Here are some features I'd include on almost any ministry blog, especially this one:

• Google Analytics -- for free, and I might add great, website statistics and tracking. See what people are clicking on and how they're getting to your site.
  
• FeedBlitz Email Newsletter -- this is an automatic service that checks your site every day and emails your posts to your subscribers. Perfect for a ministry site, especially a youth site where parents can subscribe! No hassle, no fuss! FeedBlitz does all the work.
• Podcasting -- if you already record your teaching or sermons, put them on your ministry blog site. I have a tutorial on doing podcasting the easy way using FeedBurner. Go through the tutorial, but it's as easy as just posting your MP3s links in a regular post like this one.

Other Options:

Both of these options allow your students to interact with your site in a dynamic way ... and best of all, it's VIRAL ... meaning buzz spreads quickly!

• Flickr for Photo Galleries -- Free service that you has options for embedding photo galleries in your sidebar, etc. Photos can be uploaded and hosted at Flickr and used on your site easily.
• YouTube for Videos -- Another free service where they host your videos and give you a code to embed them in your posts.

Labels: Important Features