Non-Profit: Online Religious Organizations By Ratana, Sharma, Talabi, Wu, Zaida.

Non-Profit: Online Religious Non-Profit: Online Religious OrganizationsOrganizations

By Ratana, Sharma, Talabi, Wu, ZaidaBy Ratana, Sharma, Talabi, Wu, Zaida

Goals/Challenges faced by these Goals/Challenges faced by these OrganizationsOrganizations

provide religious informationprovide religious information distribute theoriesdistribute theories ask for humanity helps ask for humanity helps attract new members/believersattract new members/believers affirm the truth in all faiths and religious pathsaffirm the truth in all faiths and religious paths dispel false beliefs about the religiondispel false beliefs about the religion counter cult groupscounter cult groups

General CharacteristicsGeneral Characteristics• Run by small organizations, not large corporations. Can be run by one person (typical)

• Are not very sophisticated technologically/design wise

• With the exception of certain portals, tend to offer narrowly focused information geared toward one particular religion

• Are supported either by ad revenue to pay for sites, or donations, or the owner’s own pocket

• Do not spend much on advertising. Visitors usually find their way there through search engines or word of mouth.

Who are they targeting?Who are they targeting?

People from all religionsPeople from all religions People from one religionPeople from one religion Those who are not bounded by a single ideologyThose who are not bounded by a single ideology AtheistsAtheists People with diverse spiritual traditionsPeople with diverse spiritual traditions Intermarried people who have not made a clear Intermarried people who have not made a clear

religious people (interfaithfamily.com)religious people (interfaithfamily.com) Basically, everyone with a religious curiosityBasically, everyone with a religious curiosity

Small Informational SitesSmall Informational SitesExample - http://pages.prodigy.com/D/V/R/dvar/ - Jewish

community outreach

Small Informational SitesSmall Informational SitesWhat do they offer?

• Information about their organization

•Why it was started

•Who the people behind it are

•What the projects they are working on are

• Information and assistance to the people of their religion on a particular (usually, narrow) topic of interest

• Answers to frequently asked questions

• Contact information

Small Informational SitesSmall Informational SitesWho do they target?

• People of the same religion who are looking for information and assistance on their particular topic of concern

How do they attract people?

• “Pull” method for attraction (the consumer is pulling the info)

• These sites do not tend to actively seek out people; instead, people actively seek out them

• Visitors to such sites are usually people that are interested in finding out information on a particular topic; thus, they actively search for sites with such information

• Web rings – interrelated sites that are linked together on each

Small Informational SitesSmall Informational SitesRecommendations for homegrown informational sites:

• Capitalize on viewers’ interest

• Offer personalized e-mails, electronic newsletters, etc., with information on the topic of interest

• Update visitors with ongoing events related to the topic

• Allow visitors to post their views / give advice on the topic of interest

• Have links to other sites related to the topic of interest; also, links to other sites related to their common religion

• Start local lectures / community panels related to topic

• Provide links that allow viewers to purchase books, videos, etc., related to the topic

Organizations that act as PortalsOrganizations that act as Portals

ExamplesExamples– Draw a broad range of religious and spiritual pathsDraw a broad range of religious and spiritual paths

– Promote shared religious values (http://www.Interfaith.org)Promote shared religious values (http://www.Interfaith.org)

– Advocate equal rights for sexual minorities (Advocate equal rights for sexual minorities (http://www.iwgonline.orghttp://www.iwgonline.org)) Value Added : Combine resources for the webValue Added : Combine resources for the web

– Provide links to Provide links to » Other religions, ministriesOther religions, ministries

» Inspirational and spiritual musicInspirational and spiritual music

» Services: consulting, heath, clergyServices: consulting, heath, clergy

Recommendations:

Portals can leverage their “browsing starting point” by offering more services, such as that of stores and customizable content

Organizations that act as PortalsOrganizations that act as Portals

Example – Example – www.interfaith.orgwww.interfaith.org .. Links to various faith .. Links to various faith pagespages

Online Religious StoresOnline Religious StoresFeaturesFeatures One stop shopping for religious books, clothing, tapes and One stop shopping for religious books, clothing, tapes and

other religious paraphernalia.other religious paraphernalia. Provide some free services and information e.g. Provide some free services and information e.g.

newsletters and greeting cards.newsletters and greeting cards. Some sites participate in shopping networks eg. Some sites participate in shopping networks eg.

http://www.gospelcom.net/gcnmall/http://www.gospelcom.net/gcnmall/ A few stores offer non religious items e.g. computers and A few stores offer non religious items e.g. computers and

house wares.house wares. Some sites offer memberships and personalized accounts.Some sites offer memberships and personalized accounts. Religious advertisements provide additional revenue.Religious advertisements provide additional revenue. Most stores offer specials for religious holidays and Most stores offer specials for religious holidays and

events.events.

Online Religious StoresOnline Religious Stores

CustomersCustomers Members of the associated religion are the Members of the associated religion are the

primary client base.primary client base. Some stores also target churches and other large Some stores also target churches and other large

organizations for large volume sales. organizations for large volume sales. Most stores offer customers coupons and Most stores offer customers coupons and

discounts to repeat customers.discounts to repeat customers. Some stores belong to particular churches, Some stores belong to particular churches,

mosques etc and cater specifically to their mosques etc and cater specifically to their members.members.

This site is part of a network of specialty stores

Display of sample product

Advert provides additional revenue

Search engine for locating products

Categorized product listings

Online Religious StoresOnline Religious Stores

Suggested improvements.Suggested improvements. Partnerships with high traffic sites eg Yahoo.Partnerships with high traffic sites eg Yahoo. Sale of digital content e.g. downloadable music.Sale of digital content e.g. downloadable music. Group discounts to members of churches, Group discounts to members of churches,

mosques etcmosques etc Contributing part of revenues to charitable Contributing part of revenues to charitable

causes and affiliated religions.causes and affiliated religions.

Online Religious OrganizationsOnline Religious Organizations

General Comments/Recommendations/Revisitations:General Comments/Recommendations/Revisitations:– Once a visitor is there, lock them in with some Once a visitor is there, lock them in with some

value added service such as free email, web space, value added service such as free email, web space, etc. “increase ‘stickiness’”etc. “increase ‘stickiness’”

– Some sites were part of web rings. This is an Some sites were part of web rings. This is an excellent way to increase traffic to sites that are excellent way to increase traffic to sites that are more on the ‘fringe’ or ones that are not found by more on the ‘fringe’ or ones that are not found by search enginessearch engines