Tech for the Local Church
Posts tagged Google
Real-World Discussion of Google Apps vs. ChMS
Feb 14th
We recently received this question in our comments on a previously posted article: Is Google Apps Church Management Software? They were great questions, and we hope others can chime in on this discussion: More >
Love Gmail? Mailplane makes Gmail even better.
Oct 24th
Mailplane, the native Mac app for Gmail and Google Apps email, has been updated to version 2.2, adding several new features and improving on others. Version 2.2 is a pretty significant update despite its minor numerical increment. You can download a 30-day demo from Mailplane’s website. If you decide to buy, it’s US$24.95. Naturally, you can always use Gmail in a browser for free rather than spending money on an app like Mailplane. But Mailplane is very actively developed, with new features regularly being added. Having a real Mac app for a mail client is well worth the money for anyone who spends a lot of time in email. If you manage multiple Gmail or Google Apps email accounts, the easy switching alone makes it worth the asking price. Read a FULL REVIEW here and here. Video fter the break… More >
How To Upgrade Google Apps to the FREE Non-Profit Edition
Oct 14th
NO ADS, TOTAL PRIVACY, SHARED CONTACTS & MORE
Three good reasons why you should choose the non-profit edition over the standard FREE (with Ads) Google Apps version you may be using now. Instructions after the break… More >
Shards are for Sharing: Google Apps (esp. for Non-Profit Organizations)
Oct 6th
Brad Stark is a Google Solutions Architect (is that one of the 10 greatest job titles ever, or what?!) at Appirio.com, and one the MANY things I learned about Google Apps– for non-profits, including churches– in our recent interview with him (podcast episode coming soon!) is that “shards” are a very good thing for cloud-users who are glad to no longer worry about data-recovery, back-up redundancy plans, happy instead to enjoy all the benefits of flexible, multi-user accessibility to documents and data-security with none of the latent web-security issues we have heard so much about.
How can that be? Shards! That’s how.
Podcast 004 – Google Apps for Your Church? YES! An Authority Speaks.
Oct 6th
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE:
Subscribe Here: http://portablesermons.com/ministryvault
Or Here: http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/ministry-vault/id382190586
Brad Stark has helped some of the largest BIG enterprise companies switch to Google Apps. He explains the benefits of Google Apps, the difference between the paid and free versions of Google Apps, and answers questions about the main concerns in the minds of many churches considering a move to Google apps. A few show links after the break … More >
CENSORED: Is Google Instant Search Safe For Work?
Sep 30th
Google Instant is a new search enhancement that shows results as users type. This is not the suggested search terms that try to predict the actual words being typed, this feature will actually show results of the predicted search terms. It is truly amazing technology - like a feature from the future!
The problem with this feature is that when you typed the first few letters of a perfectly legitimate word, it will start guessing. This is mostly harmless, but, on some unfortunate occasions, Google can (and does) serve up some results which are generally considered very offensive or otherwise inappropriate. More >
5 Reasons Your Church Should Use WordPress + 30 Million From Microsoft
Sep 29th
Microsoft just announced that it is abandoning its website / blogging platform and moving 30 million users to WordPress. This effectively doubles WordPress’s user base to 60 MILLION USERS!! With that kind of endorsement and success, I now pronounce all other website options for churches DEAD ON ARRIVAL. With the juggernaut, that is Microsoft, throwing in the towel and giving the nod to WordPress, the battle for your website content is now over. Read on for 5 reasons WordPress is better (and cheaper) than what you are now using. More >
“Who Will We Send (Online), and Who Will Go (Do Tech) for Us?”
Sep 28th
While we are busy deciding what technologies to use as ministry tools, it’s important to remember that we need people (both staff and volunteers) to supervise, implement, and develop the technology to productive effect in the Kingdom.
We might have the best (or most expensive) programs and systems that money can “buy,” but they won’t work unless we have people to use them and make the most of them.
A recent listing for an online magazine position prompts another round of discussion in the Google-Apps-are-Church-Management-tools discussion which Brook Drumm (fearless leader here at M’Vault and at portablesermons.com) started.
It appears that, increasingly, the question of whether “to cloud or not to cloud” is already be a moot point. If the business world adapts (much of it already has) to web-based applications– leaving on-site network systems behind– then they will be seeking employees with cloud-based information management talents and training. Schools will meet that market demand by supplying a prospect-pool of graduates– adepts– comfortable and familiar with these tools as a matter of course. This is the new basic skill-set.
Not only are the tools of data management shifting to the cloud, the workforce must necessarily follow. This workforce includes the brothers and sisters in Christ who minister alongside us by means of technology. And Google Apps is the leaps-and-bounds-ahead leader in the field.
