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Understanding Embeds: Seamlessly Integrate External Content

August 31, 2023 by Michael Gyura Leave a Comment

What is an embed?

Embeds contain content from an external platform. Most often, this is in the form of a script, provided by the external platform, allowing you to display that platform’s content on your site.

Does that sound like tech jargon? Think of embeds as windows on your website. They provide a view into another platform’s content. While you can still see the familiar surroundings of your site, the embed acts as a window, showcasing content from elsewhere.

What does an embed look like?

A common example of an embed is a video embed. If you upload a video to YouTube or Vimeo, you can display that video on your site. The video remains hosted on the original platform, but an embed allows viewers to watch it directly on your site.

The appearance of your embed depends on the platform from which you are sourcing. You may occasionally have limited control over its design and styling, but not always. A Google Calendar embed, for instance, will look like a Google Calendar.

WordPress-Approved Embeds

WordPress maintains a list of third-party sites from which users can embed content without needing specific codes. For popular platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and SoundCloud, you simply copy the public link of the desired content and paste it into the WordPress text editor. This works best when embedding one item of content from another source. Ensure any content that you embed is public and that you adhere to copyright laws, which might involve crediting the original creator.

It’s important to note that this approved list evolves as code and platforms develop. While new platforms may be added, some might also be removed. For those using the Gutenberg block editor, a list of embed blocks is available. Most of these can also be embedded via a URL in the text editor.

Worship Times Integrations

Worship Times provides integrations with a range of external tools through the “Add Media” button in the text editor. Some of these integrations offer more features than standard WordPress-approved embeds. Many of these tools were specifically requested by ministries and include:

Vanco
Tithe.ly
Polldaddy
SlideShare
Vimeo
Vimeo Live
Google Maps
Google Calendar
Google Slides
Facebook
Facebook Video
Twitter
YouTube
Ustream (now IBM Video Streaming)
Boxcast

Less Common Embeds

If you can’t find the desired platform in the lists mentioned, don’t worry. Countless technologies allow for embedding. If you wish to embed from a platform that provides you with an embed code, please submit that code in a support ticket or email us at support@worshiptimes.org.

Directly pasting embed code into your site can be problematic, especially on our multi-site network, as codes can be stripped for security reasons. If you send the code to us, we’ll create a shortcode for you. This shortcode functions like the original embed code but doesn’t get stripped out when you edit the page.

What is a shortcode?

Example:

In WordPress, a shortcode, always encapsulated within square brackets, serves as a way to display content from another source. This content can be internal, like forms or event lists, but shortcodes can also represent embed codes. Typically, a shortcode specifies its source (like a Gravity Form in the provided example) and may include parameters for customization. The example pulls a form with an ID of “1” and displays its title.

Need more information or assistance with a specific embed or platform? Submit a support ticket or email us at support@worshiptimes.org. We’re here to help!

Building a Website: What to Expect When Working with Worship Times

August 16, 2023 by Michael Gyura Leave a Comment

One question I get asked often when meeting with a new ministry is, “what can we expect in this process?” In today’s blog post, we walk you through what to expect when building a new site with Worship Times. This is meant as a guide but can also be adjusted to meet your needs if they include logo design, custom features, and custom functionality to enhance your communications ministry.

Initial Meeting/Discovery

As we begin to think about your new site, we want to get to know about your community of faith. We discuss and explore questions like: who you are; what you do; what is your story within God’s story?

We will use this time to discuss your site needs, navigation, desired integrations, home page content, and design in terms of color palette and logo. We will also us this time to discuss inspiration sites. These do not have to be sites that have been built by Worship Times, but any site that you like.

Navigation and Home Page Outline

The next step is creating a proposed navigation and home page outline. This is a simple spreadsheet that we create as a point of discussion for your site.

The goal in this phase is to get a good idea of what you want in your navigation, what information you want to communicate and a general flow for the home page.

This phase doesn’t lock you in or set your navigation in stone, but gives us a starting point for the design phase.

Design Phase

Home Page
We create a home page based on our discussion in the discovery meeting and information you’ve shared with us.

