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How to Create an Effective Website--Comments/Suggestions

2/20/08

1. Make your website easy to navigate

2. Create a way for your visitors to connect with you so you can begin to form a relationship with them

3. Have a clear benefit in the headline of your home page

4. Images increase the impact a website will have on it's visitors

5. Get a good Web host that will allow you your own page not linked to any other pages and free of ad-banners and other devices that may include material you don't want.

6. Keep it simple. Your parishioners may not be avid users of the Internet, so you'll want to design a page that they can understand. A prominent picture of the church building is a good addition, and an introductory text to explain what is on the site will help users.

7. Have a place for user input (comments, emails). A church is a place where a lot of communication takes place. Parishioners might want to talk about scheduling of events, theology, or social issues.

8. If you don't feel comfortable installing a guest book type object on your page, just include your email for quick contact information so that users can email you directly with any comments or questions.

9. Maintain the Web page. Visit it periodically to check that it is working properly and not "hacked" or inundated with pop-ups or other hostile elements. Ask your church-goers if they have had success visiting the page. Staying involved will make you a great asset to your church.

10. A Must! Check this out. This site has a lot of useful information http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/church-pages.php

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To People Who Want To Write - But Can't Get Started

Note: I did not write this article. It is one of many ways to write an article I found on the Internet for you to create content-rich, interesting to read and informative copy for our website. Remember our basic mission is to inform the public what First Presbyterian Church of Newark, Oh is about and leave them with the feeling that will entice them to come, see and hear for themselves the Word of God! Thanks, Don Lacy

Here is a process that is useful in creating articles that are designed to be of quality, high value and will have a higher rate of follow through by the reader. This process will easily generate a quality article of 600 words or more.

The Power of Writing Articles

What you can do to create powerful articles

Content is the basic building block of the Internet. Without it, there would be no need to browse the web. The value of a site is based upon its content and the better the content, the better the perceived value of a website. The more valuable a website is viewed by its visitors, the more people online will consider it a resource, and refer to it and link to it.

So the key in creating a resource website is to produce content that people will think is valuable. One way to do that is to write articles that are informative, interesting, solve a problem, or answer a question, and are well written. We will go over the basic and necessary elements that are required to write an article that will get people to respond and seek you out for additional information.

Follow along for a step by step process.

Steps to writing a powerful article

How do you create an article that people want to read? How do you entice them into wanting more? It's not as difficult as you might think.

1. Determine the topic of your article.
You will first need to decide what general subject you want to write about.

2. The easiest way to create an article that people find valuable is to actually answer questions that real people are asking.

3. Find the keywords used by the people of your target market.
This step is important because it tells you how your target market is looking for answers to their questions. You will want to use these keywords in your article.

4. Brainstorm topics for your articles.
Once you have the information from the previous steps, brainstorm some specific topics you can write about. This process is vital because it will help the creative juices begin to flow. Just begin writing down a bunch of words and phrases that relate to some of the problems people are experiencing, or questions they are asking. Got to Google and at the top of the website find the words Adwords keyword Tool. Type in ‘salvation’ and see what you get—just follow instructions.

5. Create a Title for the Article
Once you have a good list of topics based on the keywords, and problems/questions of your target market, create an effective article title that will get a reader's interest and entice them to read your article. Good titles include "How To" lists, "Top 10" lists, "Things to Avoid" lists, and many others.

6. Begin Writing
Now that you have the topic, title, foundation and structure of your article, you can begin writing. Start on the body of the article first. If you have a "Top 10" type of article, then write a paragraph for each of the items in the top 10. Your paragraph should explain why for that item in at least 2 to 3 sentences.

7. Write the introduction of the article.
Once you have written the entire body of the article, it will be easy to write the introduction. Remember, a basic article starts out with telling the reader what you are going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you just told them. After you have written the article, it should be easy to tell them what you just wrote about.

8. Write the conclusion of your article.
This should be easy because you are re-capping what you just wrote about. If you are promoting a product or service, I find that leaving a question, or giving the reader a teaser of something more is very helpful. I know it isn't proper 'etiquitte' (etiquette), but it helps in leaving the reader wanting more.

9. Proofread your article
Once you have written it, look it over for grammar, spelling, flow, and if it speaks to the level of your audience. Double check for factual accuracy. If you can, get someone else to read your article.

10. Step away from the article
Don't look at your article for at least 1 day. Step away and do something else.

11. Re-read your article and proofread again
You'll be amazed at the way your article reads to you when you look at your article again after some time off. Make the appropriate changes and then you are ready to finish it. If you still aren't happy, repeat steps 9 and 10 again.

12. It's now time to create your resource box.
The resource box is the place you want to direct the reader to a specific call to action, like signing up for your mailing list, calling you, sending them to your website, or buying a product or service. A good structure for the resource box is to state a problem and what they need to do to avoid it. If you have enough space, it is helpful to leave credentials about who you are, and why they should listen to you. Here are some other valuable website links.

Other Highly Suggested Sources of Useful Information on the Web. D. Lacy

http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/church-pages.php
http://www.allwebcontent.com/articles/Article/Best-Tips-For-Writing-A-Gr...
http://www.writeanarticleaday.com/
http://www.ehow.com/how_2185395_use-power-words-copy.html
http://www.godonthenet.com/grove.asp

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Note: All references to .JPEG s/b .PNG. Thank you, Don

How to create PNG Files

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How to create PDF Files

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A List of FAQ

1.0 When do I use .PDF files?

All content pages are first created in WORD, EXCEL, PUBLISHER, etc. for ease of construction. Once these files are created, we have to turn them into web content pages. You will use the .PDF converter for complex created documents like our Newsletter, Sermons, Calendars and Bulletins.

