In no particular order:

1.    http://blog.nielsen.com/
I am a sucker for good research – especially when it’s done by someone else. Don’t get me wrong, I like to get my “investigation” on but, mostly prefer it when the professionals hand over well-researched data.

2.    http://www.pewinternet.org/
Since I write so many different marketing pieces, statistics are my life-blood.  I love captivating statistics that reveal the truth about humanity!

3.    http://barna.org/
Okay, so you may be noticing a trend for statistics…but Barna is even more special because his research regarding church life, spirituality and unbelievers directly impacts the Kingdom!  Kudos to you, George Barna. Kudos to you.

4.    http://mashable.com/
Anything I have learned about social media, other than that of personal experience, was learned from the good folks at Mashable.  I lift my turkey sandwich to you.

5.    http://facebook.com/
I will admit to getting sucked into the vortex that is Facebook. Late at night when the house lights are low, you will see the glow of a self-admitted Facebook enthusiast, soaking up hundreds of photos uploaded by friends and family.

6.    http://wordpress.com
In case you haven’t dipped your feet into the blogosphere, I recommend trying out Wordpress as your blog host.  I find it very user-friendly and completely fulfilling of my blogging needs.

7.    http://churchmarketingsucks.com/
I applaud the folks like Brad Abare and Joshua Cody that make Church Marketing Sucks the success that it is.  Covering topics like church branding, websites and advertising, @CMSucks is well worth discovering.

8.    http://twitter.com/
While I’m not a huge fan of daily routine updates (i.e. I’m brushing my teeth), I love to find interesting articles, facts, news, ministry updates and event notifications through Twitter.  Feel free to follow me @kristenparkhrst.

9.    http://thesaurus.reference.com/
I use this website so often!  With a passion for writing and having my physical Thesaurus buried in the closet with all my other college textbooks, I go to Thesaurus.com on a regular basis to spruce up my writing. And yes, it is better than the Word Thesaurus…

10.    http://www.marketingprofs.com/
As Marketing Coordinator, I am always seeking ways to broaden my “professional scope.” Marketing Profs has a plethora of marketing resources.  Articles offer insight into marketing across a variety of mediums, from social networking to SEO, email marketing to brand management.   Although there is a fee for accessing some of their content, they have a free weekly email I enjoy subscribing to – check it out here if you’re interested.

1. Staff pages - They like seeing pictures and being given some biographical information about the people who lead the church!
2. Good links - They like to be able to click on a link and have it take them somewhere, preferably a predictable somewhere.
3. Quick loading pages and images - They want to see the information they are looking for right away; not have time to go get a cup of coffee while they wait.
4. Directions and maps – They like it when the website has both of these easily accessible. They can’t very well visit the church, if they don’t know where it is!
5. Welcoming and Inviting Feel – They like to feel wanted. Whether through words or graphics, they appreciate websites that greet them with open arms.
6. Focused Homepages – While visitors like to have certain information easily accessible, they don’t necessarily want it all on the home page. They prefer simple and sweet homepages followed up with clear navigation.
7. Simple Navigation – Visitors like to be able to find relevant information easily. This means having sites that are laid out well and labeled clearly.
8. Updated Content – They really like for information about the church, particularly about events to be current and relevant.
9. Intriguing Design – They enjoy a site with well thought out image and color usage that is pleasing to the eye but not distracting from the message.
10. Statement of Beliefs - They want to know what the church stands for, what to expect in a typical service and doctrinal stance, especially for churches not clearly associated with a well-known denomination.

These and more insights were gained this year through listening to feedback from church website visitors through First Impressions. We are looking forward to helping churches further improve their online ministry with more feedback in the year to come!

• I am thankful for shortfalls. They remind me of the importance of God being my provider.
• I am thankful for difficult relationships. They remind me of how much more I need to continually work to be more like Christ.
• I am thankful for frustrations. They remind me that I really am not in control and that God is.
• I am thankful for confusion. They remind me that wisdom and knowledge are available through prayer.
• I am thankful for unfinished projects. They remind me that God has me on a journey, not a launch pad.
• I am thankful for disappointments. They remind me that my hope has to be in God.
• I am thankful for people reading this. They remind me why I am doing what I do.

What’s on your list?

Photo by JonTinTinJordan