Websites
From YWAMKnowledgeBase
Websites are a great way to share specific information about your base or ministry with millions of people all over the world. Think of it like being listed in your local phonebook or directory, anyone interested in finding a DTS in your country will now be able to find you! These days, without a web presence, you may be missing out on many potential contacts including future students, staff, and donors.
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Choosing a Website
Once you have decided to create a website, there are basically three different kinds of websites you can make.
- The basic HTML (and possibly CSS) website (a static website)
- Flash based websiten (a dynamic website)
- Content Management System (CMS) (a dynamic website)
Each of the above options have strengths and weaknesses of their own, and depending on your level of experience, can be more or less difficult to create and maintain.
- Dynamic website
- Each page is generated by a server as it receives the request from a user. This allows content to be stored in convenient ways for the creator of the content (such as in a database). The Server converts and merges the content to make a static page. This site works like this. It provides great flexibility and can greatly simplify the editing and maintenance of a website.
- Static website
- Each page is a fixed file that is encoded in HTML. Each page is loaded from a directory on the server and sent to the user on request. It is fast and simple to server and requires little computer power.
HTML and CSS
This is probably the most common type of website you see on the internet. HTML is the oldest form of website creation and has been augmented by CSS to provide a more powerful way to control the appearance of a website.
Pros: The simplest way to get a website started. Thousands of free templates to choose from. Lots of free help all over the internet.
Cons: Can be hard to update or add information. Hard to work on with more than one person or as a team. Need to use expensive programs like Dreamweaver to manage multiple pages, unless you like updating tiny details on lots of pages in pure HTML code.
Recomendations: If you go this route, be sure to pick out a high quality template (like those from Andreas Viklund or Studio 7 Designs), buy a good book on editing HTML and CSS, and possibly consider getting a program such as Dreamweaver to make your job a lot easier.
Flash
Pros: Can be the most beautiful of all the formats. The ability to be more interactive than other formats. The best way to introduce special effects into your website.
Cons: Flash is a very expensive program. The most difficult to learn unless you already know Flash. Large files make flash sites extremely slow for users with slow internet connections. Can be difficult to update or add information. Actually it is practically impossible for a non-flash trained person to maintain a site like this. Making quick changes to a site is often not possible simply.
Recomendations: Not the best way to get started. Hard to work on with more than one person or as a team. Consider using small flash animations to your HTML or CMS site to add more interesting effects. If you don't know Flash, get someone to help you. If you do know Flash, try to watch your file sizes and keep things small.
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Pros: The easiest to update and add information to. The easiest to work on together with a team. Most CMS programs have features included by default that you could never accomplish with HTML or Flash (forums, blogs, search, user accounts, access control). Able to organize content in a variety of ways. Able to keep growing with your base or ministry. Often support RSS for site summaries and subscription.
Cons: Take more time to organize and set up. You will have to learn how to use and manage the specific CMS that you choose. More difficult to customize that way your site looks (you must choose from available themes/templates or create your own).
Recomendations: Do your research and find a CMS that meets your needs. Be sure to check out Drupal, Joomla, and WordPress.
Monitoring
Here are tools that help you evaluate your website.
1. [Free Website self evaluation tool] A self help tool developed to help churches make an effective website. A website that is able to be used by everyone, keeps gaps in mind and shows you why you should think it through. It's a good idea to look through and score your YWAM site to know how you are doing. Category:Websites
