Chris Garrett’s Killer Flagship Content (read my e-book review) gives step-by-step instructions on creating irresistible pages that will keep your readers coming back. Sure, his focus was on blogs, but don’t start pouting, church webmasters. Here are ideas for your own foundational content to grow and retain your church’s online audience.

1. Celebrant’s schedule – which priest is saying which Mass. When parishioners first started requesting this information several years ago, I didn’t expect it to turn into one of the consistently most popular sections of my parish’s site, but it is. Might just be the same case for you if you’re blessed to have more than one priest at your church.
2. Homily/sermon transcripts, downloads or podcasts
3. Religious education class schedules, materials and homework
4. Study materials or reflections for Sunday readings written by your clergy, staff or own community
5. Tour and commentary of religious artwork in your church, e.g., stained glass windows, paintings, architecture, statues; or, a tour of the campus itself
6. Photos or videos from an important annual event, such as a fair or retreat
7. Choir song list for upcoming week(s); these lists are handy for the choir and some non-musician members of my congregation have requested this information as well
8. Video greeting or welcome from your pastor
9. Online registration or printable registration forms
10. Video or audio clips of your choir performing (original music if you don’t already have the rights)

Bonus tip: -eCommerce. Sell gear with your church logo, offer school fundraiser merchandise, or display products from a sister parish overseas.

Will these work on your site? What would you add to the list?

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When it comes to site content, think quality, not quantity. So says Chris Garrett in his very readable e-book, Killer Flagship Content.Written in a conversational, thoughtful tone, Chris spells out the importance of creating unique and valuable content for your particular niche. Do this and you’ll attract and build traffic to your site, becoming the go-to source that’s synonymous with your distinct area of focus.

“It could be a single post, a series of posts, an over-arching ‘message’… It is an effective way of creating a powerful blog property using a core of content that you build around.” And, importantly, readers can find it easily all in one place. Daily Blog Tips calls this “pillar content.”

What are some examples? Here’s the one spot where the 14-page PDF comes up a bit short. I was expecting to see some examples from other sites at this point, but Chris simply instructs us to think of our favorite blogs. His intention may have been to avoid limiting the scope of the concept by hemming it in with a few particular examples. A few samples, though, could clarify the point and would support one of his later points about linking out freely. In that spirit, here are some sites that illustrate flagship content:

• Online Marketing Blog by Lee Odden for press release optimization and the handy search engine marketing blogs list (which Stuntdubl further flagshipped into an SEO search engine)
• SEOmoz’s page strength tool
• Searchengineland.com’s daily recaps of search engine news
• Copyblogger’s copywriting 101
• Edward Tufte’s discussion board for information design
• The Juice Analytics spreadsheet for effective graphical display in Excel
• Waxy.org for a smile and a look at something cool
• Ice Cream Ireland for, well, ice cream and Ireland. Two niches in one!

The ebook next turns to traffic and conversion, which will make you eager to come up with your own flagship content. How? Chris provides lots of ideas here with plenty of context—not one of these quickie general lists we see often dashed off on other blogs. Check it out for yourself.

Promotion is covered from there and it’s something that Christ isn’t shy about. He’s certainly got the traffic numbers to prove he’s right. Heck, he even got me to write this review. The point is once you have that flagship in place, work hard to spread the word.

Killer Flagship Content is inspiring and motivating. Read it now. I’m eager to dive into a few blog projects I’ve been putting off now that I can see the flagship potential in them.

In another post, we’ll review flagship content ideas for church websites. Get that conversation going by adding your comments.

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Before I go any further, let me say thank you for taking time to read my blog. Knowing I have a growing audience keeps me going. So thank you.

The importance of gratitude struck me after encountering a few related posts in a short period of time:

• Guy Kawasaki wrote about the “Gift of Work,” linking to “Jesus & Your Job” by Nancy Ortberg, who explains how to find meaning in whatever work we do, no matter how seemingly insignificant or important the task. It reminded me of a maxim I once heard: there’s no such thing as a dead-end job; not having a job when you need one is a dead end, but the job itself isn’t a dead end. Always show respect for and interest in everyone who serves us, whether they are paid or unpaid.
• Phil at Vibrance in Ministry! wrote about thanking volunteers.
• Catholic Carnival 109 included my 40 ideas for Lent post, for which I’m thankful; and I’m appreciative of the rich variety of meaningful posts in this week’s Carnival.