We send a sample home page for conversation and make edits based on your preferences and needs.

Once we have a general layout, color palette and understanding of your functionality needs, we move to the landing page design.

Landing Page
Landing pages are internal pages, other than the home page.

In this phase, we typically create 3-4 layout and designs based on your home page. We use content form your current site, if available, or use filler content to consider the layout, flow, and functionality needs of the various pages throughout the site. Not every page will fit this mold. The key is to be consistent.

We listen to your needs and desires and make edits accordingly, with the goal to get to one consistent landing page with variations that can lend to your different type of content.

Once a landing page and possible variations are confirmed, we move to the build phase.

Build Phase

The build phase can go quickly.

We consider what content needs to be created, what can be edited from your current site, if available and applicable, and what we create together.

We share files, pictures, and integrations in a manner that fits your workflow. The length of this phase is up to you and your team to get us the content needed.

We will communicate with updated check lists, needs, and section reviews during this time.

Review Phase

Once the site is built or close to completion for the purpose of launch, we ask that your team conduct a full desktop review of the site.

This phase can be done a number of ways. The most popular is your team provides clear notes on needed edits and changes, or we conduct a review together via Zoom.

This is a very import phase that helps us catch anything that may have been missed in the planning and build phase.

Next, we conduct our own internal review on desktop and mobile devices. We make corrections to give your website the best appearance on all screen sizes.

During this phase we prepare your domain to redirect to the new site. It’s important to make sure you have access to your domain registration. We are not able to go live without this step.

Edit and training phase

Once we finalize your approved edits, we schedule a time for training. This is typically a one-hour training session with your team via Zoom. We record the training for future reference.

We have a full learning library of written and video tutorials available to assist you in making edits and changes to your site.

You can access this at any time. If desired, you can begin on-your-own training prior to the Training Session. This is helpful to provide a foundation of the tools used on your site but is not necessary.

We provide a playground area on your site for you to explore the new tools and offerings provided by a Worship Times Site.

Going Live phase

Once we have your approval, we will schedule your site to go live. We will conduct a series of final checks and create backups of your design and pages for you.

We Go Live! This is the most satisfying phase as we launch your new site. Using your domain, we direct your URL to your new site.

General Support

Once your site goes live, we are here to support you and answer questions you have. Learning a new tool can take time. We offer support to help you learn your new site and the tools available to you. Remember, we are here to help!

Offerings After the Website Build

We offer continued maintenance and communications services in addition to website creation.

If you need help with your communications ministry, we can help. We offer the following services.

Website maintenance
Blog writing
Graphic design
Video editing
Audio editing
Newsletter creation
Email creation
Social media planning, creation, and execution
Analytics review
Photo services
Logo design for main and sub-ministries
Registration assistance
E-commerce solutions
Site upgrades
And so much more!

Our contracts are based on your specific needs and are fully customizable.

Reach out to us here to chat more about how we can help you. We look forward to our work together!

Effective Church Calendar Management: Balancing Public and Internal Calendars for Ministry Success

August 2, 2023 by Michael Gyura Leave a Comment

Calendars play a vital role in the successful operation of your ministry. With busy schedules, it’s essential to stay organized. However, a clear understanding of your calendar needs can help discern the best tools for your ministry.

Public vs Internal Calendars

One common mistake is to overlook the distinction between your internal, administrative calendar and your public events calendar. Their functions and audiences differ, so don’t automatically assume they should be identical. While it seems efficient to have all events in one place, their differing needs require careful consideration.

Public Calendar

Your public calendar is a crucial marketing tool on your ministry website. It demonstrates that you’re an active ministry with a lively community. It serves a dual purpose: keeping regular members informed about upcoming events while also helping newcomers quickly understand what’s happening. Ultimately, everyone feels welcomed and informed.

The details required by the general public can be minimal – just the event title, date, start time, and location. While providing additional information is beneficial, successful event marketing doesn’t have to be extravagant.

