how to make a successful church website
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How to Make a Successful Church Website by CapterraTRANSCRIPT
How to Make a Successful Church
Website
Building a new church website? Trying to get the old one to work right?
Read this guide to learn how to make the best website for your:
Small
Mid to Large
or Mul:site Church.
1-‐200 members
200+ members
The Small Church
If your church is 200 members or fewer, you might be building a site for the first :me, or looking to more effec:vely use a site you already have. Keep reading to see:
• An example of a good small church home page
• A list of core website func:onali:es • A list of secondary func:onali:es • Where to build your site
An Example of a Successful Small Church Website:
Calendar Make sure your church website has an up-‐to-‐date calendar, or else your site won’t be very helpful for your members.
Use Church Management So0ware (ChMS) that includes calendar and Website func;ons. If that op:on isn’t available, try Google Calendar, which can be embedded easily on most web pages.
Core Functionalities
1
Outreach Optimization Basically: making sure your church is visible on the web! There are three ways to do this:
1) Domain name. Pick one that’s clear and descrip:ve. 2) SEO. Try free SEO tools like: SEOBook, 21 Free SEO Tools, and LunaMetrics. 3) Responsive layout. Make sure your website can be easily viewed on any mobile device.
Core Functionalities
2
Sermon Archive Try these video hos:ng sites: SEOBook, 21 Free SEO Tools, and LunaMetrics.
Online Donations This can really increase your weekly contributions!Check out this ar:cle for ways to provide online giving for your church.
Secondary Functionalities
1
2
Social Media Integration
For a small church, connec:ng your church website to social media is usually as easy as making a Facebook page. Some ChMS solu;ons also feature social media tools in-‐program, which helps you keep them updated. Don’t forget to include a link on your home page so it’s easy to find!
Secondary Functionalities
3
How to Build It:
Wordpress or ChMS?
Wordpress/Other Free Solutions If you s:ck with their free templates, you can do a lot with WordPress without spending a buck (beyond hos:ng fees). This is a good op:on if you’re star:ng out.
ChMS The reasons ChMS can be a good alterna:ve to WordPress are simple: it’s integrated, and ChMS is made for churches. Only downside: not all ChMS is free.Check out this guide to see if your church is ready for ChMS.
The Mid to Large Church
If your church is 200 members or more, you might be making tweaks to your website or looking for an extreme makeover. Keep reading to see:
• An example of a good mid to large church home page
• A list of core website func:onali:es • A list of secondary func:onali:es
• Where to build your site
An Example of a Successful Mid to Large Church Website:
Calendar Make sure your church website has an up-‐to-‐ date calendar, or else your site won’t be very
helpful for your members. Use Church Management So0ware (ChMS) that includes calendar and website func;ons. This way your site calendar can be synced with your office Calendar.
Core Functionalities
1
Online Donations There are two big reasons to offer online dona:ons:
1) It doesn’t have to be hard! If your ChMS offers the Ability to manage online dona:ons, you can save a lot of :me by using an integrated system. 2) It can really help your contribu;ons. You’ll be more likely to receive offerings outside of Sunday mornings, and Millenials will be more likely to give online.
Core Functionalities
2
Member Directory If you build your website with ChMS, you can o0en integrate your online
directory with your member database. Some:mes you can even allow members to update their own profiles, which is a great :me-‐saver!
Core Functionalities
3
Outreach Optimization Basically: making sure your church is visible on the web! There are three ways to do this:
1) Social Media. Use frequently updated social network accounts to reach your members.
2) SEO. Try free SEO tools like: SEOBook, 21 Free SEO Tools, and LunaMetrics. 3) Responsive layout. Make sure your site can be Viewed easily on any mobile device.
Core Functionalities
4
Online Event Signup When managing signups becomes a li\le overwhelming, try taking it online.
Church Blog Having a church blog is another way for your members to keep up with church
events, in addi:on to being a great pla^orm for discussion and thoughts from your church team.
Secondary Functionalities
1
2
Online Sermons You could offer this in two ways: hosting
recordings online on sites like Vimeo or YouTube, or streaming them live on sites like Chris:an World Media, SermonCast, or Streaming Faith.
Church App If you feel like aspects of your site are
hard to view on a mobile browser, you might want to think about building an app.