Another reason is these types of documents are constantly are created periodically (every week, every month, etc.) and we want to have access to these documents over a span of time (several months or maybe years). The viewer will choose from a list the documents of what they want to view.

The procedure to convert these documents into a .PDF form is fast and simple--the results are 'what you see is what you get!'

2.0 When do I use .PNG files?
The Staff and Committee tabs (in fact, most of the tabs except Newsletter, Sermons, Calendars and Bulletins) are good examples of creating content pages using the .PNG (better resolution than .JPEG or .JPG) conversion method. Once the the content page is created using WORD, EXCEL, PUBLISHER, etc., you simply turn them into a series of pictures (.PNG) files, upload them to the web and type a few repetitive lines of html code to display the pictures.

These original files (.doc, .xls, etc.) will be used again when you are ready to update your web page. You load in the original document, make your changes and convert the documents into the new .PNG files. You then repeat the simple process of updating your new pictures (.PNG)!

Once you have created your web page, updating is very simple. You only have to update the picture that you changed--the others will stay the same.

3.0 Why not use html only?
The majority of our content page designers is not familiar with html. All or nearly all know how to use WORD and Wendy is a good example of how creative it is to use WORD. Just look at the weekly Bulletin, the monthly Calendar and Newsletter--a creation of art and text. I suggest you look at what she has done and put your own twist into your content pages!

Another good reason is most of our existing creations are generated in WORD or EXCEL, regardless of who is creating the source. From these types of documents we can create web content pages WITHOUT ANY RECONSTRUCTION!

4.0 Can I use MS front Page for this website?
The Content Management System (CMS) is a relative new method of creating websites. It allows for many content page providers to update the website from many different places. This type of system no longer requires all updates be funneled through one person and one portal.

MS Front Page does not have all of the commands that is needed to support CMS. Also using a method (picture files or PDF files) to create our content eliminates using the html language altogether. When we do need html, we will provide that behind the scenes for special content.

Website Development Notes

February 18, 2008

1. Website Address
A temporary Web Address is to be assigned for development purposes. We will be under development for the next 10 days. In the meantime, a host will be chosen but the website address will not be one available to the public at this time. Church users will be able to view our church site on the Internet and send to me via email (donlacy11300@gmail.com) comments and correspondence information.

2. Login/Logout
Login
The status of what the link says is what you need to do—Login means ‘you have to log in’ if you want to edit. Logout means you are in the edit mode and you want to end the editing process.

All users will be assigned a Username and Password to enter and edit their content page(s). This is mandatory if you are the person responsible for making the content page changes.

You can share your Username and Password if more than one of you shares the responsibilities of updating your content page(s). However, I recommend the following:
• Both (or many) of you create the content
• But only one of you updates the Website.
The reason is that both of you will create content in WORD on your own computers. It is easier to ‘cut and paste’ two WORD documents together. One of you will need to send the other your content. This can be done via email. The other will put them together, convert them into pictures and update the website. This way the one that updates the website will have the ‘original’ from which to make changes—no recreating the wheel!

To Login, click on the ‘Login’ link in the upper left corner of the website. Enter the Username and Password. You now can ‘Edit the Website’.

Wendy and Don will have access to the rooster of Usernames & Passwords in case one forgets their Username and Password. This can be sent to you via the email.

3. Logout
Upon completing your ‘Editing Process’ of the website, you need to Logout. This can be accomplished by clicking on the ‘Logout’ link in the upper left hand corner of the home page. Should you forget, there is no harm BUT you are still on your website content page and anyone using the website could mess up your website content page big time!
Solution: Remember to Logout!

4. Short version of converting any document into a PDF format for the Website.
We are using three different ways to put content pages on the church website at this time. They are;
• PDF files
• Pictures
• Type directly onto the site

The type of information we will use depends on the desired results of what we want to see. Other possibilities can be used but not at this time. Let us look at each in detail.

• PDF
Since most documents will be created in WORD, it is a simple procedure to convert these documents into PDF formats. The following steps are:
1) Create the document in WORD and save it—original document
2) Load the document, select File and then Print
3) Select PDFCreator
4) Convert the document to a PDF format, save the file—use pre-assigned filename format
5) Get onto the church Website
6) Login
7) Click on Edit
8) Use the Browser to find file, Open the PDF file
9) Unclick all squares
10) Select the Submit button
11) Review the new content page
12) If not correct, Repeat steps 2 (make your changes) through step 11
13) When completed, Logout.

This completes the process. For more details, click on Website Info for more information.

Pictures
The following steps are:
1) Create the document in WORD and save it—use preformatted size--original document
2) Save document periodically under one filename
3) Copy one page at a time
4) Convert to a .JPEG picture
5) Save the picture-- use pre-assigned filename format
6) Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each page
7) Get onto the church Website
8) Login
9) Click on Edit
10) Use the Browser to find file, Open the Picture file
11) Repeat step 9 until all pictures are loaded
12) Unclick all squares
13) Note the directions at the top of the window labeled ‘Body’.
14) Create a line of code for each picture in the list below
15) Copy the filename of each picture into the code line in the order you want them displayed
16) Click on Submit
17) Review the new content page
18) If not correct, Repeat steps 2 (make your changes) through step 17
19) When completed, Logout.

This completes the process. For more details, click on Website Info for more information.