Internal, Administrative Calendar

An administrative calendar is for internal use. It’s intended for staff and volunteers who need to know every little detail surrounding an event. Apart from public events, an internal calendar can also include staff vacation schedules, private events, liturgical information, communication schedules, and much more.

Calendar Management Solutions

We might wish that everything could exist everywhere at once, with all events syncing perfectly across multiple platforms. However, technology is complex. Different calendaring platforms are built with different code, making auto-syncing challenging. Additionally, the reality is that your ministry has two distinct needs and audiences.

Many online tools and software cater specifically to churches and can serve both functions effectively – if you’re using one and it’s working for you, keep using it! But if you’re not, or if you’re exploring whether or not there’s a better way, consider exploring options that utilize the tools already available to you in conjunction with free-to-use options.

Website Calendar → Public

Every Worship Times website includes a built-in calendar system. While feature-rich, you don’t need to use all of its functionality to create an effective public calendar. Prioritize adding events to your website’s calendar. Remember, simplicity is key.

There are many benefits to using your website’s built-in events system:

SEO (search engine optimization)
Easy-to-find (the information exists where people are looking for it)
Branding (the calendar shares the colors, fonts, look, and feel with the rest of your website). Check out our post on Church Branding 101.

And the best part is that anyone can subscribe to your website calendar via Google Calendar, Outlook, or iCalendar, making it a separate calendar on their chosen platform. This includes staff and volunteers who need access to that information!

Google Calendar, Outlook, etc → Internal

Both Google and Microsoft offer free or low-cost collaborative “business” programs for nonprofits – Google Workspace for Nonprofits and Microsoft 365 for Nonprofits. These programs offer much more than calendaring, including Google Calendar and Outlook’s calendar, which can be easily shared among staff and external collaborators like volunteers. It’s wise to use these tools alongside your website’s calendar, using the website as the foundation for your public events, then coordinating everything from within an administrative calendaring system.

If you have any questions about the available tools or how to use them, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here. We’re here to help!

Church Branding 101: Creating a Memorable and Meaningful Identity

July 25, 2023 by Sara Stanton Leave a Comment

Crafting a unique and recognizable identity is important for all types of organizations, including churches. Today’s post focuses on the vital but often overlooked area of church branding. With a well-defined brand, your church can resonate more deeply with your congregation, attract new members, and more effectively communicate your mission.

Church Branding: An Overview

Church branding is about much more than creating a logo or a catchy slogan; it encompasses the total experience that people have with your church, both in-person and online. Your brand is the impression that people get when they walk through your doors, interact with your congregation, visit your website, or scroll through your social media feeds. It embodies your mission, values, and the unique aspects that set your church apart.

The Importance of a Strong Brand Identity

A powerful brand identity helps to create a sense of belonging among current members while attracting new ones. It communicates your church’s mission, values, and personality in a consistent and easily recognizable way. Just like commercial brands use their identity to connect with their customers, a church can use its brand identity to connect on a deeper level with its congregation and the wider community.

Crafting Your Brand Strategy

Creating your brand strategy starts by understanding your church’s mission, vision, and core values. Who are you as a church? What is your purpose? What do you stand for? These questions form the foundation of your brand.

Your brand strategy should also consider your target audience. Who are you trying to reach? What are their needs and how can your church meet them? Understanding your audience will help you to communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships.

Branding Elements: Logos, Colors, and More

The visual elements of your brand, like your logo, color scheme, typography, and imagery, should reflect the personality and values of your church. Your logo, for instance, should be distinctive, easy to recognize, and convey the essence of your church. Your chosen colors and fonts should harmonize with the overall image you aim to project.

Online Presence: Websites and Social Media

Your online presence is a crucial part of your church branding. A well-designed, user-friendly website that aligns with your brand identity can provide a wealth of information and engage members with dynamic content. Social media platforms offer additional channels to connect with your congregation, share your message, and attract new members. Make sure that your online presence is consistent with your overall brand strategy, offering a cohesive and authentic experience to all users.

