Year is coming to an end

[Pastor Matt]

Why does it seem like every year goes by faster and faster? Maybe it has to do with my age. Nah, that can't be it.

I just wanted to add an announcement to say "Thank you" to all of you members here on Online Baptist. Of course I am being bias here, but I believe that we have the greatest membership of any Baptist forum. This past year Online Baptist went through a major software change, and even though some of you did not like it, you still supported OB through this change. I think you all have grown to like it though.

In 2010 I really do not have any major plans for Online Baptist (Of course that can change in an instant). Instead of concentrating on features, I plan on concentration on increasing the Online Baptist membership. I will be doing some marketing toward IFB this coming year. I would love to hear any ideas that you may have.

If you would like to help promote Online Baptist we do have a few ways that make it easier for you than asking someone to join. One way is social networking. At the bottom of every thread you will see the following.

This makes if very easy for you to add the thread that you enjoy to facebook, Digg, Buzz, Stumbleupon, Twitter, etc. If you already have an account with one of the social networking sites, you can share the thread with others just by clicking one of the links. It is a great way to share with others threads that you enjoy.

Another area is members that used to be active and are not active anymore. If you are ready an older post and a username comes up that you remember, go ahead and send them an email. It will be good to have back some of those members.

Again, thank you all for being part of Online Baptist. We have something special going on here.

[John81]

OB is my online home

[Miss Linda]

Online Baptist is my online home, too! I have only been a member for a few months, but I have been tremendously blessed by the fellowship and advice I have received here. Promoting the site through social networking is a great idea (although I must confess that FaceBook scares me a bit so I don't have a FaceBook account, and I don't use Twitter much at all).

I started a personal blog recently. Would you consider creating some snazzy little "badge" that people could add to their blog sidebars? Something that would allow a Blogger to encourage people to visit Online Baptist? I would love to see more people learn about Online Baptist. This truly is a wonderful site!

Edited November 28, 2010 by Miss Linda

[DennisD]

Online Baptist is my online home, too! I have only been a member for a few months, but I have been tremendously blessed by the fellowship and advice I have received here. Promoting the site through social networking is a great idea (although I must confess that FaceBook scares me a bit so I don't have a FaceBook account, and I don't use Twitter much at all).

I started a personal blog recently. Would you consider creating some snazzy little "badge" that people could add to their blog sidebars? Something that would allow a Blogger to encourage people to visit Online Baptist? I would love to see more people learn about Online Baptist. This truly is a wonderful site!

Good suggestion, would love to see something we could put into our blogs.

[Pastor Matt]

Thanks for the feedback. Something alone the lines of the last 5 posts to place on your blogs?

[DennisD]

Thanks for the feedback. Something alone the lines of the last 5 posts to place on your blogs?

I think your signature banner would work very well to put on a blog.

[Pastor Matt]

I see, something like a banner you can put on the side of your website.

[Miss Linda]

Thanks for the feedback. Something alone the lines of the last 5 posts to place on your blogs?

I agree that your signature banner would work well for a blog, but a "badge" is commonly in the 125 x 125 size range so it fits nicely into the sidebar of a blog. A long, narrow banner would prOBably be relegated to the bottom of a blog page where it wouldn't be as visible.

Perhaps you could give people a choice by offering your banner as well as a badge (perhaps consider re-designing the banner using the same color scheme and fonts, and turn it into a badge in the more common size range). For example, put the black field with "Baptist Site" on top, and the green field below it. That way, if you chose the banner or the badge there would be consistency in appearance.

I often see web sites and other blogs that offer a place where you can "grab their badge or banner". They usually have a picture of the banner or badge, with a little box below the images containing the HTML code which can be copied and then pasted into a blog or on a web site. The banner or badge contains a link back to your site. It's free advertising!

I have Online Baptist noted in my 'favorite links' list, but a badge would have much more impact.

If you want to use my blog as a source to test, I am certainly willing to be a "guinea pig" to test out different badges or banners.

[Miss Linda]

Brother Matt, what if you created a badge that was consistent with the header of this forum: Online Baptist An Independent Baptist Community. That would fit nicely into a little badge. Simple, clean, elegant and functional. I still like the idea of setting the title "Online Baptist" apart from "An Independent Baptist Community" by putting "Online Baptist" in a different color field than the rest. Similar to your Baptist Site banner.

Does that make any sense at all? I'm not always very good at explaining myself.

[HappyChristian]

BroMatt, thanks for all you do to make OB a great place. I really like the idea of sharing threads via social network. I don't update my blog very often, but I do have a link to OB there. A badge would be kewl.

[Pastor Matt]

Brother Matt, what if you created a badge that was consistent with the header of this forum: Online Baptist An Independent Baptist Community. That would fit nicely into a little badge. Simple, clean, elegant and functional. I still like the idea of setting the title "Online Baptist" apart from "An Independent Baptist Community" by putting "Online Baptist" in a different color field than the rest. Similar to your Baptist Site banner.

Does that make any sense at all? I'm not always very good at explaining myself.

Yes that makes sense. I'll come up with a few different badges in the upcoming weeks.

BroMatt, thanks for all you do to make OB a great place. I really like the idea of sharing threads via social network. I don't update my blog very often, but I do have a link to OB there. A badge would be kewl.

Thank you.

[1Timothy115]

We've had such a hard time getting along...I don't know how I can suffer through another year. I'll do my best and hopefully I can get you straightened out.


I would be remiss for not mentioning how difficult its been to correct all the members here too. The members make this site the challenge which keeps me coming back.



Thanks Matt,
All funning aside...I enjoy the site and the members.
I thought I was in a social network here?

[Bro Jim]

I want to thank all that have made Online Baptist possible. I know I'm new here and my is just more. The topics and the discussions have all made me think and pray. I also thank all of you for your prayers for my daughter. And yes I will return next year.

MAY GOD BLESS ALL YA"ALL. Or in KJB vernacular I Pray YE Be Blessed.

[John81]

What a blessing Online Baptist has been in 2010! May she be an even greater blessing to all of us in 2011.