Global Technology Office
100 Lake Hart Drive
Dept #21-00
407.826.2892
technology.ccci.org
Web Marketing
Is the internet a mission field or a tool? Does internet ministry actually work? Should ministry on the web look different than traditional means for ministry? How do you use the web for ministry anyway? These are some of the questions I hope to be able to address here in this area.
The internet is a tool for ministry. We can use it to expand our scope or play a role in our overall ministry plan. For example, we can use it to advertise and collect registration for ministry events. It can be used as a conduit for our ministry audience to communicate with us. It can be used to communicate more effectively and completely what our ministry is about.
The internet is a mission field. There are almost a Billion people online around the world. In many countries these people represent the leaders of those countries (government, military, businessmen, educators, and students). Bill Bright’s early strategy was to reach the student leaders at UCLA. The internet gives us the ability to minister to select target audiences around the globe.
Online ministry shouldn’t look very different from traditional ministry models. In every ministry, you should have a marketing component so people know about your ministry (fliers on campus advertising the weekly meeting), a delivery component (everything involved in a JESUS film showing), and the ability for people to respond (comment cards filled out at a FamilyLife conference).
An effective web ministry will have the same three components. I illustrate them with overlapping circles because in order to be successful, some things you need to consider will overlap into different areas. Generally, the three components defined for internet ministry are:
Marketing: let the right person know a site exists for them Delivery: move that person through your site to a desired action Response: engage people in conversation for ministry.
Below you’ll find several articles that hopefully will help you in these areas. If you’d like to interact with others in Campus Crusade who deal with effective websites and specifically with internet marketing, why don’t you consider joining our discussion group?
Marketing
Web Marketing Checklist for Ministry
Rob Williams & Dr. Ralph Wilson
How to you get your website in front of the people who should see it? Dr. Wilson and I co-wrote an article on some of the things you should consider in marketing your website.
Delivery
Keeping Email Addresses Safe from Spam Harvesting
Rob Williams
Spam harvesters use email addresses posted online for their spam. Learn a few techniques to still list your email address online while keeping the harvesters at bay.
Response
Responding to Web Feedback
Rob Williams
We ask for people to give us feedback on our websites. But what happens if you don't reply? Read some of the lessons I've learned about website feedback.
Other Articles
Blogging Survey Results
Rob Williams
We conducted a short online survey of bloggers to find out what their experience has been, how they market their blog, and explore if blogging can be used for ministry.
Into the Mind of the Searcher
Rob Williams
Enquiro Search Solutions did a research project where they studied people’s purchasing and research tendencies online.
A whitepaper was published May 2004. These are the highlights.
Effective Personal Website for MPD
Rob Williams
A website can be a very effective tool to help in any ministry effort. However, that website can only be effective if it’s done well. This will give you a basic understanding of how you to plan and have an effective website for ministry partner development (MPD).