Chances are you have been live-streaming your worship services for the better part of a year. And, realistically, live-streaming is probably here to stay, even when we are all back to hugging, laughing, singing, shaking hands, and generally congregating in large...
Congratulations. You have made it through the chaos of 2020 like a champ. You've added live-streaming and video archives to your website as well as Online Prayer Requests, Zoom bible study and Sunday School, and so much more. But, it's 2021 now and it is time to Clean...
When was the last time your ministry refreshed your website? Either did a full rebranding with a new logo or just updated links and images? If you aren't sure the last time this was done, it might be time to upgrade your website. As a website design company, we know...
It's been a long pandemic and your online archive of worship videos is probably getting a little unruly. In this webmaster class, we are going to show you how to use the Worship Times Publications tool to get your videos sorted and easy to manage. You can watch all of...
There are a lot of acronyms in the world of ministry, and quite a few in the tech world as well. SEO is one acronym that everyone needs to know. Search Engine Optimization. In this webmaster class, we are going to go over the basics of SEO and how to start to apply...
The end of the calendar year brings with it many celebrations, decorations, and traditions. But, in the year 2020, how do we celebrate while staying safe and socially distant? This year has brought us so many challenges as ministries and we have adapted at ever step....
We've all heard the phrase, 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' And it really can be. But, did you know a picture can also build community? and help spread your ministry? Instagram is a social media platform based on the 'thousand words' principle. Learn how to...
If you are looking for a fun and socially distant way to engage with your community this Advent, try an Instagram Photo-A-Day Challenge. We've done the heavy lifting for you by compiling a list of lectionary-related words, one for each day of Advent in 2020. Below you...
Entering the world of paid promotions can be incredibly intimidating. No one wants to waste money on advertising to someone across the country. In this 15 Minute Webmaster Class, Andrew Yeager-Buckley is going to take you through the setup to promote your event only...
We are halfway through October, and truly, Advent is just around the corner. Join us for this 15 Minute Webmaster Class to learn how to feature all of your Advent Events (both in-person and online) using event categories. This simple trick will streamline your holiday...
Last week's Thursday Webmaster Class covered how to stream to Facebook Live from Zoom. This can be a useful way to share your worship services or events to a wider audience. Now that you are an expert at Zooming to Facebook Live, here is an extra tidbit from Andrew...
Still working out how to best utilize both Zoom and Facebook Live for your live-stream worship services and events? Check out this 15 Minute Webmaster Class for step-by-step instructions on how to play your Zoom feed over Facebook Live. You can watch all of our...
UPDATE 10/8: Facebook has restored the event descriptions in all platforms. Continue to use Facebook Events as you were. (Or let us know if you have any questions.) If you are using Facebook Events, this update affects you. Over the weekend, Facebook updated their...
Most all of us are using an email platform to send out mass communications to our communities. By creating a saved template, you will never have to reset the color or size on a text block again. It will all be saved, ready and waiting for you. This Webmaster Class...
We've been worshipping online for months. It's time to step up your prayer game with online prayer request forms. Whether you choose to use forms to enhance your live-streamed service experience or automate requests to your prayer team. Join founder Michael Gyura as...
Now that we've been online worshipping for a while and have that well under our belts, what does outreach look like? If everything is online, how do you invite someone to a service or to bible study? It might be easier than you think. This Webmaster Class covers...
We've all been doing online digital worship services for months now, and sometimes it still feels like a struggle. But what can you do to improve the digital worship experience for your congregation? Sometimes it is the behind the scenes planning that can make the...
Ever feel like social media is a waste of time? You painstakingly pick out the perfect images to reflect the message of your blog, and then for some reason, it doesn't magically pop-up when you post to social media. Why, oh, why? This 15 Minute Webmaster Class, "Blog...
Ever feel like you are sending those weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly emails into the void? Do very few people open your email, and then even fewer engage by clicking? Part of the problem may be to whom you are sending your emails. In this Webmaster Class, "Organize...
Almost all of us are now using video in one way or another to connect with our community. Whether it is a live-stream video or a pre-recorded worship service, you've jumped into using video technology. It's time to learn a few tricks to polish your video game. In this...
If you’ve been watching our 15-Minute Webmaster classes or reading our blogs over the past few months, you will have heard us talk about engaging your audience on Social Media. In today's world, social media, regardless of which platform you choose to use, is an...
Social Media is everywhere. Everyone is on one platform or another. And it seems to suck up all of your time. So, which social media platform should your ministry use? Learn what questions you need to ask yourself to set yourself up for social media success in this...
