A Digital Toolbox for Churches Websites: Design & Use

So You Have a Website?

The Purpose of a Church Website

To draw people from the community

into real relationships

with real people

in real fellowship.

Who Visits Your Church Website?

• People Who Attend Your Church

• People Who MIGHT

Website Visits

The majority of website visits start through a search engine. Most other visits result from links on websites or by a recommendation—in an e-mail, in print, or on social media.

The Internet is a medium where people want choice, interaction, and a sense of community.

10 Essential Church Website Content

1

• Location

• Location

• Location 2

• Contact Info

10 Essential Church Website Content

3

• Service Times

4

• About Us

10 Essential Church Website Content

5

• Staff

Photos & Bios along with Contact Info

6

• Children & Youth Areas

10 Essential Church Website Content

7

• Sermons

8

• Events - Calendar

10 Essential Church Website Content

9

• Online Connections

10

• Giving

Top 3 Tips

Keep it Brief & Current

Proofread

• Have others read through the website – people who don’t look at it day in and day out.

• Content needs to be Brief and Current

Keep it Simple

Easy to Navigate

• You don't want a visitor to get lost in your church building same as for a church website

Avoid ‘Churchy’ Jargon

• “Ministries” could be

“Things We Do”

Be Real

Real People

• Real Graphics

Images from Services

Events, Videos…

•Review your website often

•Test your Links

•Usability Surveys

•Tracking with Google Analytics

•Make your pages printer-friendly and download quickly

•View in multiple browsers and on a mobile device

•Advertise your website URL on other publications

•Look at other websites, subscribe to blogs

Keeping the Online Door Open

Resources

Thirteen Commandments for Your Website

https://www.sevenwholedays.org/2017/02/15/church-websites-1/

Make Great Websites For Cheap!

https://www.sevenwholedays.org/2017/02/18/church-websites-2/

How to Kill Your Church by Misusing the Internet

https://www.sevenwholedays.org/2017/02/23/church-websites-3/

Resources