Strategic Evangelism Solutions For Global Impact
Posts tagged workshops
Ministry Outreach Mistake #1 – Pt 2 :: Count Up The Cost Before You Invest!
Sep 22nd
What Am I Really Paying For?
I want to take this time to explain exactly what you’re paying for, when you choose to invest in your own customized online home otherwise known as a WEBSITE. (smile)
For some of you, I know this is basic and standard information. However, trust me when I say “ There is still a large group of your ministry colleagues who really have no idea about all the steps it takes to have a basic website.”
When I explain all this I like to use real estate as my first-choice analogy.
Domain Name: This is essentially your online address AKA www.yourministryname.com This tends to cost anywhere from $8.00 – $10.00 However, depending on the hosting company you choose, you may buy a package that gives you the domain name FREE. Or run into specials on domains as low as $4.00 per domain.
Hosting: This is essentially the land in which your online home is built on. Just as you have to pay a price for the land on which your brand new church will be built on, so too, must you pay for the land on which your online “digital” church home will be built on.
However, it is a cost that will be assessed every year. Therefore it is generally in your best interest to pay for the hosting up front by the year for a least expensive rate. The complexity of your site, including the “bells & whistles” will determine which hosting package may work best for you.
You can realistically expect to spend anywhere from $8.00 to $20.00 per month to host your basic site.
Email Addresses: Many hosting packages include at least 500 email addresses with your hosting. However, there are some “a la carte” hosts that charge according to the number of email address you want to purchase by groups of say 10 – 20 etc
Design & Development: This involves the actual artistic direction and customization of your site, including incorporating your logo, all of your ministry photos and of course your content. Ie: ministry vision, mission, in-house ministries, monthly events etc… These charges are normally separate design fees and increase depending on the complexity of the design and functionality of your site ie: flash elements, online forms, online forums, ministry photo galleries, user maintenance etc… Depending on the complexity, your site development could be a project that will involve a 1 – 3 person creative team.
How To Count Up The Real Costs
Many small organizations, settle for online template packages that cost anywhere from $15.00 + per month, not to mention one-time set-up fees that run from $50.00-$90.00 Unfortunately, if you don’t truly “count up the cost” you could essentially end up paying the exact same price you’d pay for a customized site and more, without owning anything.
For example, one “create your own ministry site” company charges a $50.00 set-up fee, $15.00 per month for hosting and $25.00 per month for a member services section. If you add all this up for (2) years you end up spending $1010.00 and at the moment you discontinue services, you walk away with nothing. No files, no artwork, zilch.
Are you satisfied with your online ministry home?
What was the biggest mistake you made when you invested in a website?
Please share your experience by LEAVING A REPLY in the COMMENT SECTION.
You Might Be A Social Media Spammer If …
Aug 19th
Recently I’ve talked to quite a few colleagues who have been SPAMMED via Social Media. Sad thing is, I don’t believe some of the folks SPAMMING even understand or comprehend what they are doing and how their social media spamming is affecting their brand in a BAD WAY.
Unfortunately, many of the folks I’ve observed SPAMMING on Facebook (FB) are leaders of faith-based organizations, including ministries, who don’t really seem to understand the true concept of effective Social Media.
First and foremost, using social media is about BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS!
That’s right!
It’s about cultivating relationships with folks who have like interests and callings who you would value getting to know and value sharing information with that you KNOW they’ve shown a true interest in.
With this in mind, you have to realize that having FB friends doesn’t give you the right to TAG FB friends according to the VALUE you’ve placed on the size of their FB network.
That my friend is an ADDED VALUE, only AFTER you’ve truly established a relationship with the FB friend you are targeting with your EVENT GRAPHICS ETC … which if you’re not careful, can come off as SPAM!
That’s right, there is a such thing as SOCIAL MEDIA SPAM and folks are getting pretty tired of it!
I mean just last week, some Speaker/Author sent me a FB message with a link to a video interview of him being interviewed. Funny and sad thing is, he never said “Hi, I want to share this with you” and definitely NEVER even introduced himself or the reason for sending me this message on FB.
I was totally baffled!
And I have many more friends and colleagues who are feeling the same way.
Here’s how you can determine if you MIGHT be considered a SOCIAL MEDIA (FB) SPAMMER:
- You’ve received more than (1) FB message asking you NOT to place your information and Ads on the wall of a FB friend.
- After you place an ePoster or eFlier on the one of your FB friends, when you go to view it on their wall, you notice that it is GONE. (ie: DELETED)
- One by one, you search out your FB friends who have a seemingly LARGE list of friends and you place some sort of event information on their wall, without even GREETING them or even considering whether or not they would realistically have a genuine interest in your event.
- You create a video and just start randomly placing the video on the walls of your FB friends and they have NO CONNECTION to you or the city in which you or even the TOPIC you are talking about in your video.
- You assume because your new FB FRIEND fits the demographic of your “sales audience” it’s okay to place your products on their wall without even acknowledging doing so and without even have an email, fb or even phone conversation regarding, how you might be able to serve them.
- You assume because your new FB FRIEND serves the same demographic and “sales audience” you do or one that is similar, they won’t mind you sporadically posting on their wall about what you’re doing even though, you’ve never had a REAL online or offline conversation with them.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if you can see yourself in the above list, there’s a small chance that you may not be a SPAMMER, but there’s an even bigger chance that you are operating like one and really have no clue that you are.
If so, read this, digest it, learn from it and MOVE FORWARD. (smile)
Do you have any stories of SOCIAL MEDIA SPAMMING that have rubbed you the wrong way?
How have you handled it?
What’s The Difference Between A Psychic & A Prophet?
Jul 10th
Lots of people hav
e been asking for MORE of Tuesday’s ( “Lesson Over Lunch” LIVE webinar-style interview with Dr. Paula Price where the theme was “What’s the Difference Between A Psychic & A Prophet” So, I took it a step further and had the broadcast transcribed, just for YOU!
We can all agree, unless you have foundational understanding and answers regarding your prophetic gift & calling, you could be headed for DESTINY-KILLING DISASTER.
That’s why I’m now offering the mp3, transcripts and some great resources from Dr. Price for those who are ready for that NEXT LEVEL. And yes, we are scheduling more webinars on this subject and MUCH more in the near future. GET READY!
Invest In Your Future – TODAY (Oh yes type in the sales code dhospecial to get $10.00 off the whole package)
