OurChurch.Com News and Announcements

Inspire Gratitiude in Give Thanks Month

pdstein — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:07:11 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-11-03.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

We've turned another page on the calendar, and Thanksgiving is only weeks away. As I blogged earlier today, there are few things more powerful than an attitude of gratitude. When we are thankful, we are focused on the half of the glass that is full. It helps us overcome so many negative emotions like disappointment, frustration, bitterness, resentment, and jealousy.

November is "Give Thanks Month" at OurChurch.Com. We hope you'll join us as we raise up the value of giving thanks to God and other people. Read on for more info on how we're doing that. We'd especially like you to read the last entry as we express our gratitude to our members.

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com

Give Thanks Month Features
==========================
1) Save an Additional $70 on Silver/Ad-Free
2) Express Your Gratituesday
3) Thanks You, Our Members!

1) SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $70 ON SILVER/AD-FREE
You can already save big by purchase a year of any hosting package, but this month only save an additional $70 when you purchase a year of the Silver Hosting Package and the Ad-Free Option together. This combination gives you just about everything you could ever want for your website - a domain name, calendar, shopping cart, and tons of email addresses, disk space, and extra features. Order today!
http://www.ourchurch.com/edit/order2.php

2) EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUESDAY
One of the ways we are going to raise the value of gratitude this month is by posting a blog article each Tuesday about something we're grateful for. It's something we're calling Gratituesday. Most of these posts will be a non-techy change of pace, but we kicked things off today with a post called Thank God for These Websites! Check out the websites we're thankful for and tell us which sites you're thankful for.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/11/03/thank-god-for-these-websites-gratituesday/

3) THANK YOU, OUR MEMBERS!
How could we talk about giving thanks without thank you, our members. Thank you for entrusting us with your website. It truly is an honor. We love serving you. Special thanks to those who support us financially by purchasing web design, hosting, search marketing, or advertising. We could not exist without you. Each weekday this month we're going to thank one of our members with a public expression of gratitude and a gift. Check the OCC Fellowship forum each day to see who we are thanking that day.
http://forums.ourchurch.com/viewforum.php?f=9

Post your comments and questions concerning this announcement here in our forums.

New Progressive SEO Management Service

pdstein — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:55:36 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-10-06.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

OurChurch.Com is proud to announce the launch of its Progressive SEO Management service, an aggressive search engine optimization (SEO) service designed to not only get your website ranking in the top 10 in the search engines now, but also build your site's strength so over time so you can compete for better, more popular keywords (search terms).

Most websites are not able to rank well for their best keywords when they first start search marketing. It takes a lot of time and effort and an aggressive search marketing strategy to build a website up in the search engines to the point that it can compete for the most popular keywords. The Progressive SEO Management service does just that.

The Progressive SEO Management service combines search engine optimization and a comprehensive link building strategy to build your website up in the search engines so it can eventually compete for the best keywords in your field. Better rankings for better keywords means more traffic to your site.

This service is perfect for businesses with a website that want to grow their business and want to rise to the top of their market.

Learn more about OurChurch.Com's Progressive SEO Management service:

http://marketing.ourchurch.com/search-engine-optimization-management.php

Don't have a website for your business yet? OurChurch.Com can create an amazing custom-designed site for your business (http://www.ourchurch.com/design/) and bundle your custom design site with the Progressive SEO Management service.

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com

Post your comments and questions concerning this announcement here in our forums.

OurChurch.Com Means Business (and Ministry)

pdstein — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:42:49 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-10-01.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

Yesterday I took a trip to my local home improvement store, and guess what? The shelves were already donning inflatable Santas and animated reindeer. Here we are in October and stores are already gearing up for Christmas. Good or bad that should serve as a wake up call to anyone in business or in ministry that it's time to start putting together plans for Christmas and for the New Year.

October is "Business Month" at OurChurch.Com. This month we're focusing on helping Christian business owners and leaders use the Internet to run their businesses more effectively. More and more people are shopping online and finding local businesses online, so having a website that stands out and serves your customers well is absolutely essential. Getting your website to the top of the search engine rankings is huge too. And if you want to give your business an edge, finding innovative ways to connect and stay connected with your customers, like through social networking, is one way to do that.

So, check out the discounts, helpful blog articles, and other things we've got going on. Of course all of these things have church and ministry applications, so if you're not leading a business there's still a lot of great stuff for you.