#Hashtags. What was once commonly called the pound sign, has been taken over by coders and the social media world. And you need to use them. In this Webmaster Class, you will learn why it's so important to use hashtags in your social media posts and how to use them....
You never want your people to miss out. It is so tempting to add every single event, notice, and volunteer opportunity to your weekly email, but the data says don't do it. Overloading a single email with all of the things, won't increase attendance or online...
Have you ever googled your church and thought, "That's not quite right." Maybe there are strange photos, the website is non-existent or just wrong, no hours of operation, or maybe your church doesn't show up as a business or on google maps at all. Learn how to start...
Many churches proudly display a blog of their preachers' Sunday sermon on their website to share the joy of the Word. While we recommend having printed copies of the sermon available for people with hearing loss during worship, posting the text verbatim is not the...
Gravity Forms is one of the most commonly used online form platforms out there and the one we use on the Worship Times Network. Come learn some of the amazing ways this tool can be used for your ministry. In this short 15 Minute Webmaster Class taught by our founder,...
We live in a fast-paced, online, digital world. Gone are the days of effective advertising with the yellow pages and flyer mailers. If you are not online, you may as well not exist. So, why should your church, with its limited budget, pay for a website instead of use...
Have you ever found the perfect picture for your website, blog, or event? Maybe that new headshot rings bells! And then you upload this amazing, fantastic picture, and right away you know something is not right. We understand how frustrating it is to have the perfect...
Covid-19 has changed everything in our lives. The Volunteer Roles you need to fill for your ministry to operate safely and within your local jurisdictions guidelines have also changed. Your ministry has always depended on the goodwill of volunteers. Depending on your...
It’s been over 100 days, and the world is still uncertain. Some states and counties are open, free and easy, others have mask requirements to be in public, still others recommend staying home. Everyone is in a different place of leaving quarantine, and there are even...
In today's world, social media is everything. It's a staple in how we connect to one another. It can also feel like a huge time suck. However, it is important to take the time to adjust your copy for each platform you use. Learn how to adjust your copy for each social...
The only thing worse than throwing up at summer camp, is throwing up at home while you watch virtual summer camp. No one wants to give their campers motion sickness while watching virtual summer camp videos. Here are 5 simple rules to make great videos for your...
In today’s world, using clear, bright, compelling photos on your website and in social media streams is essential. Creating content is a mandatory daily task. It also doesn’t need to cost you an arm and a leg or take all of your time. Believe it or not, great...
For many people, learning new technology is like learning a new language, with an entirely different alphabet. While kids have a tendency to pick up new programs and applications easily, their parents might have a harder time. Make it as easy as possible for your...
We all know that sinking feeling. After all of the preparations and test-runs, you are going live... and something fails. It could be Zoom, wifi, internet, router, computer, or Mercury in retrograde, but your well laid plans have crumbled. Do you have a back-up plan...
Last week, Worship Times and PCCCA announced a unique partnership. Together, they offer an opportunity to bring the summer camp experience online and into homes across the country through a Virtual Camp Portal. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many camps and...
Quarantine has been an interesting and life-changing experience for all of us. Much like a journey, the people who went into quarantine are not the same as those who will come out. Our society, our communities, and our churches will be forever changed. However,...
Summer is coming and it is time to plan for Vacation Bible School. Unfortunately, Vacation Bible School in full quarantine may be your only option. However, every state and local government is handling Covid-19 differently. You may be in a state that has started...
Communities across the country are teetering on the edge of fear and uncertainty. From food insecurity, to economic depression, to coming out of quarantine too quickly, people are scared and unsure. How will you lead your church to support your broader community as we...
With a little creativity, and low-fi technology solutions, you can reach your technology averse and bandwidth starved congregants. There are a variety of reasons that live-streaming your worship service just isn’t going to work. You may live in an area where hi-speed...
The financial effects of Coronavirus on your ministry are probably sinking in. Not as many people are able to give their offerings. Payroll for your staff may be getting tight. As a small business, we understand the implications all too well. To that end, we wanted to...
So, the world has changed. Stay home, stay safe is our new mantra. But, what do you do about your upcoming events? No one wants to cancel the chili cook off or the annual clean up the park event, but what do you do? How can your church continue with its event planning...
We know this is a challenging time. There are so many unknowns that it is easy to become overwhelmed. As we all navigate this new normal, Worship Times wants to be there for all of our partners and friends by offering a free website consultation. In an effort to help,...
Ustream is another great option to live stream your worship service, daily prayers, or virtual events. Whether you use the classic WordPress editor, the new Gutenberg editor, or the Divi Builder, you can take advantage of this functionality. Learn how to embed your...
