It has been a little over a month since we launched our new Web site at Cornerstone Church. The new design is a departure from traditional Web sites most businesses and churches use and most visitors are familiar with. It is based on the new Web 2.0 strategy.

Wikipedia defines Web 2.0 this way:

The term “Web 2.0″ refers to a perceived second generation of web development and design, that aims to facilitate communication, secure information sharing, interoperability, and collaboration on the World Wide Web. Web 2.0 concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities, hosted services, and applications; such as social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.

Simply put, Web 2.0 is designed to build community.

While yes, we have a Web 2.0 site, it doesn’t mean it can’t be used and navigated like any other Web site. Simply click on the links and you can see information about Cornerstone. We have all the important information a visitor needs; directions, events, staff bios, service times, prayer requests, etc. But the difference is an added layer of Web 2.0 features.

Sign up to follow us on Twitter, become a fan of our Facebook page, comment on our staff blogs, view our Flickr pics, use Google Reader to receive RSS feeds. All this is great stuff and, if used correctly, builds community. But, you don’t have to use any of these features to benefit from visiting cornerstonebuzz.org.

Our Web site exists to primarily accomplish these three purposes:

1. To help visitors decide if Cornerstone is a fit for them.
2. To provide event and program information for visitors, regular attenders and members
3. To provide a level of transparency for the staff through bios, blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

The Cornerstone Communication Team manages the Web site. The mission of the communication team is to insure that communication at Cornerstone Church is uncluttered, accurate and consistent. We are working hard to achieve our mission.

As great as Web sites and all the Web 2.0 strategy can be, there is nothing better than one on one communication. Learn about Cornerstone from the Web site and get to know what is going on. Keep up with your friends on Facebook, Twitter about what you are doing, share a few Vimeo videos, but don’t substitute that for real personal communication. The kind of communication that truly goes viral. The kind of communication Jesus used.

Beginning this Sunday, March 29 we will offer a short class on how to use our new Web site. We will meet each Sunday immediately after the 11 am service in the Barber Shop for a 30-minute session. Bring your questions, feedback and concerns as well as an open mind.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. We really want the Web site to be a positive tool for Cornerstone and our mission of “Leading people to know and serve Jesus.”