Conclusion

Church branding might seem daunting, but it’s a necessary step to communicate with your congregation and community effectively. By defining your church’s mission, vision, and values, understanding your audience, and translating these elements into a visual brand and online presence, you can create a powerful brand identity that truly represents your church.

As you journey into church branding, remember that consistency is key. A consistent brand fosters trust and helps people feel connected to your church. Also, bear in mind that successful branding is a process. Be open to feedback, keep fine-tuning, and don’t be afraid to tweak your brand as your church grows and changes.

Ready to take the next step in defining your church’s brand identity? Reach out to us today for a consultation. From logo design, to colors, to typography, we can work together to create a meaningful and memorable church brand that will resonate with your congregation and community.

Why Your Church Needs A Blog

July 19, 2023 by Michael Gyura 2 Comments

In the era of digital transformation, churches, like any other institutions, need to leverage the Internet to connect with their congregation and beyond. Today, we will delve into one specific aspect of online presence: church blogs.

Why Your Church Needs a Blog

Reaching Beyond Boundaries: A blog enables your church to extend its reach far beyond the physical location.

Digital Engagement: With society’s increasingly digital lifestyle, a blog provides an avenue for members and interested individuals to engage with your church even when they can’t be there physically. It’s a powerful tool for fostering a sense of belonging and community.

Search Engine Visibility: A blog is also a valuable asset for Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Regularly posting unique, relevant content helps improve your church’s visibility on search engines, leading more people to discover your church online.

What to Write or Include

Sermon Reflections: Weekly reflections on sermons allow readers to engage more deeply with the message, encourage discussions, and provide a platform for those who couldn’t attend in person.

Testimonies: Personal stories of faith and transformation can be immensely powerful. Encourage members of your congregation to share their faith stories. These authentic narratives can be inspiring and draw others towards your community.

Church News and Updates: Keep your congregation updated with upcoming events, community projects, or important announcements.

Spiritual Insights and Devotionals: These can provide daily or weekly encouragement, keeping your congregation spiritually nourished and connected.

Mission Stories: Share updates from mission endeavors, highlighting the impact of your church’s outreach efforts.

Pictures: Pictures enhance blog posts by capturing readers’ attention, breaking up long chunks of text, and aiding comprehension. They give you a chance to show who you are as a church and what you have been up to. Pictures can also reinforce messages. Additionally, they significantly improve SEO, encouraging higher engagement rates. Visually appealing posts foster shares and comments, thus expanding reach.

How Often To Post

Consistency is key in blogging. Posting at regular intervals – say once or twice a week – ensures your blog stays fresh and relevant. It’s also important for SEO, as search engines favor websites that update their content regularly. However, the frequency should not compromise the quality of your content. It’s better to post less often but maintain high-quality, impactful content. If once a week seems overwhelming, start with once or twice a month.

Don’t Have Time to Update Your Blog?

Maybe your church wants a blog, but there is no one who can regularly update it. We get it! At Worship Times we offer support contracts for this very thing. A person on our staff can work with you to keep your church’s blog updated regularly. We can even create content for you. Send us an e-mail, and let’s talk about what you need and how we can help.

Conclusion

A church blog serves as a powerful digital ministry tool, capable of reaching and engaging with people far beyond the physical confines of your church. It allows you to share your message of faith, inspire through personal stories, provide spiritual nourishment, and create a sense of community online.

Additionally, it’s a crucial component for your church’s online visibility, ensuring your church appears in search engine results and draws a wider audience.

Questions? Reach out to us at https://worshiptimes.org/contact/ —we can offer suggestions and insight to help you get started on creating a blog that doesn’t just inform your members, but also helps you reach new people.

The Difference between WordPress Themes and Editors: Explained

July 11, 2023 by Justin Near Leave a Comment

Over time, the boundaries between WordPress themes and editors have become somewhat blurred, but there’s a good reason behind it! Let’s dive into the details.

Understanding WordPress Themes

When people talk about themes, they often refer to the external appearance or design elements of a website. Essentially, themes determine how your site looks on the front-end when visitors come to explore it.

