As a communications professional, my goal is to provide information tools and systems that will maximize your church’s presence on the World Wide Web. I have more than 20 years experience in public communications and have written and developed web sites since 1995. I have received national awards for my work with two professional associations.

As our communities move into the 21^st century, it is becoming imperative that churches adapt new technologies to fulfill their mission in serving God. The effective use of web sites can enable our churches to maximize their use of resources. Through the use of inexpensive open-source software and shared hosting services, I am able to help organizations leverage the investment in technology so that the church and its staff can focus on the “human side” of building the Body of Christ.

Recognizing the many small churches, parishes and religious organizations have small budgets, I am pleased to offer a basic turn-key contract that will quickly set up your own web site (or upgrade your existing site) with minimal expense and time. While it's inexpensive and fast, the web site will include many features of "Web 2.0," which means your new site will have many interactive features that will attract repeat visitors. The following outline details my services and cost.

Project Goals

• To improve the accessibility and readability of your church or parish web site so that members and prospective members can easily find information that they need and interact with the web site in a meaningful way.
• To upgrade the method used to post web content so that information can be easily added, changed and deleted without the need to know any web programming.
• To enhance the look and feel of the web site so that it projects your desired image and coordinates with other church publications and style.

Tasks to be Accomplished by the Contractor (that's me)

• Establish new account with a web hosting service that meets the requirements of the content management system to be installed. (If the client has an existing hosting contract that they would like to maintain, the contractor will determine if that service meets the technical requirements and make recommendations at that time.)
• Develop theme and layout style (to be determined by the client, generally based on adapting one of three existing templates that will be provided as options).
• Develop organizational structure (categories) based on the client's ministries and parish / church structure.
• Install the content management system, Drupal CMS, including selected modules: WYSYWYG editor, article scheduler, expanded categories, enhanced menu functions, and web addresses that are human-readable and search-engine-friendly.
• Transfer all existing content and add new content as provided (up to 100 pages, provided in electronic format; this may be copied from the existing web site, or the client can provide to the contractor as Word or text documents).
• Prepare links to existing online services that the client wishes to maintain, such as the calendar service currently being used.
• Prepare an online contact form with links to church staff or volunteer leaders (desired email addresses to be provided by client).
• Set up a staff directory with online contact forms that forward messages to the staff and protect staff email addresses.
• Set up email accounts (desired email addresses to be provided by client).
• Set up registration form for electronic newsletter.
• Upon approval of the new web site, update the domain registration to the new hosting service name servers (requires access to the domain registration account).
• Provide training to up to two staff members so that they will be able to maintain and add content. (Training may also include basics on administering email accounts, if desired.)
• Provide support for 30 days after the transfer to ensure that the client is able to maintain the web site.

Items to be Provided by the Client (that's you)

• All content in electronic format (current web site with notations of any changes, Word or text document for any new content, graphics and photographs as needed)
• Review and selection of theme (colors and graphics)
• List of desired email addresses
• Access to domain registration account (for change to new web site)
• Availability of one or two staff members for training in maintaining and adding content

Schedule

• The goal is to complete the Initial Project within 30 days.
• The contract will officially begin when the client submits the content as described above.
• The client agrees to provide responses to queries related to the theme/template and content reviews within three business days. Any delays in response will extend the deadline.
• The contractor agrees to provide responses to queries from the client within 48 hours.
• The project will be considered complete upon written approval (via email or fax) of the new web site. Upon completion, the contract will submit an invoice for 90 percent of the total Initial Project as specified below and 100 percent of the expenses.
• The contractor will provide support via email and telephone for 30 days following completion of the project. At the end of the 30-day support period, the contractor will submit a final invoice for the remaining 10 percent of the Initial Project as specified.

Budget

• Initial Project: $1,500 + expenses ($105-130)
• All programming, graphics, content upload, coordination with your staff or volunteers, and training via telephone and online.
• Completed within 30 days of contract, with 30 days of support following completion of contract
• Expenses for one year of web hosting, domain updates, and domain transfer (if needed) will be $105-130 for the recommended hosting service, Site5.com.
• Optional web traffic tracking: $6/month direct contract through Sitemeter.com.
• Ongoing support (beyond 30 days): $30/hour
• Any additional support will be negotiated as needed. The goal of the project is for the client to manage the web site independently; however, the contractor is available for additional consulting if needed.

Additional Questions

This web page provides a general structure for your web site project. I am sure that you have questions. Please feel free to contact me using this form. You can also use this form to tell me about your project and request a formal proposal.