| Choosing a church website designer can be a hard | | | | online presence. In the internet industry, knowing the |
| process. I've been in this industry for over 20 years | | | | difference between the roles that exist can save you |
| consulting thousands of churches and ministries about | | | | months of frustration. Website designers create visual |
| their websites and technology needs. It seems that | | | | works of art - the template of your website and |
| these days, anyone with a computer and a pirated | | | | accompanying graphics. Website programmers create |
| version of Photoshop can pass themselves off as a | | | | the technical processes under the hood of the |
| website designer, even though they lack the basic skills | | | | designer to make things like online donations and |
| necessary to help the church be successful. | | | | sermon archives work. Website developers tend to dip |
| I want to share a few tips for choosing the right | | | | into both fields, but specialize in architecting the way |
| church website designer for your organization. It is my | | | | the systems will work. If you are looking for a pretty |
| prayer that this article will empower you to make | | | | website, hire a designer. If you are looking for robust |
| smart choices and end up with a powerful web | | | | functionality, hire a programmer. If you are looking for |
| presence that goes beyond that many cookie-cutter | | | | integration into your ministry processes, hire a |
| sites you and me see out there. | | | | developer. |
| Tip #1: Check Their Portfolio against Quality Websites | | | | Tip #3: Build For Marketing |
| Because many church leaders don't have the design | | | | Building a website does you no good if no one ever |
| background to assess whether or not a designer has | | | | visits it. Create your website with marketing in mind. |
| the right stuff, I recommend pitting the designer you are | | | | Use keywords and phrases that people are searching |
| considering against a reputable library of | | | | for. Create a page for new visitors. Publish samples of |
| industry-recognized work. I usually recommend | | | | your service. Tell people what to expect from your |
| websites like Another gallery of great designs can be | | | | church so they can go to your website to "visit" before |
| found at Comparing the work of the designer you are | | | | they actually visit. Immediately submit your website to |
| choosing will help to give you a feel of their experience | | | | the top search networks and start and e-mail |
| and level of proficiency. Of course, if you are | | | | newsletter. All of these things are essential for |
| impressed with the designs you are comparing the | | | | producing measurable results that will quantify your |
| designer to, why not just go with the company that | | | | investment in building a church website. |
| designed what you already admire? | | | | By following these simple tips, your church can save |
| Tip #2: Know the Difference between a Designer, a | | | | tons of money, time, and effort while creating a web |
| Programmer, and a Developer | | | | presence that helps you fulfill the mission God has |
| Many churches make the mistake of hiring IT people | | | | called you to. |
| to design a website, or designers to develop their | | | | |