March 17, 2007
Schweitzer Web 2007 - Web Empowered Church
We're very close to launching the new design for the Schweitzer web site. This update is more substantial than a design refresh, it is a complete overhaul. One of my first goals when I came on staff was to migrate away from using static pages for the web site. Last year we implemented a Joomla system that has served us fairly well, but is severely lacking in workflow tools tht will let us empower each ministry to maintain their section of the web site. This year we've made the leap to typo3 and the Web Empowered Church platform. Over the next week I'll be writing about several of the components of this migration.
To launch our WEC powered web site required:
- installing and learning the WEC/typo3 platform (then later upgrading typo3 to 4.1)
- designing a custom template for the templaVoila plugin
- reforming our content to fit a new hierarchy then migrating the content
- casting the vision for the myConnection section of the web site
- implementing http compression
I'm presenting the final layout and structure to the full staff on Monday after getting the sign off from Bob, our senior pastor, on Thursday. We'll do content migration from the existing site this week and start shooting myConnection videos next week. The goal is to launch the site on Palm Sunday. Special thanks to the folks who stuck around during Media Lab on Wednesday night to help hash out the action based content hierarchy, but more about that later.
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Comments
It's exciting to hear what you are doing with WEC, Matt!
My wife is in the process of designing a church website using WEC right now. I know WEC is doing a lot to make things easier to get around behind the scenes, that seems to be the biggest barrier to churches using it.
Can't wait to see your site, once it's up!
Posted by: Jim Walton | March 19, 2007 8:06 AM
I wouldn't say that it was terribly hard to do, more time consuming than anything else. I've spoken with a couple of churches in Springfield that are looking at using WEC and they're completely overwhelmed.
I'll be the first person to say that most churches don't need many of the enterprise features included with TYPO3, but for us they're essential.
I think the addition of the basic admin in the WEC starter package was a great thing.
Posted by: Kerner | March 21, 2007 7:35 AM