Here is one solution for website design which is very cost effective and easy.  If you can send an email, you can update the website.  Naturally, more skilled the users can create even better-looking websites.

Basic Cost:  About $60(US)/year, as of April 2009  = $4 per month for hosting, $10 per year for domain name.  (Free if you use WordPress.org – See below.)

Recommendations

• Hosting Company:  Clear Blue Domains – www.clearbluedomains.com – Includes technical support by phone and email.  JDBarr.com uses ClearBlueDomains.com, which is run by one of our ministry friends.
• Web Site Design Program: WordPress – www.Wordpress.org
• Free Hosting: www.Wordpress.com – Website address will look like www.churchname.wordpress.com
• Sample website designed with WordPress:  www.pineygrovebc.wordpress.org
• Technical assistance (paid): www.clearbluesolutions.com – Can complete your website if you run into difficulties.
• Note: For more complete websites, use Joomla, which can be installed from ClearBlueDomains.com.  The Silent Word Ministries website uses Joomla.

Let’s get started – This is a brief summary – This should be updated in the near future – Please note, I do not provide technical support.  Please use the technical contact at Clear Blue Domains for help.  Paid help is available through Clear Blue Solutions, as listed above.

Get Started

1. Choose a web host – Go to www.clearbluedomains.com and click on Web Hosting > Hosting Plans to choose your plan.  Shortcut
2. Choose the hosting plan you need – The Economy Plan is enough for most smaller churches & ministries.
3. Search for a domain name – As you begin to check out, the site will recommend many options.  Most churches do not need most of the options.  However, you can search for and register for a domain name in the process.  Choose a name that clearly says who you are.  You can register more than one domain name and point it to your website.  For example, Calvary Baptist Church could register www.calvarybaptistchurch.org, www.calvarybaptistchurch.com, www.calvarybaptistchurch.net, etc.
4. Check out – Again, most churches do not need to pay for all of the extras.  My home church pays $3.99 per month — that is all!
5. If you are not using ClearBlueDomains.com, go to step 6 now.  Log into your account with ClearBlueDomains.com.  In the domain control panel, click the “Your Applications” tab on the top of the page.  When the new page opens, click Blogs in the left column, then click WordPress.  The next page that opens will have an “Install Now” button, which handles everything automatically.  No need to create a DB, upload WP files, etc.  You can now skip to step 8.
6. Set up a database – Log in to your new account.  On the left side of the page, choose Hosting (under My Products).  Click on Manage Account.  Click on Databases > MySQL > Create Database.
7. Install WordPress.  Now that you have a database, go to www.wordpress.org and go through the “Famous 5-minute Install,” which will take you much more than 5 minutes.  You will need to download WordPress, read and follow the instructions to put WordPress on your website.  I recommend FileZilla to upload the files to your website.  You may need to consult with tech support at www.clearbluedomains.com for help uploading files to the right place.  Be sure you get WordPress completely installed before you procede to the next step.  Remember your login name and password.  You can add other users and passwords later.
8. Download the sample database to your computer.  This option will become active later.
9. Log in to your new web site.  Go to www.yourchurchname.org/wp-login.php
10. Upload the sample database – In the Dashboard, on the left hand side, choose Tools > Import – and import the file you saved.
11. View your sample website – go to www.yourchurchname.org – Remember, you will be changing all data on the site.  This is very flexible.  For now, just look around.
12. Log back in to your website and begin changing data on pages.  Delete unneeded posts.
13. Change the template.  Download and install the Mandigo Theme from here.  Upload the theme using FileZilla to  /wp-content/themes.  In the website dashboard choose Appearance > Themes and select Mandigo.  Now view the website.  You can change the theme to any WordPress theme you desire.  Many are free.
14. Work on your website.  Create pages and posts as necessary.  Create users and allow others to upload information (church staff, members, or volunteers).  Read the documentation to learn more.

God bless and have fun.

jb

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