In the previous topic, What is a Web Site?, I explained that a web site is a set of linked documents. While that definition is fundamentally true, many web sites do more than just present information; they contain interactive features.
Generally speaking, interactive features all involve some sort of computer program that runs on the computer where the web site is located. You interact with this program through web pages. As such, interactive web site features are generally more complex to create than web pages (analogy: a lot more people can create a document in a word processor than can write a computer program).
The good news is that you don't have to be a computer programmer to have interactive features on your web site. Many web site hosts make interactive features available for use in your web site.
Some examples of interactive web sites features are:
Deciding which features you need in your web site is part of the planning process. If, for example, you decide you want to use your web site primarily as a means of disseminating information among people who might be considering visiting or joining your congregation, then a form for requesting more information might be useful.
As you go through the process of planning your web site, visit the web sites of organizations that are similar to yours. See if you can figure out what the organization is trying to achieve with its web site, and then see if the web site has features that enhance this purpose.
Finally, my rule #1 is: when in doubt, keep it simple. You may need to have some idea what features you may want to implement in the future in order to find the right web site host, but you certainly do not have to implement them all right away. A web site is an ongoing process; if you go about it the right way, it will evolve over time to meet your organizations goals and needs.
Next topic: Creating Your Web Site