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com

Business Month Features
=======================
1) Save an Additional $50 on Every Website Services Bundle
2) Custom Website + Search Marketing = Value
3) Usability Testing - Key to a Successful Website
4) Online Business (and Ministry) is All About Trust
5) Catch us at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta

1) SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $50 ON EVERY WEBSITE SERVICES BUNDLE
OurChurch.Com already offers some fantastic savings on Website Services Bundles, which combine web hosting, ad-free service, and search engine registration. During October you can save an additional $50 off every bundle bringing your total savings to $125-$263 depending on the bundle you choose. Order today!
http://www.ourchurch.com/edit/order2.php

2) CUSTOM WEBSITE + SEARCH MARKETING = VALUE
When it comes to a business website or any website for that matter there are 3 things you've got to accomplish. First, you have to get people to it. Second, it's got to make a great first impression. Third, it's got to have the functionality to either close the sale or at least connect with the visitor.

OurChurch.Com's custom pro and premier website packages accomplish all 3 of those goals because they combine a website uniquely designed to your specifications, all the functionality you need, and the search engine optimization to get you to the top of the Google search results where people can find you. You can get all this with no up-front cost and in less than 6 weeks. Give your organization a website that will help you reach your goals in 2010 and beyond.
http://www.ourchurch.com/design/

3) USABILITY TESTING - KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE
Chances are many of the people who visit your website are getting lost or confused and you don't even know it. That's because chances are you've never observed people unfamiliar with your website using it. Usability testing is simply testing a website to see how real people actually use it. It's easier to do than you think, and it can produce surprising results that can help you make dramatic improvements to your website.

Kurt, led a series usability tests for the new OurChurch.Com website, and out of that experience he's writing a series of articles about usability testing you'll want to be sure to read. The first one was published to day. Read Why Everyone Should Perform Usability Tests.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/10/01/why-everyone-should-perform-usability-tests/

4) ONLINE BUSINESS (AND MINISTRY) IS ALL ABOUT TRUST
Are you more likely to go to a restaurant a TV commercial says is great or the one your best friend recommended to you? Word of mouth has always been the most effective form of marketing because it involves recommendations from a trusted friend, but it's become more important than ever as people have become skeptical, even cynical towards mass marketing efforts. Later this month, I'll be joining 15 other bloggers in writing about and discussing Trust Agents, the new book by social networking gurus Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. If you're leader in business or ministry and want to expand your influence online, you won't want to miss this series of blog articles starting October 14.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/09/22/join-the-trust-agents-group-blog-project/

5) CATCH US AT THE CATALYST CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA
OurChurch.Com will have an exhibitor's booth at the Catalyst Conference (http://CatalystConference.com) in Atlanta next week. Catalyst is a huge conference (12,000+ people) for Christian leaders with some top-notch speakers like Andy Stanley, Tony Dungy, Dave Ramsey and Rob Bell. We'll be blogging live from the conference. We'll also be giving away Bonefish/Outback gift cards to people who follow us on Facebook (http://facebook.ourchurch.com) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/OurChurchDotCom). So, if you're going to Catalyst, follow us and stop by our booth and say, "Hi!"

Post your comments and questions concerning this announcement here in our forums.

Get a fabulous new website for $0 up front!

pdstein — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:36:42 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-09-16.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

Your website is your first impression.

People judge your organization based on its website. If you're website is boring, bland, or mediocre, you're needlessly turning away visitors. You need a website that works for you!

Your website could be a tremendously effective hub of your communications.

If you're frequently making photocopies, sending people reminders, and answering phone calls and emails about your organization and upcoming events, you're needlessly wasting time. Again, you need a website that works for you!

This is Paul Steinbrueck, CEO of OurChurch.Com. I talk with lots of pastors, principles, ministry leaders, and business owners who tell me they know they need a new website. Their current site looks bad or it's hard to update or people tell them they couldn't find what they were looking for. They know they are missing opportunities, but they're not doing anything about it because they don't think they have the time or money for a new website.

X - Wrong!

