About This Website
About This Site
We get a lot of kind compliments and inquiries about our site design.
So many, in fact, that we thought it may be helpful to add a small page addressing some of the most frequently asked questions.
First…thank you.
We’re sincerely flattered that so many have been quick to notice the great design and clean layout of our web site. It was done by friends and family of our members, and we’re delighted to give accolades where they’re due.
DESIGN
The site is not based on a template, but was custom-designed by Mark Steinruck of Steinruck Design.
Before we decided to go custom, we’d looked at a variety of online vendors who specialize in delivering easy-to-build-and-use church websites. They’re attractive, and many are very good and have options for different budgets. However, we considered the uniqueness of our church, and how difficult it would be communicate that uniqueness in a template-based system. We knew we wanted a old-fashioned, classic, small-church feel combined with a clean modern edge that appeals to the growing suburban neighborhood around us. We’re pleased that this site captures that perfectly.
PROCESS
This is the 4th iteration of our site. After several versions that were done in-house and managed locally through FrontPage, we decided that the primary goal with this version was to build it using a content management system, or CMS. A CMS will allow a site to be managed using a web-based interface that can be accessed anywhere.
We focused on ease of updatability first, realizing that having current information is vital to a successful site. The easier it is to keep current, the better the site is.
While the designer developed samples to capture the art direction we gave him, it was our job to work on the site map. We worked out a navigation structure – what menu headings we wanted, and what pages would fit under each – analyzing it from the standpoints of both existing members and visitors.
After that, we wrote content for each page, keeping the feel of the writing consistent toward our intended audiences. All of that up-front work helped the build-out process go more smoothly. Whether you choose a online service or a custom job, determining the navigation and content is a huge job, and should be given a lot of consideration.
TECHNOLOGY
Our site is built using the free version of ExpressionEngine,a fantastic, attractive and highly configurable CMS. This makes it easily editable by our volunteer staff.
We’ve received mentions, nods and awards on the tight, clean CSS and html behind our pages. Having somebody who knows how to code a site is worth its weight, in our opinion.
If you have further questions that we haven’t answered here, please feel free to contact us.