Make Your Church Website #1 in Google, Please.
Sep 22nd
I just received an email from a new client with one simple request:
We would like our website to be one of the first to show when people google it. Thank you.
I thought many would benefit from my reply: More >
Is Google Apps Church Management Software?
Aug 21st
During the last MinistryVault.com podcast recording (coming soon to an itunes near you), we got into a discussion of the tech that pastors use everyday to be more efficient. We – ok, I – talked at length about All-In-One church management systems versus Google Applications. For those who missed it or want a brief, “ICanHazLinks2ShareW/MyChurchTreasurer” summary, here’s a quick recap of what is out there and how Google measures up.
More >
Are You Using Online Surveys?
Aug 17th
Feedback is critical to leadership and making sound decisions. But most leaders don’t have the time to poll more than a few individuals for their take on an event or new idea. Keep reading for some great online survey tools! More >
New From Google Labs: Google Reader Play
May 8th
I have been using Google Reader for years, but until I started getting serious about blogging, I was never a devoted user. Over the last month, I have cleaned out my feeds, subscribed to only the most useful content to stay informed for this blog, and fallen in love again with Google Reader.
Enter: Google Reader Play
I typically catch up on tech news using Google Reader on my iPhone, but today I fired up my MacBook and noticed one of their famous experimental offerings:
New! Google Reader Play is a fun way to browse interesting stuff on the web. Give it a try! More >
Google SYNC is Mobile Bliss
May 6th
If you are an iPhone user (instructions for other phones here) and have Google Apps as your email suite, you MUST start using Google Sync. I was hesitant to do so – having gone through a bad experience with other contact-syncing services. But this was completely different – it actually works! More >
Being Found in Google
Mar 9th
Local Business Center - http://maps.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=13416
Submit your church to Google Maps. Even include service times, pictures and more.
Webmaster Tools – http://www.google.com/webmasters/
Verify your site, add your sitemap, and get an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) report card
Analytics – http://www.google.com/analytics/
See site traffic and trends.
Google AdSense – https://www.google.com/adsense
Advertise your site.
Google: Just for Fun
Mar 9th
Who says Google is all business? Here are a few fun, off topic things Google gives you.
Image Swirl - http://image-swirl.googlelabs.com/
SketchUp – http://sketchup.google.com/
Fast Flip – http://fastflip.googlelabs.com/
Voice Search – http://www.google.com/mobile/google-mobile-app/
Latitude – http://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html
iGoogle – http://www.google.com/ig
Hardware, Software & Tips that Makes Google Better
Mar 9th
iPhone and Android – http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/whats-new-with-gmail-on-iphone-and.html
Take all of Google’s tools with you.
Google Labs in Gmail – Tweak your email to be more productive.
Mac Address Book – Sync Contacts and Print Labels
Google Chrome – http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/features.html
Backupify – http://www.backupify.com/
Backup your Gmail account (and much, much, more)
Get FREE Google Apps for NonProfits
Mar 9th
Are you using the Standard Edition of Google Apps? Upgrade to the free educational edition here:
http://www.google.com/support/a/bin/request.py?contact_type=nonprofit
- No advertisements
- 2000 unique emails a day – verses 500/day with the standard edition
Well worth the trouble, I think.
Google Basics for Churches
Mar 9th
Google is search.
Churches speak of eternal destinations.
Is this a match made in heaven? Not really. But I do think that any organization that accepts the Great Commission to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ has a responsibility to do an excellent job getting THE WORD out there. Lets cover some of the basics…
Google.com
Do no evil. http://www.google.com/corporate/tenthings.html
Get a Google Account
https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount
A google account, is basically a gmail (email) account that unlocks the door to Google’s services “in the cloud” (online, not on your computer). The big strokes here, once you are in the club are:
- Gmail – http://mail.google.com/ Complete with online …
- Calendars: http://www.google.com/intl/en/googlecalendar/about.html
- Documents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA (Breaking News: This Just In! DocVerse)
- Forms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzgaUOW6GIs
- Tasks: http://mail.google.com/mail/help/tasks/
- Contacts: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=12867
- Buzz.
- Photos – http://picasa.google.com
- Photo Editing – http://www.picnik.com/
- Reader – http://www.google.com/reader
- Maps – http://www.google.com/maps
- YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/
- Earth – http://www.google.com/maps
- Google Voice – http://google.com/voice
Staff Productivity: Google Apps
While the majority of these fall cleanly in the “personal productivity” column, there is a professional side to Google: Google Apps.
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