Questions to focus on: SouthSide Church Site

These questions can be used at different levels. You can take 30 seconds to think about one or two. You can discuss them in a team or group of like-minded Christians. Or they can be used in a college class, including assignments and research projects, and answered in writing at any depth. They may be freely reproduced for this purpose. Please email us additional questions that could be added to this page.
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  1. What is the target audience of the SouthSide site?
  2. Place yourself in the mind of a non-Christian who finds this site for the first time. What is your reaction? Now conduct the same exercise for a typical church site.
  3. Does the 'Explore' tour answer the questions you might have, as an outsider?
  4. Check the Community links. How do these make the church appear to be part of the community?
  5. Note the innovative use of the woman leaning into the screen, with a quote. Note too that she is of indeterminate ethnicity so that anyone can identify with her.
  6. Would the site make you feel more able to 'cold-call' the church - i.e. to take the big of attending a church meeting on your own?
  7. Do you receive the impression this is a friendly relaxed place which would welcome you if you did visit?
  8. Does it explain clearly how to find the church building? By road, public transport, routes from out of town? Parking? Is there access for mobility-disabled? A loop system for hearing disabilities?
  9. Does the site navigation system tell you 'where you are, where you have been, and where you can go'? Comment on the use of right and left navigation elements, which appear on all pages, under clear subheadings, which are all visible 'above the fold'.
  10. Is it easy to find out what activities there are - for men, women, teens, children, mums and toddlers.
  11. Is there an email newsletter which would be appropriate for outsiders or inquirers, to give news of activities from time to time?
  12. Under the 'staff' link, are there photos and bios of any church leaders? Do the personal details make you feel that these people are 'real', 'next-door' people you could relate to?
  13. Is there any use of humor? Cartoons? Jokes?
  14. Test the games link. Would it be easier if these were on the site itself?
  15. Investiage the 'Life Stories' section. (Note, the cringe-worthy term 'testimony' is not used.) Comment on the enticing heading, 'taster' text, and thumbnail photos. Could the longer testimonies benefit from subheadings?
  16. Do the testimonies address issues of interest to non-Christians? Do they avoid religious jargon and concepts?
  17. Would you be able to identify with the writer even more, if he or she gave some biographic details about their job, family, and interests?
  18. Note the value of the three links at the end of each testimony.
  19. Test the e-card concept. How can this bring people to the website?
  20. Is the site kept up-to-date? Is it obvious that there are new and current events being highlighted?
  21. Do the color scheme and graphics communicate any mood?
  22. They have chosen to make all hyperlinks standard underlined blue. Why?
  23. Note the use of the 'search' box in the intuitive (and common) top right corner.
  24. Visit the discussion forum. How does this enhance the site?
  25. Compare this church site with the others showcased in this section. Although each is outstanding in many ways, could they each learn from each other and improve further?
  26. Compare this church site with the others showcased in this section. Although each is outstanding in many ways, could they each learn from each other and improve further? Make a list of 'must-have' and 'highly desirable' features which should ideally be on any church site.