We know economic times are hard. But that's exactly why you need a website that makes a great first impression and can help you communicate more effectively and efficiently. And that's why we've developed beautiful, custom website solutions with no up front fees. Websites that include:

- A custom design with animated Flash header
- Fantastic features like calendar, e-newsletter, sermon/podcast, event registration, shopping cart, and more.
- Easy to use admin panel (no HTML required)
- Installed and configured on our server (nothing to install)
- Advanced access control for multiple admins and private pages
- Search engine optimization and management (be at the top of Google and stay there)

Here's what some of our clients are saying:

OurChurch.Com is great to work with. Mike was extremely helpful in always answering my questions and taking the time to help me; especially with the shopping cart. The technology that goes along with all of this simply amazes me! -- Chuck Innocenzi, B Sassy Jewelry

Thanks again for all the work you have done. I finally have all the content loaded and am starting to teach a few others how to manage the front end of the site. OurChurch.Com sure makes everything easy. -- Jonathan Johnson, Grace Baptist Church, Tyler, TX

Custom website packages range from $99 to $299 a month. A la carte and conventional payment terms are also available.

To see examples of websites we've created, check out our portfolio.
http://www.ourchurch.com/design/web-design-portfolio.php

Your first step towards getting a beautiful new site that works for you is to request a free, no obligation phone consultation.
http://www.ourchurch.com/design/free-web-design-consulting.php

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck
OurChurch.Com

Post comments and questions regarding this announcement here in our forums.

Move Up a Grade in Back to School Month

pdstein — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:12:50 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-09-02.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

For many people September marks the beginning of the new school year and a time to focus on school issues. That is the case here at OurChurch.Com where September is officially... Back to School Month.

This month we'll be doing all we can to help schools sort through the website issues they face and provide examples of schools that are doing their website well. Plus we've got the design, hosting, and marketing services that will help your school communicate better and connect with prospective new students. We'll even be leading a workshop and hosting an exhibit table at a conference for Christian school administrators and teachers.

Take a moment to check out all the things related to schools going on this month at OurChurch.Com.

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com

Back to School Month Features
=============================
1) Get to the Top of Google and Get More Students
2) Custom Website, Top Search Rankings, and No Up-Front Cost
3) Teachers, Small Organizations - Save on Web Hosting
4) Featuring Innovative Schools and Teachers
5) More School-Related Templates
6) OCC Hits a Christian School Conference

1) GET TO THE TOP OF GOOGLE AND GET MORE STUDENTS
Is your school missing out on thousands of dollars of tuition because of unfilled class space? Many parents looking for a private school start their search in online search engines. OurChurch.Com can help you fill that class space for pennies on the dollar by getting your school to the top of the search rankings in Google, Yahoo, MSN, and more. Read more about our Top School Search Rankings service.
http://marketing.ourchurch.com/marketing-school-marketing-services.php

Not involved with a school? We provide similar top search ranking services for churches, businesses, and ministries.
http://marketing.ourchurch.com

2) CUSTOM WEBSITE, TOP SEARCH RANKINGS, AND NO UP-FRONT COST
Every school is unique and therefore every Christian school website should be custom designed to reflect the unique character and needs of the school. Here are 6 benefits to having OCC develop a custom website for your school:

A) Amazing Design. Your website is the first impression many prospective students and parents will get of your school. Make it a great one! OCC's custom websites are design to your specs to include school colors, logos, and photos of teachers and students.

B) Easily Updated by Multiple Administrators. With a custom site, your schools teachers and administrators can all update their own pages quickly and easily without any HTML skills necessary. Having up-to-date information on your site is the most important factor in getting teachers, parents, and students to use the website regularly.

C) Saves Time. As people come to see your new website is always up to date with the latest info on news, events, activities, and even homework assignments, students and parents will check the site rather than calling the school for info. Forms and permission slips can be made available on the site. You can even enable parents to pay for tuition and lunches online, saving everyone time.

D) Useful Features. Imagine the benefits to your staff, students, and teachers when you have a website that includes a calendar, eNewsletter, photo gallery, event registration for trips, staff directory, and private password-protected pages each parent can login to view info about their student posted by the teacher.

E) No Up-Front Cost. That's right! OurChurch.Com has 3 custom website packages that require no payment up-front. Just commit to 2 years of service that include affordable monthly payments.

F) Top School Search Rankings Included. Our Custom Pro Package includes our Top School Search Rankings service (a $99/mo value), a custom design, and the features listed above for no up-front cost and only $199/mo for a minimum of 2 years. That's a fantastic value!

