Here is the CMS Checklist used for ranking:
• Flexible Design Capability
• Templates or Predesigns
• Self-Design Option
• Ability to Own or Manage Designs on Ongoing basis
• Unlimited Pages
• Beta Manager
• Web Standards
• SEO Friendly URLs
• Google Analytics Integration
• Sermon Module
• Small Groups Module
• Page/Navigation Flexibility
• Events and Registration
• Location Manager (Meta tags)
• Member Manager
• Member Site Integration
• Articles
• Book Lists and Affiliate Code
• Multiple Blogs
• Syndication
• Worship/Song Module
• Custom Development
• Photo Galleries
• Flash Integration
• Ecommerce
• Product Manager
• Donate Manager
• Discussion Forum
• Twitter Integration
• Newsletter Module
• Custom-form Creator
• Multi-campus Support
• Importing Capability
• Web-based
• Unlimited Administrators
• Permission-based Access Control
• Tech Support
See our list of Church CMS Website solutions and how they rank.
Hi,
I appreciate what you are trying to do here… but do you work for Ekklesia or have any undisclosed relationship to them? Just seemed possibly biased the selection of options you chose for your list. There are plenty of features not on this list that would be as valid (if not more so) than the ones you’ve got there - how about multi-Calendar functions etc (Ii doubt they all support them properly)? You do tell us you are a marketing major but don’t mention your expertise in websites and churches (I know marketing is part of the mix and shouldn’t be undervalued). You also say you looked at the top 13 providers. Could you tell us how you determined who are the top 13?
To be able to use your site to help my church I need more information.
DA
I’d have been interested in seeing your response to those questions as well - might’ve been worth posting outright.
This was a small project for me to learn how Wordpress works and get blogging experience. I am an advertising major actually, but part of that is market research- which this project was all about. I also have a certificate in New Media studies from The University of Georgia, have been involved in web design and development at ad agency and am continually looking for information on web development and user experience. I am doing a two-month internship for Monk Development. As an intern I have been given freedom to come up with a list of features and I am looking for more, unique features to add to the list- specifically those that Ekklesia 360 doesn’t provide. If you have any suggestions that would be greatly appreciated. I did not want to be redundant, but I can specify a multifaceted calendar- what calendar functions do you think are important? As far as the top 13 providers, they were determined through market share research and notability within the Church CMS community (church computer/technology blogs, magazines, clientele and so on).
I encourage you to read the articles without paying too close attention to the score- which is meant simply to weigh features. A lot of the companies who did not score as high still set-up great sites with lower cost, time and involvement (specifically Clover). The idea behind Church CMS Review is to help your ministry determine which product suits your needs best.
I hope this was helpful.
-EP
I could tell that ADMIN, who compiled this list of important website CMS criteria was a designer at heart!
Just look at the top 4 items of importance he selected in his research!:
• Flexible Design Capability
• Templates or Predesigns
• Self-Design Option
• Ability to Own or Manage Designs on Ongoing basis
Flexible Design capability is #1? How many websites change their DESIGN on a monthly basis? Weekly? Yearly? To say design flexiblity is a top priorit is a red herring concept being tossed out there to scare a Senior Pastor who has no clue.
Phenominal website designs have a shelf life of roughly 2 to 3 years. That dog just won’t hunt!
Design is a huge component and very necessary in attracting viewer attention. No doubt! However, once the attention has been caught, the real strength of the CMS must hold the viewer. Just like that gorgeous cheerleader from highschool. If she is a pretty face but also shallow, high maintenance and cheap…after a few months it will not matter much if she looks good…she will cost you a lot!
Just like chosing a church, wife or occupation…there can be many items that go into our selection of a website service. However, I can find 400 exceptional design organizaions out there. Many good designers can be found.
There are only a few high quality CMS’s.
ADMIN’s selected items of importance are subjective. After all the hoopla of design and the site is launched…now the day to day work of the site content begins. A site that takes an hour to update verses 5 minutes beomes a determining factor.
Many churches INITIALLY feel that websites and their tools should be free (Hey, what Jesus did was free!) But after Bob the Builder leaves for Colorado and a 3 week sojourn…
The fact is, what Jesus did WAS free, but it was NOT cheap. Wordpress and Open Source flunkies can subject the unsuspecting chuch staff to hostage status! Perhaps unintended…but hostages nonetheless. Watch what happens when the young, IT guy leaves for college, gets married, gets a well deserved job in Houston or leaves the church in a huff.
Now…this well built site that was someone young guns hobby sits dormant because the church staff has no support, back up and were never trained.
If you need a website for Bob’s Corner Market or Cheryl’s Design Works…Wordpress, Druple and Joomla are fine. But for serious sites that absolutely need support, dependable functionality, multiple editors with an intuitive CMS…go to a reputable company.
Clover is a fine choice to be on the list…but having used their CMS AND found my cool flashy site relegated to page 12 on SEO’s should be an an important consideration for any website CMS comparison. A cool site that can not be found in searchs is a bad choice.
And be prepared to work a flash based CMS…ie, lots and lots of time to work!
Grace!