Thank you for those who are interested in participating in the Church Web Cooperative.
We have been working feverishly for four months of cutting-edge research that seeks to answer the question ÄúWhat are churches doing on the Internet right now that are best practices for effective online ministry?Äù In spring 2009, Monk Development conducted market research on the impact of a churchÄôs website. Over one hundred churches that represent 20,000+ members participated in the study. The study included 1100 survey responses and a collective 20+ years worth of web analytics data to help examine what happens on a church website and the impact on potential church visitors. The study found that over 17% of respondents learned about the church they attend through its website first. Further, 36.1% of respondents said the website played an important role in their decision to attend the church. We are beginning to see what works, and what doesnÄôt work.
Our research is exciting and revealing in that it tell us everything from how churches are using Social Media to get more traffic, to identifying what content is being most frequently accessed. Ultimately we want to understand what brings more people to your website, and what sorts of things breed user engagement enough so that you can use the web as a strategic resource as part of your mission.
For those who decide to participate in this cooperative they will receive valuable tools to use the web strategically. This will include things such as:
Ä¢ Access to Cutting Edge Market Research
Ä¢ Website Design & Web Strategy Consulting
Ä¢ Website Wireframing/Layout Guidance
Ä¢ Website Design for your Local Church
Ä¢ A Powerful and Easy-to-Use CMS
Ä¢ Social Media Engagement Resources & Guidance
Ä¢ Online Community Engagement
There will be three levels of participation each with different shared costs:
Informative: Access to market research, benchmarking of your website performance against peers and the larger church web community, learn where you can improve, web design suggestion and social media engagement suggestions.
Design: All of the above and a website design (psd files) for your local church. This new brand to take into your social media presence such as Twitter backgrounds and icons.
Full Strategy: The above as well as rebuilding your website onto Ekklesia 360 and a private labeled community site through Cobblestone.
The first group of churches will be firmed up by June 30th, 2009. We already have a number of church commitments. Let me know if you would like to learn more about this co-op or are interested in participating in a future co-op.