All of this is brought you by a staff that understands the needs of schools, teachers, parents and students. That's because our staff includes a former teacher, a school board member, several parents of school-age children, and an experienced school website design team. Learn more about our custom-designed school websites.
http://www.ourchurch.com/design/custom-school-cms.php

3) TEACHERS, SMALL ORGANIZATIONS - SAVE ON WEB HOSTING
If you're a teacher and your school isn't giving you the website tools you need, or your small organization still operating with a free site, we've got a great opportunity for you this month. You can upgrade to the Starter Hosting Package and Ad-Free Option together for a year for only $98, a savings of $40. The Starter Package includes your own domain name and lots of space for graphics. And the Ad-Free Option will give your site a nice, clean look. Or just upgrade to the Starter Hosting package for $49, a $10 savings. These prices are only good through September 30, so order now!
http://www.ourchurch.com/edit/order2.php

4) FEATURING INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS
OurChurch.Com wants to see schools and teachers communicate more effectively using the Internet, so this month we're going to blog about those schools and teacher who are doing just that. If you or a school or teacher you know is doing something fascinating online, post it in the forum topic we've created (http://forums.ourchurch.com/viewtopic.php?t=5894). If we like what we see, we'll write about it our Christian Web Trends blog (http://blog.ourchurch.com), where we'll be posting articles related to education all month long.

5) MORE SCHOOL-RELATED TEMPLATES
OurChurch.Com's NE1 Web Builder has several school-related templates available. All of them can be customized using the NE1 template editor launched earlier this year. We have a couple more school-related templates under development, which we'll announce later this month in the webmaster newsletter.

6) OCC HITS A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL CONFERENCE
OurChurch.Com will be back in Daytona Beach September 17-18 at the 2009 Florida Lutheran Educators Conference. CEO Paul Steinbrueck will be leading a workshop on how schools can communicate better with parent and students using their websites, and my Director of Marketing Services Kurt Steinbrueck will be leading a workshop explaining how search engine optimization can help bolster enrollment.

Additionally, we'll have an exhibitors booth to talk with teachers, principals, and administrators, and we'll be blogging, Facebooking, and Twittering live from the convocation so you can get a taste of what we experience.

Post your comments and questions concerning this announcement here in our forums.

Save $50 on Web Hosting

pdstein — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:14:14 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-08-04.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

OurChurch.Com is pleased to announce the extension of the Bronze/Ad-Free Special for one more month.

We know finances are tight these days, so through the month of August you can get a year of our most popular hosting package, the Bronze Package, together with the Ad-Free Option for only $149. That's a savings of $50!

The Bronze package includes your own domain name, a calendar, blog, photo galleries, and an eNewsletter. These are tools any organization serious about communicating with people can't do without.

This offer is only available to those with Free and Starter packages who want to upgrade. And it's only available for the remainder of this month. So, order now!

http://www.ourchurch.com/edit/order2.php

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck
OurChurch.Com

Post comments and questions regarding this announcement here in our forums.

Virtually Eliminate Distance in Missions Month

pdstein — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:51:37 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-07-02.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

The Internet is transforming missions work.

Just a few decades ago you might never hear from a missionary except when they're on furlough. But today, you're likely to find missionaries connecting with supporters via Facebook or posting about their latest adventure to their blog. In the most remote parts of the world, you'll find IT specialists right along side linguists and Bible scholars translating scripture into a new language.

July is Missions Month at OurChurch.Com. Our goal is to help facilitate better communication among missionaries and those doing short-term missions trips with family, friends, and supporters back home. Here's how...

Missions Month Features
================================
1) Get a Year of Bronze and Ad-Free for $149
2) Share Your Missions Experience
3) Live From Kenya
4) The OCC Missions Page

1) GET A YEAR OF BRONZE AND AD-FREE FOR $149
We know finances are tight for everyone these days, including missionaries. So, this month only you an get a year of the Bronze Hosting Package and Ad-Free Option for only $149. That's a savings of $50. The Bronze package includes your own domain name, a calendar, blog, photo galleries, and an eNewsletter. These are tools any organization serious about communicating with people can't do without. This offer is only available to those with Free and Starter packages and only during the month of July. Order now!
http://www.ourchurch.com/edit/order2.php

2) SHARE YOUR MISSIONS EXPERIENCE
If you've done short or long-term missions work outside your native country and utilized the Internet in that ministry, you've got some first hand insights that could help others better use the Internet in their missions work. We'd like you to share that by writing a guest blog article about that experience. Read more about this opportunity and the insightful guest blog articles written last year on the Christian Web Trends blog.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/07/01/wanted-guest-bloggers-to-write-about-missions-the-internet/

3) LIVE FROM KENYA
Speaking blogging and missions work, my wife and I (Paul Steinbrueck) will be going to Nakuru, Kenya July 11-20 to serve along side some good friends who are building an orphanage and serving their community in lots of other ways. I'll be blogging daily during the trip, so you'll have the opportunity to see first hand how the Internet enables people to connect with someone serving overseas. My hope is it encourages you to do something similar the next time you or someone in your organization goes on a missions trip.