Themes can vary from minimalistic “skeleton” designs that you can customize according to your requirements, to fully pre-designed themes with specific looks for every element on your site. Besides styling, in addition to the core WordPress features and plugins, themes can also provide theme-specific functionality that enhances your website. This functionality often includes predetermined layouts for displaying specific content, forming the structural foundation of your site.

In recent times, newer themes have introduced layouts with preset internal structure, design elements, and content – all you have to do is swap out the content for your own. This makes it simpler than ever to achieve the desired appearance for your site!

Understanding WordPress Editors

Editors are the tools you, as the website administrator, utilize to add content through the back-end of your site. They are the “how” of your website.

Editors come in various forms across a spectrum. At one end, you have the classic WordPress editor, which resembles a basic text editor. Moving along, there are simple block editors that employ a drag-and-drop system of content blocks. Gutenberg, also by WordPress, falls into the category of visual block editors. Finally, at the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find full-blown visual editors that apply your site’s styling to the back-end, providing a real-time preview of your page without ever leaving the editor.

The Confusion: Themes and Editors Blurred

With the introduction of block editors and visual editors, the distinction between themes and editors has become somewhat hazy. In many cases, themes and editors are now intertwined, each defining the other. Themes are no longer solely chosen based on their appearance; they are defined by the editors they utilize.

Gone are the days when you selected a theme solely for its visual appeal. Themes are now highly customizable, with endless possibilities due to the editor they employ. This increased flexibility enables long-term adaptability, eliminating the need to change themes whenever you desire a new look for your site.
Seeking a Fresh Look?

First begin by choosing an editor that suits your needs and skill level. Do you require a simple and traditional editor that is easy to use and adheres to a more concrete structure? Or do you prefer a robust and cutting-edge editor with greater flexibility? There’s no right or wrong answer!

Then gather inspiration from websites you admire, or collaborate with a graphic designer to create a custom design. At Worship Times, our builders can incorporate all the elements you love to craft a unique website tailored to you and your ministry. Get in touch with us at https://worshiptimes.org/contact/, and we’ll be happy to guide you through the process!

Organizing Your Website With Events

June 27, 2023 by Michael Gyura Leave a Comment

Today, we are diving into streamlining and organizing your ministry’s website by effectively using your event systems. The focus is on recurring events and categories, which offer an efficient and easy way to keep your website current and more interactive. We are also going to take it a step further by tapping into the new “series” feature of the Events System.

In the video below, Michael walks through the steps to accomplish adding events and organizing them in a way so we can display relevant events on certain pages.

Getting Started: The Tools

We’re utilizing the popular Divi Theme for our framework alongside the Events Calendar Pro plugin. These tools are complemented by an add-on for Divi called the Divi Events Calendar. If you’re a current Worship Times partner, these base tools are included in our newer accounts.

Please note that even our legacy partners can accomplish something close to this with our older tools. Please reach out to support to find out how.

Creating Series

Our first step in event management is creating a series. A Series groups various events (recurring, single, etc.) under one umbrella. In our example, we created two series named ‘worship’ and ‘youth’, though you can use as many series as needed for your ministry’s groups.

Event Creation

Next, we create our events, starting with recurring events. We’ll create a sample 8:00 AM worship service event as an example. Make sure to assign it to the correct series (in this case, ‘worship’) and give it an event category of the same name. Remember to set an end date with recurring events so you don’t clog up your database. Don’t forget to include venue details for physical or virtual events. Select an organizer if required and add a featured image.

This process can be repeated for any number of events you wish to create for each series.

Integrating Events on Your Page

Once your events are set up, it’s time to integrate them onto your webpage. When you’re editing the page where the events should display, select the “add new module” option in Divi, search for ‘event’ and select ‘events feed’. If you don’t see any options show up, please reach out to support and we’ll get the tools added for you. Go through all the options to customize the feed exactly how you want it, making sure that the excerpt is set to display and that you’ve selected the correct series or category.

The event feed will then automatically show all events linked to the selected categories. It makes your website dynamic and interactive, and it’s a great way to stay organized and up-to-date.

