Our New Front Porch

Steven Mead

Steven serves UU Santa Fe as Consulting Lifespan Learning Director

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​“We don’t hide crazy,” I said. “We put it on the porch and let it entertain the neighbors.”―Nick Wilgus, Shaking the Sugar Tree

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Did you know that UU Santa Fe has a front porch? "Where? I've been coming for years! I think I would have noticed it by now!" you say. Well, we do. Our front porch is our UU Santa Fe website.​ Even as recently as a decade ago, when we asked visitors "How did you find us? The answer was most often, "A friend told me about you." Now when you ask that question, the answer is invariably, "I was on your website. I listened to some of your minister's sermons."

Gone are the days when folks approached our Welcome Desk not knowing who we are, or what Unitarian Universalism is. Today, we've already been vetted by newcomers. Oftentimes, if visitors do their homework on us, they can walk in the building knowing more about UU Santa Fe than most of us know ourselves! So, if we can't get people to our Front Porch, then chances are good we won't get them in our front door. And that's a problem.

Did you know it takes 22-25 new members every year just for us to stay the same size? Yep. And the way they find us, become interested in us and then visit us, begins with our website. Some would tell you that you have about 60 seconds from the time a newcomer enters our building until they decide to come again or not. That's pretty severe.  Most people in my experience give you one service. But that's it. No second chances. So, smile all-you-all!

UU Santa Fe's New Website
The work of many hands has created a new UU Santa Fe website which will launch at or around December 1.  It's not just a new coat of paint. We tore the whole thing down and built it up again. You will hear us talk less about who we are, and more about what will happen to you if you come here. You will hear a more invitational voice. You will see some new pages and content you have never seen before:

• UU Santa Fe Featured News and events
• Leadership blogs
• Your Staring Point (for newcomers)
• Spanish language content page
• Life Celebrations

• Groups (extensive new content)
• Social Justice Teams (extensive new content)
• Giving to UU Santa Fe (new comprehensive content)
• Joining UU Santa Fe (prominent position)

You will see a lot more links to other pages and outside sources, a lot more images, a lot more quotes, a lot more white space. You will even see some non-UU Santa Fe content about our allies and those with whom we have a deep and abiding relationship.

The Communications Committee will be giving one or two sneak previews in November to show the curious, excited, or fretful what this new Front Porch of ours looks like and how to get the most from it in the least amount of time. Watch the weekly eNewsletter for time and place! 

See you on the Front Porch.

Archives

November 2018
October 2018
September 2018