4) THE OCC MISSIONS PAGE
As a part of its Missions Month focus, OurChurch.Com has relaunched the "Missions Mashup" page, which combines information about Christian missions and missionaries from around the world into several useful tools. The page has been created to help people find and learn about Christian missionaries as well as to encourage missionaries to blog and share information with other missionaries.

It includes a customized Google map that includes "pushpins" showing the locations of missionaries. Clicking on each pushpin reveals the name of the missionaries, their location, and a link to their website and blog. Another feature is the Missions Feed, which combines the RSS feeds from each missionary's blog into a single feed. That means you can visit the Missions Mashup to view the latest updates from all the missionaries listed, or you can subscribe to this one RSS feed in your feed reader and receive updates from all the missionaries currently listed as well as any new missionaries that sign up.

Check out the Missions Mashup page to learn about the missionaries that are already listed and register if you're a missionary.
http://www.ourchurch.com/missions/

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com

Post your comments and questions concerning this announcement here in our forums.

OurChurch.Com Is Paying $250 for Video Testimonials

pdstein — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:42:41 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-06-30.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

Has OurChurch.Com made a difference in your ministry with our web design, web hosting, or search marketing services? If so, tell your story on video.

OCC will feature the best video testimonials on the front of the web design, web hosting, and search marketing sections of our site. If we use your video, we'll pay you $250!

Your video should be 1-3 minutes and include�

- Your name, the name of your organization, and your location.
- A sentence about your organization.
- Describe the situation before OurChurch.Com helped you.
- Describe the services we provided you.
- Describe the results and how it has impacted your business or ministry.
- Describe how you feel about the results.
- How do you feel about OurChurch.Com?

You don't need any actors, fancy equipment, or snazzy video editing. We're looking for real people telling real stories about OurChurch.Com making a real difference.

Please focus on one service per video. For example if we created a custom site for you and provided search marketing service, please focus on one of those so we can use the video on that section of our site. If you want to submit separate videos on the web design and search marketing services you received, that would be even better!

Keep in mind that OurChurch.Com's hosting services include our easy-to-use NE1 Web Builder as well as free, unlimited support from our friendly, knowledgeable support staff. So, if you've found NE1 and/or our support staff to be helpful to your ministry, you might consider mentioning them. (Um, yeah, that's a not so subtle hint.)

Please upload your video to YouTube and send us a link through our help desk (http://www.ourchurch.com/support/). Hang on to the original, because if we decide to use your video on our site, we'll contact you and make arrangements to download it from you.

Deadline for entry is Tuesday July 21. So, get those cameras rolling!

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck
OurChurch.Com

Post comments and questions regarding this announcement here in our forums.

And now for the obligatory fine print� OCC reserves the right to mention and link to videos uploaded to YouTube both before and after the submission deadline. This does not constitute use on our site or infer a $250 payment. All winning videos become the property of OurChurch.Com. OurChurch.Com reserves the right to edit, use, and/or distribute winning videos for promotional purposes.

Get Connected in Social Networking Month

pdstein — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:41:23 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-06-04.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

Social networking is huge. What may have seemed like a teen fad with kids goofing off on MySpace has blossomed into way for people of all ages to engage online with the family, friends, church, and businesses they love.

Social networking has also become a way for organizations to connect with new people and to help the people within their organization share ideas and become better connected. But with all the different sites and tools, it's hard to know which to use and how to use them effectively.

June is Social Networking Month at OurChurch.Com. All month we'll be discussing social networking, rolling out new tools to help you connect better with us, and providing new tools to help you connect with new visitors and engage the people within your organization.