It's time to tidy up. There was a time that your storefront was on main street and the folks passing by would be intrigued by what was in your front window display, and then step inside. You’d have time to chat and get to know them and find out what they are looking...
The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful time of the year. Whether stress is positive or negative, our bodies still respond to that stress. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize your own self care during this season. If we don’t pause to...
Take a moment and imagine all of the different people that visit your ministry’s website each day. Now think about the number of people who visit your website every week. What about every month? That figure can grow quite large, very quickly. Now, take away your...
As we begin to close out the summer months and prepare for the upcoming fall season, there could not be a better time to do a quick check-in on your ministry’s website. With children heading back to school and families getting back into a regular routine it is...
Just how important are online reviews today? More than you might think. 90% of consumers read online reviews before they visit a business or make a purchase. Even more mind-blowing, 88% of consumers trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations....
If you want to be “found” on many social media sites today, then you need to be harnessing the power of the hashtag. Simply stated, a hashtag is an identifier that can help people find a post when they use a search bar. It can get confusing because hashtags are used...
There are a handful of items that can make or break any website. An easy to use, robust search feature - or lack thereof - is one of a select few things that can make a great website terrible. Take a look at your current website. Does it have a search feature on...
Summer is in full swing right now, with plenty of people skipping services every Wednesday and Sunday to hit the beach, spend time with their family, and unplug from the hectic daily schedule so many Americans endure year-round. It’s a time for joyousness, relaxation,...
A common occurrence that we see when reviewing and updating websites is the use of “click here” in a link inside of a block of text or displayed on a button. Although this seems like a very helpful idea, it actually hurts your website and can confuse and frustrate...
It can be hard to identify the success of a social media post today. When it comes to the content your church is sharing across different channels, how do you identify what did well, versus what didn’t? Social media is still so new to everyone, that many people can’t...
One of the most common problems we see with websites today are pieces of information are missing or functionality is broken here and there. These seemingly small issues slowly cascade into pain points and frustrations that ultimately make a website a terrible...
As of this year, roughly 2.5 billion people on our planet have a smartphone. That means these people can seamlessly access the internet, play in apps, socialize through social media, and do a slew of other activities right from their mobile device. They are...
People are emerging from their homes, stretching their arms, looking up at the sun, and feeling overall more hopeful than a few months prior. We can’t help but be affected by the weather as humans, which means it’s the perfect opportunity for you to capitalize through...
Newsletters contain the amazing email marketing statistics that are just too good to ignore today. Whether it’s that every $1 spent on email that turns into $44 in value, or that 59% of business-to-business marketers claim email marketing is their most effective...
Sometimes, email gets cast aside since it was one of the very first digital tools we used when the Internet was coming into fruition. Now with social media and apps today, we tend to think that email might be “dated,” or less than effective for reaching our leads....
The power of modern technology and the internet is changing the ways that you can run a ministry. Gone are the days where you can only post announcements or upcoming events in print newsletters or on the church bulletin board. With new technology being used more and...
Did you know that after Google, YouTube is the largest search engine in the entire world? Close to 1.3 billion people use YouTube on a daily basis for everything from tutorial videos, to funny skits and music videos that help us unwind. Over 300 hours of video are...
Spring is in the air, birds are outside chirping, the temperature is rising, and the sun is hanging in the sky a little bit longer every single day. It’s a time of year that has us all itching to get outside, spring clean our homes, and revamp our wardrobes with...
Change is in the air! It seems to finally be getting warmer and the sun is out longer and longer. There could not be a better time to spruce up your ministry’s website with a theme change. Changing the theme of your website simply takes all of your existing...
You’ve probably heard the terms “influencer” or “influencer marketing” as of recently. What used to be a casually mentioned, underground form of marketing on social media has grown into a full-blown, viable outreach avenue available to every single business, brand,...
You have probably heard the saying “quality over quantity” for a variety of aspects of daily life. It could not be more applicable for your ministry’s website. Your ministry's website can have all of the bells and whistles possible, but if it doesn’t have quality,...
As we move forward into 2019, with the summer lingering on the horizon, it’s a great time of year to reflect on your digital marketing strategy and make any necessary changes to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing. It’s a fast-paced industry,...
Social media is bigger than ever! It makes a great place to quickly share information, pictures, and news with your members online. These various platforms also make a great way for your members to communicate information and feedback with you in real time! It is...
When it comes to making disciples of your church attendees, and really reaching into their hearts to create a community that flourishes in God’s love, technology can actually be an asset to the church. Although the arrival of technology is inhibiting socialization and...
If you’re tasked with growing your church body, you are probably considering digital avenues that can get the word out about your worship center in a much more efficient manner than you can on your own. If you’re looking for a tool that won’t necessarily break the...
