Need pic for church website google
- Thread starter Romans922
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Jack K
Puritan Board Doctor
Yes, for social media sites use photos that are personal, not canned. Anything taken when your group gathers is good. Faces appeal much more than buildings or rooms. And down-to-earth beats slick when it comes to social media, so it doesn't have to look all professional.
Maybe you can convince the congregation to pose for a cheesy group photo at some point, and make that the Facebook cover photo. Cheese works on Facebook when it includes smiling faces. Something taken during a class or church meal might also work. Be sure whatever photo you take crops well to proportions that are nearly 2.5 times as wide as high.
Facebook profile pictures are more difficult, as they need to be square and are best when they work even as a tiny icon. A church logo (if your church has one) is a good choice. A small group of smiling faces (very close together) makes for a more personal, friendly look but has the disadvantage of possibly appearing as if those particular people run the church. Otherwise you might find a picture of something that fits a distinctive of your church (like a Bible if Bible teaching is a distinctive) and use that, perhaps with the church name superimposed.
Try to be informal, where possible. Social media should feel more like people being invited into your living room or a church supper, less like an invitation to a service. It's part of the social, informal-life-together side of the church.
Maybe you can convince the congregation to pose for a cheesy group photo at some point, and make that the Facebook cover photo. Cheese works on Facebook when it includes smiling faces. Something taken during a class or church meal might also work. Be sure whatever photo you take crops well to proportions that are nearly 2.5 times as wide as high.
Facebook profile pictures are more difficult, as they need to be square and are best when they work even as a tiny icon. A church logo (if your church has one) is a good choice. A small group of smiling faces (very close together) makes for a more personal, friendly look but has the disadvantage of possibly appearing as if those particular people run the church. Otherwise you might find a picture of something that fits a distinctive of your church (like a Bible if Bible teaching is a distinctive) and use that, perhaps with the church name superimposed.
Try to be informal, where possible. Social media should feel more like people being invited into your living room or a church supper, less like an invitation to a service. It's part of the social, informal-life-together side of the church.
littlepeople
Puritan Board Freshman
What works well is people. People talking, eating, praying, worshipping, etc. What doesn't work very well is pictures of inanimate objects. Objects and buildings can work if there are photos of people associated with them. You may have to set up a staged "worship" moment, since it's not ideal to have someone running around with a camera during worship. We had everyone stay for an extra hymn one Sunday following the benediction for some photos like that I needed for the site.
Jack K
Puritan Board Doctor
No photos of people at all runs the risk of communicating that your church is aloof, full of folks who aren't even friendly enough to appear in a picture. That probably isn't true of your church, but it can be the subconscious message that gets communicated. Plus, people are inherently more interesting than anything else one can take a picture of.
Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
Sounds like you all need to do some fellowshipping. No covered dish dinners? No Saturday afternoon work projects or family game days?
No one with a smile on their face to greet visitors at the door?
Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
Are you all non-instrumental? IF so, and you want to go with a 'no people' theme, you could try a humorous series of photos with the text explaining them. For example, a photo of empty chairs captioned 'our musical team'. Then explain that you are in the tradition of acapella psalm singing churches. Then an empty room labeled 'children's church' and explain that children worship with their parents. And perhaps an empty field labeled 'our church gymnasium' and explain that church is about the worship of God, not ourselves.
I'm not recommending this, just trying to come up with a way to make the most of the parameters that you have.
Your site design isn't too bad (in terms of the menu). The background is really annoying. Recommend you go with something simpler (even a solid color). You could then have a header block and use some sort of Logo in lieu of plain text. I'm not much of a logo man but you can see what I did by finding a nice monogram J and created a nice header for the James River Presbytery website: James River Presbytery, Presbyterian Church in America
As far as people, it might be nice if you had a picture of yourself in the leadership section. You could also stick some people on the front page flowing with text. If you don't have any people's pictures you could always find some stock images.
I think making a couple of changes is good. I'm not of the opinion that a website makes or breaks a Church. You don't want it to look crummy but you're not going to get a ton more visitors just because you have a good website.