Social Networking Month Features
================================
1) Follow OurChurchDotCom on Twitter
2) Get a free $20 iTunes Gift Certificate
3) Interact with OCC on Facebook
4) Social Networking Round Table
5) Is your org on Facebook or Twitter? Guest blog about it!
6) OCC Goes social at Florida UMC conference
7) More Social Networking Goodies on the Way

1) FOLLOW OURCHURCHDOTCOM ON TWITTER
Earlier this week OurChurch.Com launched its official Twitter profile. I've been referring to it as all the stuff not fit for the blog - behind the scenes info, cool client stuff, and if you follow us we'll follow you and maybe retweet you from time to time. See the full announcement.
http://twitter.com/OurChurchDotCom
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-06-02.php

2) GET A FREE $20 ITUNES GIFT CERTIFICATE
One of the things we're going to do periodically with Twitter is give stuff away. Today we're giving away a $20 iTunes gift certificate. All you have to do is follow us and tweet this blog post.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/06/04/get-a-free-20-itunes-gift-certificate/

3) INTERACT WITH OCC ON FACEBOOK
OCC has had a Facebook page for some time now. For the most part we've been using as a way to notify you of new announcements, blog articles, and newsletters. We want to interact with you more and encourage you to interact with other "fans" of our Facebook page. So, look for us to start some discussions there and post coupons and free stuff you can only get in Facebook.
http://facebook.ourchurch.com

4) SOCIAL NETWORKING ROUND TABLE
It seems like every day there's a new social networking site or social networking tool that the blogosphere is clamoring about and saying your business, church, or non-profit "must use" if it wants to keep up, stay relevant, and connect with people.

So, to make sense of all this we've invited a panel of experienced social networkers to do a Social Networking Round Table with us. They've been gracious enough to take time out of their busy schedules to share their insight on social networking with us. The discussion has been broken into 4 parts with Part 1 posted yesterday. You'll definitely want to read these articles.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/2009/06/03/social-networking-round-table-%E2%80%93-part-1/

5) IS YOUR ORG ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER? GUEST BLOG ABOUT IT!
When it comes to social networking we need to learn from each other. If your organization has been using Facebook or Twitter, you've learned a lot both from the successes and the failures. You've probably gained some great insight that would be very helpful for organizations that are just starting to jump into social. Consider sharing that insight with our blog readers by writing a guest blog article. In addition to helping a lot of people, you'll also get links and visitors from our blog.
http://blog.ourchurch.com/become-a-guest-blogger/

6) OOC GOES SOCIAL AT FLORIDA UMC CONFERENCE
OurChurch.Com will be at the Florida United Methodist Conference in Daytona Beach, FL next week (June 10-12.) In addition to having an exhibitor's both there, we'll also be blogging and Twittering from the conference. We'll be doing special giveaways to conference participants via Facebook and Twitter, so if you'll be at the conference follow us on Twitter and Facebook and stop by our booth.
http://www.flumc2.org/page.asp?PKValue=1540

7) MORE SOCIAL NETWORKING GOODIES ON THE WAY
Just a quick heads up that we've got several other projects we're working on that will help you connect with and engage your visitors through social networking. Can't say any more than for now. But expect more announcements in the coming weeks.

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com

Post your comments and questions concerning this announcement here in our forums.

Follow OurChurchDotCom on Twitter

pdstein — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:20:45 -0500

View this announcement in your web browser:
http://www.ourchurch.com/news/news-2009-06-02.php

Hi OCC News Subscriber,

OurChurch.Com is excited to announce the launch of the official OurChurch.Com Twitter profile:

http://twitter.com/OurChurchDotCom

We've held back on jumping into the realm of Twitter because we want to try to do it right. So many companies (and individuals for that matter) use Twitter as just another tool for self-promotion. We want to use Twitter in a way that adds more value (and fun) to our followers.

There's so much stuff that goes on behind the scenes here, so many things we get to see because of working day in and day out with 13,000+ Christian churches, schools, ministries, and businesses. Until now we just haven't had a medium to communicate those things.

Twitter is the perfect tool for that.

When we see a client doing something innovative online we'll Twitter about it. When we see a ministry that really stands out we'll post a tweet. When we come across a news article or blog post that we just don't have time to blog about, this is where we can pass it on.

We'll also Twitter from conferences, make fun of our staff, banter with our followers, try to get our sponsors to comp us some stuff to give away to our followers, and just experiment and have fun in this new space.

If you don't Twitter and want to know what all the hubbub is about, watch the video, Twitter in Plain English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o

If you're already on Twitter, follow us, and post a reply here in this forum topic with your Twitter address. And also post any comments or questions you may have about this announcement.

In His Service,
Paul Steinbrueck, CEO
OurChurch.Com