An ongoing project in the ELCA is a guide to effective communication for congregations. This resource is available online at www.elca.org/communication/effectivecommunication.html. Make sure to click on the table of contents link and look through the information currently available.


This is just one of many resources available to communicators. Visit the synod communicators' resource page for a list of many other resources.

Once upon a time I saw "Links" pages on websites and hated them. I don't care what websites you like to go to. Now, however, I understand why they exist, though I stll prefer to achieve the same goal in other ways.

Have you ever wondered how Google and other search engines decide what results to show you when you search for something? There's actually a very complicated system to determine ranking, but one of the many factors includes how often a site is linked from other sites. If your site is linked to from other sites (preferably other sites that Google et al. like), then you will be liked better because it makes you look legitimate. Basically you're cool because others think your cool.

This is one of the reasons that the synod has a page listing all the congregations' websites and why, as often as possible, a congregation's website is linked when the name appears on the synod website.

Why do you want to be liked? Well, if your website is only for your members, it doesn't really matter. If, however, you want people to find you if they search for your town name and "church" or "Lutheran church" or even "Grace Lutheran Church" (in case you didn't know, there are MANY), then you'd rather be liked.

To make sure you're taking advantage of linking, here are some ideas:

• Most importantly, check out the synod listing to make sure your congregation's site is known.
• When you fill out your congregational report this year, include your website (this will get it listed on the ELCA.org congregation finder.
• See if your local Chamber of Commerce has a website that will list congregations.
• If your congregation has separate sites (for example, if the youth have their own site) link the sites to each other.
• Suggest to members that they include your site on their personal webpages, MySpace or Facebook profiles, or anywhere else they are online.
• Keep your eyes and ears open for any other opportunities to list your site.

Just as being popular in school isn't the end-all-be-all of life, neither is being popular with Google, but it sure helps!