The Power of Series

The series feature offers the ability to edit individual events within the series, making it a fantastic tool for SEO. As events are often current and changing, they rank high with search engines. You can add unique details for each event, including things like scripture verses, sermon topics, and live feed options.

Remember to edit the excerpt for each event as it will appear on the events list on your webpage. When you update these individual event details, the system will break out this event from the recurring schedule, transforming it into a unique event.

Please note that the same individual event editing can be accomplished without using Series. To do so, simply navigate to the event on the front-end of your website and edit the event from there. I prefer to use Series simply to keep things organized, but it’s not required.

Wrapping Up

The combination of recurring events, categories, and series offers an efficient and dynamic system to keep your website organized and current. It’s a great way to enhance the user experience and improve your SEO. You can apply these steps for any group within your ministry, keeping your website interactive and up-to-date.

If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for more content. Should you have any questions or need assistance, our team is here to help. Stay tuned for more videos and happy website organizing!

Your Homepage is the Front Door to Your Church – Here’s What You Need to Include

June 21, 2023 by Sara Stanton Leave a Comment

In our rapidly advancing digital age, where the majority of first impressions are made online, a well-designed, user-friendly, and informative homepage for your church is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Consider your website’s homepage as the front door to your church. It’s the first point of contact potential visitors will have with your congregation, providing them an immediate impression of who you are and what you stand for. Just as a physical front door welcomes, informs, and guides visitors, so should your church’s online presence. So, what does it take to make a compelling and inviting digital front door?

Must-Haves on a Church Homepage

1. Clear and Simple Navigation
The first key to a great church homepage is simple and clear navigation. Ensure that visitors can easily find their way around your site. Useful tabs might include “About Us,” “Ministries,” “Services,” “Events,” and “Contact Us.” A confused visitor will likely leave your site, so make your navigation intuitive and straightforward.

2. Welcome Video or Statement
Upon entering, the homepage should offer a warm welcome that encapsulates your church’s mission and spirit. This can be a brief, heartfelt video message from the pastor or a text-based welcome statement. Either way, it should convey the essence of your church in a friendly and inviting manner.

3. Service Times and Location
One of the most searched for pieces of information on a church’s website is the service times and location. Ensure this information is visible and easy to find on the homepage. Consider adding a map or a link to Google Maps for easy directions.

4. Contact Information
Your contact information, including the church office phone number, email address, and physical address, should be readily available. You might also want to include social media links, if your church is active on those platforms. Remember, your homepage is not just for potential visitors but also for regular attenders who may need to get in touch.

5. Online Services or Live Streaming
In our increasingly digital world, offering online services or live streaming has become an essential aspect of many churches. If your church offers these options, ensure they are easy to find on your homepage.

6. Ministries and Outreach Programs
Your homepage should also include information about the different ministries and outreach programs your church offers. This not only allows people to see what they can be part of but also reflects the active role your church plays in the community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your church’s homepage is more than just a digital bulletin board. It’s the front door to your church, inviting people in and providing them with all the necessary information they need to feel comfortable and informed. Ensuring it’s user-friendly, informative, and reflective of your church’s mission and community is essential in our digital era.

So, what’s the next step? Start by evaluating your current homepage using the must-haves listed above. Which elements are you missing? Which could be improved?

Creating an effective homepage is an ongoing process. Continually test, tweak, and improve to make sure it remains relevant and engaging. If you’re uncertain, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at https://worshiptimes.org/contact/ —we can offer insights and help you create a homepage that truly opens the door to your church.

Remember, the goal is not just to have a beautiful, sleek homepage. Instead, it’s to create a digital front door that makes every visitor feel welcomed and shows them the transformative power of your church community. Begin your journey today to create a welcoming, informative, and engaging digital entryway to your church.

Here are some examples of homepages from Worship Times Partners:

How to use Instagram and Your Church Website to Showcase Mission Trips

June 13, 2023 by Michael Gyura Leave a Comment

Today, we’ll be exploring how to create and manage a unique webpage for your church’s summer trips and events to keep your congregation informed. More specifically, we’ll discuss how to integrate Instagram into these pages, enabling an interactive way for your group to share their experiences.

