Loving the Problem, Not Your Solution

Great designers remember to fall in love with the problems they want to solve. Yet far too often we find ourselves longing to keep the solution we created. So many times we see interesting solutions and work backward to a problem we can solve with it. Occasionally that method can produce results, but not as consistently as focusing on your problems. Be a better designer and love your problems.

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Why Website File Names Matter

What we name files on our website may seem like a trivial matter. Yet any time spent on a shared network drive will highlight the importance of naming conventions and organization. Here are several reasons your website file names matter, as well as guidelines for creating a naming convention for you.

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Why Your Church Website Needs Encryption

Encrypted website traffic is not just for eCommerce sites. All websites can benefit from encryption. Many browsers and search engines even alert users to unsecure connections. The good news is that several new services make getting an SSL certificate cheap and easy. Read more to learn about the benefits of a secure website.

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When Your Church Should Use Animation

Animations are often thought of as a trend of the early web. This is because many developers discovered animation techniques. But few bothered to learn when and why to use them. Yet in many situations, animation is still helpful. This is true in church websites, social media and mobile applications. Here are situations where you should consider using animations.
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What We Can Learn from Cars

Websites and cars have more in common that you might think. Characteristics that apply to selecting and using a car can be used for websites. A car is a necessity in modern society. Similarly, a website is often required for your church to have a presence in the digital world. Here are some tips to help your website perform at its peak levels.
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Moving Beyond Responsive Design

We all should know about responsive design. Yet design techniques continued to evolve. Adaptive design is one of the latest buzzwords in the mobile web community. In this article I will describe the difference between responsive and adaptive design, and when each should be used.
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Preparing Churches for the Zero UI Revolution

Have you ever seen an application with no user interface? Many of you have used them without even knowing it. They only need us to speak. The spectrum ranges from automated phone directories, to the Apple’s Siri. The next question is “how does this relate to my church?” The problem arises when those zero UI application cannot find information about your church. Without properly encoded data, you make programs work harder to know about your church.
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Other Uses for Online Church Services

One of the latest church buzzwords is online services. Some churches are holding back. While it is a fantastic outreach tool, you may want to focus on your local community. Yet the need to reach the entire world with the Gospel is there. Plus, your local congregation can also benefit. Here is how.
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Why We Are Slow to Digital Ministry

Many technology enthusiasts in the church complain that it has taken us too long to get on the web. We are accused of being reluctant adopters. Digital ministries are often behind the curve. On the outside, our slow pace makes us appear averse to change. Yet the hesitation to move into the virtual world was not without merit. Here is my take on why we were slow, and how we can overcome it.
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6 Things To Fix in 2016

As we move into 2016, I want to challenge church web teams to fix a few leaky faucets. These are projects that should have started a long time ago. But if any exist on your website, you need to fix them now. More than ever, your website is viewed as your front door. If it looks outdated and in disrepair, so does your church.
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CWS Podcast – Ep 76: Donations on your Church Website: Tools and Services

cws-podcast-logoReady to add online donations to your website and social media campaigns? You may have wanted to start on this step of picking a credit card processor. Yet this article is to be more of a reminder that you need to do some work in parallel. While your technical and financial teams sort out what makes sense, your writers and communications team has some work. Dig into the first three episodes of the series. If you are a one person team? Well I have no consolation prize or special advice. Get listening and get to work!
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Make Technology Personal in your Church

Many people dislike the introduction of technology into their church. They may feel that it removes that comfortable, personal touch. Yet I contest there are ways to make a process digital, but still personable. Show how using technology does not mean only working with a machine. By using trained church members, you can help digital interactions. Show how to extend the church experience throughout the week with social media.
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