about a simple step you can take to garner more donations through your website. That particular post was about designing a better website that calls more attention to the places you want (ie. a donation button). It’s a good post. Skip over to read it when you’re done here.

But, before you redesign your site, a good practice would be to set up some Google Analytics Funnels and Goals to measure whether the problem is design or copy or whatever. This is a good run-through of how to set them up.

Once they’re up and running, you’ll have a much better feel of exactly what needs to be redesigned, where your ‘calls-to-action’ need to be placed in the design, how your website copy might need to change, and how to make the Funnel easier and the Goal more enticing.

[Image from Tanaka]

Social Media, Twitter, Web, Youtube 22

Why Pastors Should Be Anxious About Social Media

Posted By on May 14, 2009

anxious

Social Media and Social Networking is a part of our daily lives at this point in the game and more than likely, even if you wouldn’t consider yourself a “user” of Social Media/Networking, the fact is that you are.

It’s everywhere, and that’s not just hyperbole; it’s fact.

But that shouldn’t stop you from using it, and it certainly shouldn’t make you anxious about it wholesale. But, there’s one particular thing that Pastors, Churches, and organizations should be wary of: Their staff.

You see, staff members in your church are just as prone to “idiot moves” as the next guy. We (and I include myself in here 100%, because I’ve already “messed up”) can sometimes stay stuff, blog about stuff, tweet stuff, that can be harmful to not only ourselves but our organizations that we serve.

It’s not the tools, but the “tools” who use the tools (an attempt at a lame joke there). … If that makes sense. It’s not the social networks fault, it’s the users of the social networks that may cause a ruckus.

Here are a couple of snaffus that caused a major stur in the marketplace via social networking:

Continue Reading…

Video, Web 5

Keep it Simple Stupid (and Obvious)

Posted By on May 14, 2009

keepitsimplestupidAfter a thorough butt-kicking from The Orange Conference and conversations about youth, students, and children’s ministry, it started getting me thinking more about how we engage children and the younger generation online.

What has occurred, though, is a deeper appreciation for the simple and obvious, especially from a communication perspective.

We simply do far too good of a job making online hard. I’m guilty of this as much as the next. I think the K.I.S.S. principle needs to be taken seriously.

So, I looked for a little inspiration, and John Piper never lets down. He lays out “7 Ideas for Teaching Toddlers God’s Word” as such and I’m going to add a “web-spin” in terms of how some of his strategies may loosely apply to the online.

My commentary on John’s points in italics. Continue Reading…

Twitter, Web 10

Getting Saved in 140 Characters or Less

Posted By on May 14, 2009

“Twitter… it’s happening.”

Yes, indeed it is. It’s crazy to think that people are finding the Gospel message and salvation in 140 characters or less, but the work of the Holy Spirit is beyond comprehension or understanding.

It’ll be the day, though, when I meet personally someone who tells me their testimony and it starts with:

Yeah man… I got saved in 140 characters (or less).

Can’t wait.

Google, Social Media, Web 5

10KDoors.org – United Methodist Church Goes Social, But Does Too Much Social Close Doors?

Posted By on May 14, 2009

10kdoors1

A few of you have probably already seen this but for those that haven’t the United Methodist Church has revamped their entire website to look a bit more “social.”

But don’t worry if that scares you, they still have their normal site here.

10kdoors_validationThey apparently really like Google’s Friend Connect and are leveraging it very heavily, which I find fascinating because the heavy use of a very specific service can actually hamper adoption, use, engagement, and can ultimately close doors.

I’m not sure that’s what they were hoping to do.

But otherwise, I’m liking the site, for the most part.

It’s a bit slow on load in some circumstances and their coding base needs some work, and they definitely need to work on their permalink structure because web addresses like these are super-ugly:

http://www.10thousanddoors.org/site/c.ruI4KbMRIvF/b.4877557/k.BF1F/Home.htm

But you should seriously take a look. It’s definitely a few takeaways here that I really like. Continue Reading…

Creative, Design, Strategy, Web 10

Want More Donations? Design a Better Site.

Posted By on May 14, 2009

donationsPretty simple and straightforward advice, right?

A better, more well-designed site that’s built strategically will naturally provide better avenues for giving, and perhaps provide more call-to-actions than one that is designed poorly.

But, we all knew that already, right?

A study done by ForeSee Results provides some ample evidence that help support the obvious. I’d print it out and hand it to your web department guru.

Some facts from a highly satisfied visitor to a nonprofit’s website is:

  • 49% more likely to donate
  • 38% more likely to volunteer
  • 57% more likely to have a favorable overall impression of the organization
  • 65% more likely to recommend the site to others
  • 55% more likely to return to the site

Sounds pretty valuable to me, right?

Time for an upgrade.

[Image from Daquella] [HT: OurChurch]

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