Why Instagram?

As the summer months roll on, many of your members will head out on mission trips. In particular, we are focusing on a high school mission trip where most of the youth are active Instagram users. By allowing them to post their photos to Instagram, tag your ministry, and add a specific hashtag, we can filter out specific memories related to their trip and display them on the dedicated event page. This allows the participants to use a medium most of them are used to while also allowing others to participate, even if they’ve never used Instagram before.

How to Make it Happen

In the below video, I’ll walk you through how to set up this page and the Instagram feed. We’ve also written instructions below to go with the video. Enjoy, and please let me know how it goes!

7 Steps to Make it Happen

Create a Dated Event Page
1. Our first step is to create a webpage just for this event. We highly recommend doing this every year for your Vacation Bible School (VBS), mission trip, or any other church event. By creating a dedicated page, you provide a single point of reference for people to stay informed about the ongoing event. This will also serve as an archive to look back on in later years.
Enhancing Your Page
1. To make your event page more engaging, consider integrating videos and other media for visitors to engage with. Here’s a post we wrote on using Youtube with your church website. This is also the space where we’ll integrate the Instagram shortcode, pulling in photos from your ministry tagged with a specific hashtag (but we want more than just an image feed on this page).
2. If possible, a great addition to this page is a live stream option. Whether there’s a professional event stream or a simple cell phone live stream, providing live updates can create a sense of real-time connection for parents and other members who aren’t physically present at the event. Check out our webmaster class on live streaming for a good primer.
3. Moreover, consider creating daily blog post updates for your event. You can create a blog post category (say, 2023 Mission Trip) and add daily posts categorizing them under it. Then create a feed from this category and place it on this event page. Check out our webmaster class on why you should use your blog.
Incorporating Instagram with Smash Balloon
1. To incorporate Instagram into your church’s website, you will need the Smash Balloon Instagram feed. As a Worship Times customer, you can reach out to us, and we will assist you in getting this installed. Any of our newer websites have the capability to place these feeds.
2. Upon installation, go over to the settings and link your Instagram account. Make sure your account is a business account to access all features necessary for integrating Instagram into your website. After linking the account, proceed to set up the feed.
Setting Up the Instagram Feed
1. When setting up the feed, opt for tagged posts. This will allow people to tag your ministry in their photos. Additionally, you can add extra filters for specific hashtags. However, be cautious with public hashtags, as they can lead to unexpected and irrelevant photos appearing on your church’s website.
Filtering and Moderating Your Feed
1. You can set up filters based on specific keywords or hashtags. This way, only posts that contain specific words or hashtags will appear in the feed. For instance, you might set a specific hashtag like ‘MT23’ for your mission trip. Learn more about hashtags in our webmaster class.
2. While moderation might seem like extra work, it’s useful if you find that the tags are being misused or spammy. It allows you to manually select the photos that you want to appear in the feed.
Embedding the Instagram Feed
1. Once you’ve configured the settings to your liking, copy the embed code and paste it into the desired section on your event page. Be aware that the integration of Instagram will slow down the page’s load time, so choose its placement wisely to not disrupt the user experience.
Monitor and Update Your Page
1. After successfully integrating Instagram and publishing your page, make sure to routinely monitor the content being displayed. Update the website as necessary based on your mission trip’s progress or other event details.
2. Don’t forget to remind your participants to use the appropriate tag and hashtags when posting their photos. This will ensure their images show up on your website, creating a collective memory for the community to share and reflect upon.

In Conclusion

Incorporating Instagram into your church’s website can provide a real-time and interactive platform for sharing experiences and fostering unity within your community.

Social media doesn’t need to detract from the spiritual experience; when used with intention, it can become a tool for building fellowship and connection. So I encourage you to embrace this technology, and create memorable and engaging experiences for your congregation.

Thank you for reading. If you need help setting up your event page or integrating Instagram, feel free to reach out to us. We are always here to help. Please share with us any pages you create; we’d love to see your work!