The biggest reason is to make the process of updating the website easier. Instead of having to know HTML formatting, the new website will allow non technical users the ability to change and add content much more easily. The second reason is to give us a more flexible and dynamic website that will allow us to change the look and add different types of content and features more easily. All of this will help us deliver a website that is more engaging, informative, and connecting.
So now that you know why, let me tell you how we are going to do this. We have identified three phases to the upgrade of our website. Here is a summary of those phases along with where we are and where there might be opportunities for you to pitch in.
PHASE 1 - Joomla Conversion
Joomla is the new website platform we will be using. It is a Content Management System (CMS) type of platform and will be the foundation of the website giving us the features previously mentioned. This phase entails converting our existing website to this Joomla CMS platform. I started this a couple of months ago and we are about 80% through this first phase now. Much of this phase is about giving me a chance to learn the inner workings of Joomla and how to modify a template (the look of a website). Instead of hiring a professional I have volunteered my time and amateur skills to this cause.
There are couple of design issues I'm still working through but we are now working on adding some additional content to the website to make it more informative. Over the course of the next year or so I hope we can gradually build out the website so that it becomes the primary source of information about our church community. For some insight on our plans here is a site map diagram we are using to help plan the layout.
I'm hoping we will be able to cutover to the new Joomla based website by year end or sooner. If you would like to take a sneak peek at the work in progress just go to http://new.bluevcc.org.
PHASE 2 - New Look
One of the many advantages of a CMS based website (like Joomla) is that it separates the content from the presentation. The presentation, or design, is handled by what is called a template. In phase 1 we are just converting our existing website design into a Joomla template. In phase 2 we will be looking at giving our website a new updated look. This will involve selecting a professionally designed template and modifying it to fit our needs. This is one aspect that you can help with! If you are interested in helping to select a new look for our website just let me know and I can provide you with more details.
PHASE 3 - Enhanced Functionality
Phase 3 involves adding cool new features and functionality to the website with a focus on engaging, informing, and connecting visitors and the church community. The first thing we will be adding, probably immediately, is blogging functionality. This will allow Rick to blog and could also include a member blog. Down the road we could add worship recordings/archives, "Live" broadcasts of our worship services, chat & forum features, online polls, etc. We could even have a secured login to a special page that would allow us to have an online membership directory and share other church information. There are lots of possibilities!
We hope that you find these new changes exciting and hope filled. All of this is being done in the spirit of Faith, Hope, and Love with the ultimate goal of enabling us to reach out to more people. The Internet is a powerful resource that can be used to share God's love without the boundaries of physical location. We want to tap into that resource to the best of our abilities and our website is the starting place for that.
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