Webmaster Newsletter - October 2006

[pdstein]

Hello OurChurch.Com webmasters,

October is Sounds from the Church Month (http://www.ourchurch.com/hosting/church-audio-month.php) at OurChurch.Com. Adding audio of sermons, choir, or worship band to a church website can help prospective visitors by giving them an idea of what they will experience at your church as well as benefit church members by giving the spiritual nourishment during the week. So, all this month we're focusing on helping churches make the most of audio on their websites.

View this message on the web with color and graphics in our newsletter archives at:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/archive.php

IN THIS ISSUE
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1) Tone Up Your Site with Bronze
2) Church Audio = Free Links
3) Free iPod Nano Giveaway
4) Sound Advice for Churches
5) Sound Off on Audio Issues

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Advertise your Christian ministry or business here!
http://www.ourchurch.com/advertising/
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1) TONE UP YOUR SITE WITH BRONZE
If you're ready to take your website to the next level with audio, the first thing you need is a hosting package that supports recorded audio. You can do that with a Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze hosting package at OurChurch.Com. To help make it possible for those of you with free sites or the Domain Package to upgrade, we’re offering a year of the Bronze Package and a year of the Ad-free Option for just $179 – a savings of $121.
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This special offer is open to everyone (not just churches), but it’s only available this month. If you don’t have a site at OCC, go to the hosting section of our site and click the “Build a Site” link in the menu to get started. If you’ve already got a site, click the “Order & Renew Premium Options” link on your webmaster page to take advantage of this special discount. If you already have the Bronze package and/or the Ad-free option, you can take advantage of this opportunity to add an additional year of service at this low price.

2) CHURCH AUDIO = FREE LINKS
We believe having audio on a church site is so important that we are recognizing and rewarding every church hosted at OurChurch.Com that has recorded audio on their site with a link to their site on our church audio page (http://www.ourchurch.com/hosting/church-audio-month.php). If your church site includes recorded audio, drop us a note in our help desk and we'll add a link to your site to the list featured chcurch audio sites within a few days. The sooner you contact us the higher up on the list your site will appear. (Please include your website title and URL)
http://www.ourchurch.com/helpdesk/

3) FREE IPOD NANO GIVEAWAY
In addition to adding a link on this page to your site, OurChurch.Com will also enter you in a drawing for a free iPod Nano. The 1 GB iPod Nano holds about 250 songs or 15,000 photos, weighs less than 2 ounces, and is valued at $150. To be eligible, churches must host their site at OCC, have original recorded audio on their site, and notify us through the help desk by October 31, 2006. The drawing will be held November 1, 2006 and the winners name will be disclosed in an announcement later that day.

4) SOUND ADVICE FOR CHURCHES
We have also turned our attention to church audio in the Christian Web Trends Blog. Get an in depth look at why and how to add music and sermon audio to your church website.
http://blog.ourchurch.com

5) SOUND OFF ON AUDIO ISSUES
We’ve started a discussion in our forums for churches so we can hear more about what you need to incorporate audio into your website and to exchange ideas with each other. What are the biggest challenges you face? What topics would you like to read more about? What insight do you have to share with other church webmasters?
http://forums.ourchurch.com/viewtopic.php?t=1487

Thanks for hosting your website at OurChurch.Com. Post your comments and questions concerning this newsletter here in our forums.

In His Service,
OurChurch.Com

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OCC's NEWEST ADVERTISERS
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- Good Samaritan Baptist Mission - http://www.ourchurch.com/ads/click.php3?bannerID=1169
- Sermon Spice - http://www.ourchurch.com/ads/click.php3?bannerID=1153
- Promise Checks - http://www.ourchurch.com/ads/click.php3?bannerID=1168

SEPTEMBER AWARD-WINNING WEBSITES
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- Felix Pages - http://www.felixpages.com/
- Lighthouse 4 Jesus - http://www.l4jesus.com/
- Evangelist Roger Whipp - http://www.evangelist-rogerwhipp.org/
- First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, Springfield, OR - http://www.flmbc.org/

Info on PowerPoints Challenge - http://www.ourchurch.com/help/help-powerpoints.php

OVERHEARD...
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"Do you have audio on your church's website? If not, what is holding you back? What challenges are you finding it difficult to overcome?" - pdstein
http://forums.ourchurch.com/viewtopic.php?t=1487

Sound off on our message boards - http://forums.ourchurch.com

BEACON TIP O' THE MONTH
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Putting sermon audio on a church website can aid in the spiritual development of members as well as help give prospective visitors an idea of what to expect when they attend the church.

WEBSITE SPOTLIGHT: First Baptist Church of Dawsonville - http://www.firstbaptistdawsonville.com
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First Baptist Church of Dawsonville, GA is a Southern Baptist church located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. They have done an excellent job of incorporating audio into their website for the benefit of both members and visitors. Their site includes a sermons page with the audio of several recent sermons preached by their senior pastor. It also includes a choir page with several songs performed and recorded by their choir.