FLC Website — Overview

1. FLC Website — Overview Brent Jacobs February 13, 2007

2. FLC Website Statement of Issue Faith currently has an excellent website, but it needs a thorough review and possibly redesign to ensure that we are maximizing its potential. Comment: As with Faith Alive, it looks like a small church website, but needs to look like the large church that we are.

3. Original Website Questions • The FLC website is basically a one-person operation (many thanks to Keith Bauer) – we also have a youth website – Jeremy Rodriquez • What is the purpose of the website? • Website content – need a thorough review by all members of the Council to determine completeness and identify areas for improvement • Solicit suggestions from membership (survey) • What percent of our members can access it (see survey results) • Traffic statistics – who is using it • Can it be found by search engines?

4. Original Website Questions • Add Council member pictures and emails addresses (?) we can use a church email address for each councilor to protect individual private addresses – reflecting capability of server will forward message • “Meet Our Staff” provides a great example of how a Council page could be constructed – staff could tell us how much “junk” email they get if that is a concern • Move toward a “delayed” webcast of one or more church services • Youth website • Staffing – does Keith need help and, if so, how do we go about supplying it

5. Original Website Questions • Benchmark with other web sites – how do we compare • Community of Joy, Glendale, AZ www.joyonline.org • Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA www.saddleback.com/flash/default.htm • Overall design of FLC website – do we need to make some changes – many areas lack design appeal • Sermons and FA on website, what else is needed • Amazon.com and other links on church website – source of income for youth or other projects

6. Original Website Questions • Need to allow plenty of lead in time as some changes will take time to effect – start early • A redesign will require expertise in this area – could utilize volunteers to assist Keith or to just do the work themselves

7. FLC Website – Plan Review • Formulate initial plan for changes/improvements (August 2006) • Gather suggestions from council and members • See what is possible. Work with • Keith Bauer – internet possibilities and limitations • Church staff – capabilities, commitments, etc. • Formulate final plan and present to council for review and approval (January 2007)

8. Need for a Professional Website Designer • The present website has served Faith well, but changes are desired to enhance the website • The desired changes to the website are anticipated to require a professional level of expertise or at least a professional consultant to work with volunteers • Consult with Keith Bauer to confirm this assumption • Time and cost estimates • needed • Schedule for making changes • By May 2007 desired (discussion)

9. Visibility • Need to greatly improve Faith Lutheran Church's visibility to those searching the web • FLC does not show up anywhere near the top when searching the web • Need to determine appeal priorities • Who we want to reach • How we want to reach them • What percent of our members can access it? • Many can, Some do, Some can’t, Some won’t • Employ traffic statistics • Who uses the website? • Monitor over time before and after changes

10. Website Content • Recommendations outlined in the November 2006 presentation • Further content decisions need to be made in an organized, consistent manner • Ongoing activity • Small committee approach recommended • Solicit suggestions from membership (survey) • Need more input from council • Ensuring that current, useful information is available on the website is paramount

11. Website Design • Faith Lutheran Church will need to develop own website identity • Input from staff, council, members • Input from professional website designer • Good ideas for desired features illustrated by several other benchmark web sites • Community of Joy, Glendale, AZ www.joyonline.org • Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA www.saddleback.com/flash/default.htm

12. Website Features • Obtain input / advice from Web designer • Special graphics and animation • Sound files • Video files • Security features • Website committee to determine • Links / cooperative arrangements with other websites / services

13. Website Management • Recommend combination of periodic professional, staff and regular volunteer inputs • Resources needed for regular input/ maintenance: • Professional services • Office staff • Training required • Equipment / software per webmaster recommendation • Volunteer • Training required • Equipment / software per webmaster recommendation

14. FLC Website • Professional services needed to • Design • Launch • Change • Manage • Protect • Staff / Volunteers needed to • Load and Update information on website

15. Need for Media Staff Member • Delayed webcast of a service (9:30??) requires someone to tape and upload to website shortly after service is concluded • As sanctuary projector becomes integrated into services, someone needs to be in charge of operation and coordination • Website needs to be continuously updated (at least Monday – Friday) • Could a new half-time staff person do this

16. Moving Forward …… • Forming Committee • Who ? • Continued involvement by Keith Bauer desired • Several other names mentioned • Volunteers welcome • Obtain and evaluate quotes for website services • Finalize details of initial website modification • Continue to guide website operation • Process and Procedures • Business aspects • Issue resolution • Etc. • Goal: Modified website operating in May 2007