Inform your community with helpful alerts on your website

Parishes, dioceses, and schools are bustling with activity. However, on some occasions we stumble upon certain disruptions to our sense of normalcy. Events like construction on campus or forecasted inclement weather can interrupt your organization's day-to-day routine. 

Whatever the disruption, communication has to be given. Most often a parish bulletin and announcements from the pulpit are utilized. And in shorter notices emails can be sent and phone calls made. However, don’t forget the value your website has in keeping your community informed from beginning preparations through the time it takes for things to return back to the way they were.

Here are some tips for using your eCatholic website for effective community alerts with the help of Sections Layouts.

1

Create an information page for your alert

Create a new page using the Site Map. When setting it up, be sure to give it an alias like “alerts.” This way you can easily promote it later (see Step 5).

If you have configured your site for sections-based editing, select a page layout by clicking on Page Settings located in the bottom left corner of the screen. To get the most diverse options for sharing information, let's use Sections.

2

Add your entire message with any details

Add a column section with text modules for your overall message, or to post a statement by a pastor or principal.

If your organization is part of a diocesan initiative, utilize any messages from your Diocesan Sharing™ content to further inform your community with messages from the bishop.

A tabs section can help address certain concerns or common questions.

Use a forms module to gather information on volunteers willing to assist with any potential clean-up efforts.

A news section can communicate updates for occasions that will play out over time. News articles can be assigned to post on both your homepage news as well as your alert page. You can even set news archive dates so that articles disappear after alerts expire.

3

Create an alert on your homepage 

You don't want people to miss your message, so create an alert on your homepage and link to your new information page.

A single picture in the homepage feature region can be easily done by removing all other pictures, or video, and uploading an image for your alert. This is certainly visible, but might be unnecessary if your situation is not in an emergency phase.

Consider a place under your current slides, or video, in the homepage feature region to grab readers' attention. A buttons section is a great option that allows people to click a single custom button for more details.



If your alert is short and temporary, a single-column section with text can communicate everything right there on the homepage.

4

Craft your message, but be careful of your alert’s appearance

Imagery and font styles definitely elevate a message, but with alerts they can unintentionally cause too much alarm by overwhelming or even saddening readers. Images can always add to any emotion when reading a message, so it's best to consider what message elements might be saying.

If using images, here are some options to consider:

• Public Health Alerts -  hand washing, mop on a floor, sanitization stations
• Weather Systems - wintery landscapes, storm clouds, rain or waves
• Construction Projects - actual images of building progression
• Post-disaster damage - It may be good to include some images of actual damage; however, consider limiting the number of them to not overwhelm readers.

Clear instructions are important; however, avoid using too large of font sizes with bolded bright colors followed by multiple exclamation points. Instead, use a new line for an essential instruction as well as a different formatting style for text. This will make the message clear while still appearing organized and clean. 
 
 

5

Use your alert page as you get the word out

After creating an alert notifier on your homepage, publish it and your new alerts page to make everything visible. 

When you set up your page, using an alias like “alerts” or "weather" help to further promote your message. This helps to easily share information in bulletins or linked in emails. You simply need to communicate that all information and updates can be fournd at “mychurchname.org/alerts.” The URL is also easier for people to remember when advertised on a video board, on bulletin board flyers, or used in a verbal announcement.

Now that you have a community notification page you can keep all information and the latest updates in one place where everyone will know to find. Phone calls will hopefully decrease, and questions will be automatically answered. And when the distruption ends, and as things return to a regular routinue, feel free to disable the page and remove the homepage alert. 

So whatever the situation may be, keep your hope in God, and keep your community informed with clear and calm information to help get everyone through. You got this!