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How to Build A Church Website

Your Church wants a website! Perhaps you are the lucky individual who is tasked with doing the leg work to find out how to go about his. Maybe you are even the person who suggested it, and everyone said, “great idea, look into it for us”. Regardless how it happened, if it did, and you are reading this article, it means you need this information.

A good website can serve a Church in many ways. It can be an effective tool for spreading the gospel, and generally informing people of God (in three persons), or at least reminding them of him. Unfortunately in many cases it is the former, as they know little about him, having grown in a secular world. Not being a Minister, I am likely not the best person to advise on the content for exact wording for the content of the website, but I may be able to help in other ways.

First of all, most Churches do not have a lot of money to spend on a website, so if possible see if there is anyone in the congregation or “church family” who is in the website business and can help you out for “free”. If not, maybe there is someone who is willing to sponsor (pay for) the website, in which case find out how much they are willing to spend to get it set up, and then each subsequent year to keep it hosted and up to date. A sponsor, or group of sponsors, will likely ask you for cost options or estimates prior to agreeing to fund anything, rather than “signing a blank cheque”.

A third option is to build the Church website yourself, using a website builder. These usually are offered as a package, allowing someone with little or know experience to quickly and easily build their own website, and includes website hosting and the ability to buy a domain name, as well as e-mail, and even may include an optional online store. I am biased, but I will recommend the one I know best, which is WRSBuilder. It is offered by WRS Web Solutions Inc., and can be found at www.wrsbuilder.com . It also offers a free 10 day trial, without your having to give a credit card number (like some other website builders), and when the trial expires, that’s it, nobody starts charging you anything (unlike some other companies). The WRSBuilder would cost you about $257 a year (billed to a credit card), for pretty much everything you would need, plus free technical support. An example of such a site (not for a Church but rather for a fraternity) is www.signetchapter.com WRS Builder includes several pictures suitable for a Church to use on its website, or you can upload your own.

If you want some one to build the website for you, that is called “custom website design”. You can find thousands of such companies on the internet. WRSBuilder QuickStart Program can also do this for you for a one time fee of $399 (on top of the $257). There are many firms offering custom website design, and they can be easily found on the internet. Please note that prices can vary a great deal, and often cost thousands for even a simple 5 page website, such as you can get from WRS Builder at http://www.wrsbuilder.com/customWebsites.htm for only $399. Please also note that website design is just one of the costs involved in getting a website, other costs include website hosting, domain name, e-mail, and setup fees. Also know what currency you will be quoted, estimated or billed in. (The WRSBuilder website builder price of $257 includes all of these, and custom design can be added for an additional $399, all of our prices are in US dollars.)

If you are a “rich” Church you may be able to afford a really top of the line custom website development, costing many thousands of dollars (to start), but chances are your not so fortunate, or you have other priorities for the funds you do have. Look for testimonials, or references from companies, and note that many will want half the funds in advance before work starts, perhaps even more.

Please shop carefully and whatever you decide on, please make a fully informed decision, and stay within your budget. If possible try to find a sponsor to cver all the costs.

Yours in Christ.

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