Recently I invited readers to participate in a church website survey to determine how church websites are really being used.  The survey, The State of the Church Online, Part 1, is beginning to produce new, concrete data about church website use.

What do people say are the most important features/activities they would like to engage on a church website?  So far, according to early survey results assessing 100 church websites, here’s what people are saying they want to do on a church website:

(out of 23 activities on the use of Church Websites by Attendees survey)

Highest Rated =

1.   Find service information (times, directions, etc).
2.   Listen to/download Sermons (audio recordings).
3.   Learn about the church’s Beliefs/Mission/Values
4.   Connect with other members.
5.   Read/download Sermons (text transcripts).
6.   Join and/or interact with a home/bible study group.
7.   View weekly information/calendar/news/events.
8.   Find serving opportunities at the church.
9.   Post prayer requests or needs.
10. Read articles or other content.

Guess reading a pastor’s blog doesn’t score in the top 10.  Check out more by keeping track of Drew Goodmanson’s personal blog.

Just before I left for Innovation3, I was contacted by my friend, Drew Goodmanson of Monk Development (and elder/pastor at Kaleo Church in San Diego).  Drew is someone I really respect, both as a Christian leader and as a savvy business person.  He was one of the first people I discovered who was using the Internet (and SEO) to reach people for Christ.  You can read his story elsewhere online but I’m inviting you to help him & those who are studying social media and the Church by taking this simple 5 minute survey.  Here’s an overview….

Are churches using the internet to gather, disciple and build community?

In the last couple years a number of new private church community networks have been launched in addition to numerous social networking sites.   We are still very early on in understanding what churches are doing effectively online.

We invite you to participate in this first survey of several that examine the State of the Church Online.  This survey in particular begins by examining what churches are doing with social and community networks.  How pervasive are the use of these web applications?

Future surveys will expand to examine what Christians are doing with social networks, how churches are using their websites and other online strategies.  Our prayer is that these studies help bring clarity and guidance for churches to pursue excellence online to the glory of God.

This survey is being led by Kevin Ring.  Kevin brings years of experience from Bainbridge Consulting leading qualitative research projects – designing and executing customer/competitive research and analysis across multiple industries, focused on Fortune 500 companies including Google, Yahoo!, Citibank, Hewitt Associates, Gallup, Bank of America and others.

The survey is free and takes very little time to complete.  Feel free to leave your name here (below in the comments) if you participate.

Link to it here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=bQWu6K2vXJyKE1aGHWr8_2fg_3d_3d