As far as people, it might be nice if you had a picture of yourself in the leadership section. You could also stick some people on the front page flowing with text. If you don't have any people's pictures you could always find some stock images.
I think making a couple of changes is good. I'm not of the opinion that a website makes or breaks a Church. You don't want it to look crummy but you're not going to get a ton more visitors just because you have a good website.
littlepeople
Puritan Board Freshman
Ain't that the truth
Andres
Puritan Board Doctor
You say you don't have a building but your group obviously meets somewhere. Why not a pic of the front of the school where yall meet? I agree with the others - a church page with absolutely no photos of any people or buildings makes for a very "cold" feeling from the church. Is that your intention?
Andres
Puritan Board Doctor
I disagree. It may be unfortunate, but I think many people today will base a huge portion of their opinion of a church based on the church's website.
GulfCoast Presbyterian
Puritan Board Senior
I totally agree.
Romans922
Puritan Board Professor
Am I supposed to answer yes to that?
Andres
Puritan Board Doctor
You can answer however you'd like. It's a straight-forward question. You can also dismiss the question, since my opinion means very little.
littlepeople
Puritan Board Freshman
Yes, but for every say 100 good opinions, you might get 1 visitor. That's what I was agreeing to. I think good websites are important, I ought to its part of my livelihood.
Andrew - I didn't write that a bad website didn't affect things. What I wrote is that even a good website and good "internet outreach" will not give you a ton more visitors.
Andrew's site is basically pretty good except for a few aesthetics. Provided he makes a few changes he ought to be just fine as far as it goes. One thing he has going for him is that he's on Sermon Audio, which has attracted a few to our Church as well.
MichaelNZ
Puritan Board Freshman
Hi Andrew,
The website is looking pretty good, but I agree, you do need some pictures.
I would personally have a picture of the congregation at worship since you don't have a building. Our church is blessed to have our own building so I put a picture of it on the website. I also put a picture of the congregation at worship on the 'Worship Services' page. I'd also recommend a picture of the church's main preacher (don't know if that's you or not) with a brief biography. Possibly you could do this for all those involved in leadership.
The website is looking pretty good, but I agree, you do need some pictures.
I would personally have a picture of the congregation at worship since you don't have a building. Our church is blessed to have our own building so I put a picture of it on the website. I also put a picture of the congregation at worship on the 'Worship Services' page. I'd also recommend a picture of the church's main preacher (don't know if that's you or not) with a brief biography. Possibly you could do this for all those involved in leadership.
Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
If someone comes from the denominational web site, they might know you are the pastor. If someone comes straight from Google, it appears that the church doesn't have a pastor. The only reference is to the phone number of the office, located on the 'Contact' page. No other reference to a pastor, preacher, or teaching elder. No no one identified as the preacher, no indication as to whether the linked sermons are from this church or who might have preached them, no indication that there are any women or children, only 5 guys listed as leaders, no building. If I was looking for a church in the area, the website wouldn't draw me there, with 4 others in the area (plus as I recall, an OPC) to visit first.
Romans922
Puritan Board Professor
Yeah, I have had a few from overseas through sermonaudio. One Singapore.
Okay guys, what about a group picture of the congregation?
Also, pictures of the preacher would be not good (pictures and I don't mix well).
Don't be self-deprecating. You don't have to be a male model to get a pic. How about a pic with your wife?
Also, pictures of the preacher would be not good (pictures and I don't mix well).
You don't have to be a male model to get a pic. How about a pic with your wife?
I agree. Being one who has visited many churches due to relocations, it is always nice to be able to walk in and have an idea of who the pastor and/or elders are at a glance. Having a bit of bio for each is great as well. It isn't a necessity, but it does help a lot.
Vonderplatz
Puritan Board Freshman
When I was looking for a church I visited the churches with the best website first, but joined the church with the worst web site.
Pilgrim
Puritanboard Commissioner
As big as SermonAudio has gotten over the past decade, this should not be overlooked. It is one of the first places I check when I'm out of town and looking for somewhere to worship. The churches and ministries that are on that site tend to be characterized by a seriousness or sobriety that is all too lacking in our day.
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