In my perpetual quest for tools to add to my arsenal of resources, I have happened upon an interesting and really useful one specifically for ministries. It’s called Clover Sites.com. If you happen to be a church that is serious about creating really professional “big time” website, this tool could be your thing. Some folks are do it yourselfers, but they hate that “done it yourself” website look. Some have checked around and priced design firms and walked away with terrible sticker shock. Some call me and get a really basic site going…which is great. I like doing the work and I can do it for cheap for the sake of getting the experience! But a Flash or marketing guru, I am not! And that’s a frustrating hindrance, but unfortunately I don’t find the Flash technology worth learning at this point in time and I don’t yet have marketing experience. Anyways, while getting ideas for a church website I found Clover Sites.com and knew I wanted to recommend it to folks. So, I got all their info. and tested out their site.

The main thing about the Clover Sites.com content management system that I see ministry people needing most is end user friendliness. When I do a site, I can count on having to maintain it because others aren’t coders and I really can’t make it pretty without making it somewhat complicated to maintain. But these folks can, so you don’t have to pay the maintenance fees of having professionals update your sites. The up front feet isn’t bargain basement cheap at $1,000, but it’s actually way cheap compared to the other tools or services that offer the same kind of site. PLUS you can update it yourself later and not have to pay them to do it. The month to month hosting fee is as cheap as my hosting fee ($20 at this posting) and you don’t have to contend with me in the process, lol. I’m a lovely person, but nobody needs extra middle people if they don’t have to have them.

Clover Sites.com is a neat company that seems to truly be in the business of promoting ministry. I’ve read all their stuff, seriously and I love that about them.

Clover 60 Second Video from Clover on Vimeo.