Online community for a fiver

I know I’ve been away a while, but I’ve not been idly sitting in the garden (with our UK rain?).  No, I’ve been lost for a month in the world of online communities.  Busy on Ning, Blogtronix, Terapad and of course Facebook.

A while back Gary, the Pastor, at Montpelier Church bumped into me at the twins Parents and Toddlers group.  Gary is a lovely chap and if anyone can get me back to church it is him.  He’s young, down to earth and is not afraid to be innovative.  The conversation led to the church’s website.  What should we do Gary asked?

Montpelier is a small church and unlike large companies really can’t afford a big outlay on a website.  On the other hand as well as needing a traditional website the church very much has a community that could be brought together online.  Question was how to give Montpelier a new website plus Web 2.0 blogs, forums and events?  And how to do it all at very low cost?

The answer was actually very simple we used Terapad and it cost £5 (for half a dozen graphics from iphotostock).

You can take a sneak preview of the finished article before its official launch on Sunday.

There will be more later on our technology on a shoestring approach.

Technorati Tags: small business medium sized business sme smb blogging accountants  sme-blog  technology

Comments

[Simon - presentation skills trainer]

Don't get me wrong, I think this looks like a cool package but I'd be a bit nervous of the free version putting adds onto my site! Not only doesn't it look good but I'm actually likely to be advertising my direct competitors..... and where's the logic in that?!!? :)

Mind you, the standard version isn't exactly expensive is it....! Thanks for pointing it out.

S

[Philip Woodgate]

Hi Simon

For the church site Google ads are not a problem. Gary believes unity in the church is important and he actively tries to work together with other churches. His church is not in competion in the same way as a business.

For the average SME it is probably worth getting rid of the ads - as you say it isn't exactly expensive.

[Heather]

Philip

I joined facebook because everyone seemed to be doing it and I don't like missing out.

But I actually don't understand what people do with it, why its interesting or what it could be useful for.

My son said its only useful for picking up teenage girls - well thats ok - he's a teenager!

So what have you been doing there and what is it useful for?

[Philip Woodgate]

Hi Heather

I think what you are really asking is what is Facebook's purpose. Your son has got one, but what about the rest of us. For most people Facebook is leisure orientated with a mild competitiveness (e.g. who has the most friends). From my perspective it's fun and is an easy way to find people you know and find out a little bit more about them. The more people you know on it the better it is.

One thing it is starting to demonstate is the bluring between work and home.

[Heather]

I've got a friend!

Thankyou Philip - its lonely to feel so unloved!

Actually yes - i think this thing does blur the lines. For us, the lines are blurred anyway - we are as likely as not to discuss a marketing strategy at bedtime as we are to talk about what to have for tea in the office.

Of course my blog does blur the lines whereas for you here that is more difficult - and likewise we are the same at Tax Blagger - so its horses for courses - I'm not that interested in Facebook for leisure - I was looking at it as an angle for Eie Flud - call me sad but I'm not a great socialiser!