Are you getting ready to blaze a new trail in your online communications? Answering these 5 questions for yourself may help determine your own internal process and avoid some speed bumps during your website project.

One of the first interactions we have with a potential new website client is often a phone call or meeting to determine the scope of the project. Our conversation will need to address dreams and wishes, functionality requirements, budget, and a timeline for launching the new site. Here are a few of the questions we ask at the very beginning of a new website project. If you're getting ready to blaze a new trail in your communications journey, answering these for yourself may help determine your own internal process and avoid some speed bumps along the way.

1. Where does it hurt?
What are your pain points? Do some groundwork to identify the most common, or most frustrating, problems with your current site. Talk to the people who want to put information ON the site (usually your staff and ministry leaders), as well as those who are looking to USE the site (your congregation and community). Find out what's not working so you will be able to fix it the next time!

2. Who are you talking to?
Who is the audience for your site? In many cases, a church will have multiple audiences: newcomers as well as long-time members; internal messaging to the congregation as well as external invitations to the community. Every visitor to your site is looking to accomplish a goal or meet a need. Determine who you want to use your site, and make it super easy for them to find what they're looking for.

3. Who will lead the project?
There will usually be many people on your team involved in building a new website: pastors, ministry leaders, members and volunteers. In order for your new site to meet your goals and be successful, you will need a much smaller, focused group to give direction and maintain consistency. This person or small team needs to be well-connected to the church, well-informed by the leadership, and empowered to lead well!

4. Who will maintain the new site?
A website is never finished. After the discovery, design, programming, content entry, testing and launch of a new site, you'll need to continue feeding your audiences with current and relevant messaging. Even before the project begins, start looking for people you trust who will be able provide the content they're most familiar with.

5. What does success look like? 
A successful website will be one of your primary tools for communicating to your congregation, your community, and the world. Don't let the end of the project be the end of your process! Develop an editorial calendar to upload sermon videos, schedule blog posts, promote events, and update your social media. Recruit volunteers to write, take photos, and engage with your community online. We'll be cheering you on!

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Not sure if it's time yet for a new site? Here are a few measurements you
can take: http://fishhook.us/article/how-long-should-your-website-last/