As social media marketing becomes increasingly prominent in our world, so do the visuals that are attached to our posts, albums, Instagram Stories, and so forth. Photography has become integral to effective online marketing, and it’s only going to increase as...
Personal information such as your Social Security Number, full name, date of birth, credit card number(s), etc., are some of the most private and valuable pieces of information in life. With the growing footprint and popularity of digital media - social media networks...
It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. This could not be more true when it comes to using images or videos on your website. Any form of media, whether it be images, videos, or a combination of both can convey emotion and a welcoming environment better...
When you see branding and ministry in the same sentence it can raise an eyebrow or two. However, take a moment to think about everything that the term “branding” can include. Some more obvious items are a logo, maybe a tagline or catchphrase, and an identifiable color...
Populating your site with quality content is only a small piece of running a website that drives users to find out more about you and your ministry and to create a lasting relationship. Making sure that both users and search engines can find your content online is...
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 The Bible makes it clear that tithing is an important part both for personal selflessness, as...
Google is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. When you need to know what the weather is going to be like, how many ounces are in a pound, or what time your grocery store closes chances are you open up Google and get an answer. Have you ever noticed the...
As the world grows increasingly digital, in order for churches to stay connected and continually push out their messaging, they, too, have the embrace the digital era. Many churches are live-streaming service, Bible studies, and pastor messages, providing a way for...
Gone are the days when we had no way to communicate in real-time with individuals, experts, and team members strewn throughout the planet. Today, the gig economy, known as the ever-changing bloc of individuals offering freelancing and specialized services to...
Making the most of your church’s Facebook page will help you attract and engage visitors, as well as convert them into leads. Over time, you can turn these leads into church members, volunteers, and givers. With over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide (half of...
Instagram is an image-based platform that's not only beautiful and fun, but also brings a sense of community. Its users are used to professional, high-quality images and videos, so if you want to grow your church community with Instagram, creating eye-catching visuals...
By Emily Hope Morgan Things have changed with social media. Back in 2005 when I first got on Facebook only college students could get a Facebook account. Even back in 2009 when I started seminary many churches who at that point could get on Facebook didn't want to,...
Churches know that they need to have websites, be on social media and share their faith in new ways. So, they do that. Get a website. Get a Facebook page. Get a Twitter account. Get an Instagram account. Get a Snapchat account. Delete the Snapchat account because your...
Following up on last week’s post, we are talking about doing some website review and cleanup as we close out the summer. Last week we talked about getting rid of old and outdates information and photos, and this week we want to talk about your website’s organization....
As the rate of support requests increases at Worship Times, we can tell summer is winding down for our member ministries. Vacations are ending, Fall programs kick-offs are on the horizon, and people are looking to clean up their websites. This is a perfect time to...
We're going to do some more extensive posts and videos on how to claim, administer and manage your ministry's Facebook page, but today we're going to tackle a question we've received more than once this week. Today's Facebook conundrum: "I'm the administrator on a...
A couple months ago we talked about the ins-and-outs of entering recurring events into Event Manager. There are a lot of great features included in the recurring event option in Event Manager, but there are a few things to remember that we’d like to highlight today:
When visitors are looking for a new church home, they want to know who you are. And yet, we still find that many churches don't have easily accessible or visible staff lists (we'll get into showing who you are as a congregation later). Important things for a staff...
Worship Times has been busy lately, and loving it! We're talking websites, digital communications and branding with many new and current members. So today we're bringing you two short, helpful videos at once: #2 - Calendar of Events (Events Lists) Adding unique...
Worship Times - Using Events Manager, Events Lists and Widgets Welcome to our first Thursday tips and tricks post! We're starting with the basics - the top 5 things visitors are looking for on church websites. A great refresher on the basics of your Worship Times...
The mission of Christians is clearly laid out in Matthew 28 (paraphrasing): Go, make disciples, baptize, and teach – in all the nations. However, by looking at most church websites you might think the way to follow Jesus is to go to meetings and potlucks and join...
A ministry establishes its identity in telling its story. Your brand is your identity and it’s telling a story. Each ministry has a story to tell. Who are you? What do you do? Why do you do it? What’s in a brand? Your image is built on your beliefs, values, character,...
Recently I reached a new level of friendship with someone I've only known for a few months. She told me the password to her wifi. It's saved in my phone, and even if we have a falling out unless I delete her saved wifi data my phone will still remember it. When it...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...
The team at Worship Times is dedicated to empowering congregations developing their church websites and digital presence. On November 1 Worship Times was named one of Worship Leader Magazine’s Editor’s Pick for web development (read more here). So for the next couple...