Gotta run now to thank some volunteers–but before I go, how are you going to express your gratitude to someone this week?

Want to hook your readers throughout Lent so they keep coming back long after Easter? Then tempt them with enticing Lenten content on your church website or blog. Here are 40 ideas to get you started.

1. Polls/surveys. “What Are You Giving Up For Lent?” is always one of our most popular surveys (see 2006 survey results and Lent 2007). Another option – “Do Sundays ‘count’ during Lent?”
2. Lenten reflections, such as “Finding Your Priorities This Lent” or “Thirst For Justice, Hunger for Peace” or Catholic Carnival 108 or even some of your own.
3. Non-meat recipes for Fridays. Perhaps seafood or other meatless dishes.
4. Daily reflections on the Scriptures, such as from this list.
5. Top 10 lists to lighten the mood. “10 Funniest Things to Give Up for Lent” or come up with your own, such as “Things That Sound Hard to Give Up for Lent, But Aren’t” (what would you put on this list?) or “Top Comebacks for ‘Hey, You Have a Amudge on Your Forehead.'”
6. Saints of the day. Try the Saints & Angels list or Saint a Day.
7. Almsgiving suggestions, such as charities or events you have in place; local or parish almsgivng; or solicit ways to donate to specific projects.
8. Sackcloth fashion tips.
9. Schedules for your church. Ashes schedule for Ash Wednesday (especially effective if added before the start of Lent!); Holy Week; Stations of the Cross; Penance/reconciliation services.
10. Black History Month resources. Here’s how St. Charles does it.
11. Blog through the daily readings or pick a book of Scripture, such as Vibrance in Ministry (and friends) did with Proverbs for an entire month.
12. Suggestions for things to give up for Lent and let readers add to your list; or, on the flip side, suggetions for what to take on for Lent.
13. RCIA convert stories. Or give an overview of the process and collect stories for next year.
14. Instructions on how to go to confession to accompany the penance schedule of reconciliation service; add a personal reflection for bonus points.
15. Bible mapping service that shows where your favorite passages take place on the map.
16. Background on Lent.
17. Palm (Pilot) Sunday. Promote the PDA version of your site. Here’s how to make a mobile-friendly website if you don’t already have one.
18. Dramatic Washing of the Feet photos–if you can find some (or take some), they are sure to attract attention.
19. Reflections on suffering, sacrifice or similar Lent-related themes.
20. Online stations of the cross. Examples: Creighton University, a version for kids and Catholic Culture.
21. Online prayer partners. Create a posting page for those who want a prayer partner for Lent
22. Your local politicians’ contact info. Prompt your visitors to pick a justice-related topic to write in about during Lent.
23. Take a break from Lent with a March Madness parody.
24. Shrove Tuesday – explain how this is the day before Ash Wednesday; include a favorite pancake recipe.
25. Advertise your volunteers list or newsletters. Help those looking to do more during Lent.
26. AmericanCatholic content – this site has ideas for each liturgical season
27. Make your own PHP e-cards for the season.
28. Start optimizing your site for Easter — so the crowds can find you.
29. Assemble your pastor’s best Lent homilies.
30. Instructions for adding your church to your will, for those thinking of almsgiving beyond Lent. Here’s how the Diocese of Arlington describes the process.
31. Reflections by schoolchildren of what Lent means to them.
32. Online book club — read a Lent book and publish feedback.
33. St. Patrick’s Day often is during Lent — provide links to St. Patrick and other Irish saints.
34. Easter Resurrection Cookies recipe. Tape shut your oven door and see what happens.
35. Online prayer tree — appropriate time to remind visitors if your church has one, or start one if you don’t.
36. Interesting Bible sites, such as a Bible search engine or side-by-side comparisons.
37. Promote Social Justice involvement at your church or in your community
38. Operation Rice Bowl.
39. Local resources for 12-step, self-help programs for those hoping to give up their addictions for more than the 40 days of Lent. AA meeting-finder.
40. Basket blessings. You were good all Lent so you deserve more than a plain ol’ basket.

Since you’re thinking about how to help your readers on their Lenten journeys, what are you adding to your site for Lent?