Secondary Functionalities
3
4
How to Build It:
1) Website creation tools offered by your ChMS ChMS website builders are guaranteed to be: church-‐oriented, integrated with your ChMS, and probably easier to learn, since your ChMS provider made them.
2) A separate website creator that can integrate with your ChMS If your ChMS does not offer a website builder, or it’s out of your price range, you might want to consider a separate tool that integrates with your ChMS.
The Multisite Church
If you feel like your website (or websites!) could use some improvement, you have a few op:ons. Read on to learn about:
• An example of a good mid to large church home page • A list of core website func:onali:es
• A list of secondary func:onali:es
• Where to build your site
An Example of a Successful Mul:site Church Website:
Calendar Make sure to be clear about event locations!
Online Donations If you make sure donations are integrated with your ChMS, it will make life for your accounting team a lot easier.
Core Functionalities
1
2
Member Directory Try offering a list of small groups so new members can join the community quickly and easily.
Online Event Signup If your ChMS doesn’t have this
func:onality, try Event Management So`ware.
Core Functionalities
3
4
Social Media Integration Think about branching out to new social
media pla^orms like Instagram or Slideshare, and deciding whether to create separate accounts for separate church sites.
Church Blog Some mul:site churches find it helpful to
branch out from their main church blog and create some for specific church ministries, like their youth group or singles ministry.
Core Functionalities
5
6
Online Sermons Most successful mul:site churches not only
provide online access to their sermons, they have a link right on the front page. Some church websites even func;on as an “internet campus “where visitors can experience a complete service. Another thing to think about is live streaming. Check out these sites to learn more about streaming your sermons: Chris:an World Media, SermonCast, and Streaming Faith.
Core Functionalities
7
Internet TV Channel This is a li\le different than having a
YouTube channel-‐ instead you’ll have your church content available for on-‐demand streaming through services like Roku or Amazon. Check out this ar:cle for more informa:on.
Separate Ministry Websites If you find that some of your church
ministries are very popular you might want to think about separate websites tailored specifically to them.
Secondary Functionalities
1
2
Church App A lot of the func:onali:es of an app can
be addressed by other services: social media keeps you up to date on your phone as well as an app would, and generally congregants should be able to find the informa;on they need on the mobile version of the church website. If you find that it’s much easier to keep this all in one place, however, crea;ng a church app might be the way to go. Read this ar:cle for more on church apps.
Secondary Functionalities
3
How to Build It: No ma\er how you build your church website, integra:on is key. Your choices are probably going to be:
1) Use your ChMS This means your website will definitely be integrated. However, it might be more pricy, or your ChMS might not offer website crea:on at all. 1) Use a separate website builder If you take this route, make sure it can work with your ChMS. Even be\er, try to find one oriented specifically toward churches.
1) Hire a web developer This seems to be the most popular choice for mul:site churches, and it provides op:mal flexibility. Try services like Faith Network, SiteOrganic, or Sheepish Design.
Good Luck on Your Quest to Build the Best
Church Website Ever!
Useful Resources • Church Management So`ware from Capterra’s Directory • h\p://www.capterra.com/church-‐management-‐so`ware/ • Content Management So`ware from Capterra’s Directory • h\p://www.capterra.com/content-‐management-‐so`ware • Top 20 Church Management So`ware Products • h\p://www.capterra.com/church-‐management-‐so`ware/#infographic • Wordpress Themes for Churches:
h\p://www.churchwebsiteideas.com/tools-‐resources/wordpress-‐churches/8-‐best-‐wordpress-‐themes-‐for-‐churches-‐or-‐non-‐profits/
• Stock Photos and Banners for Church Websites • www.crea:onswap.com • More Church Stock Photos • h\ps://www.lightstock.com/ • Ways to Publish Your Sermons Online • h\p://www.churchwebsiteideas.com/tools-‐resources/church-‐web-‐development/11-‐great-‐ways-‐to-‐
publish-‐your-‐sermon-‐online/ • A Variety of Church Graphics • h\p://open.lifechurch.tv/ • Church Media Including Videos, Images, Mo:on Backgrounds • h\p://www.muddyrivermedia.org/ • Youth Ministry Resources • h\p://shop.stuffyoucanuse.org/ • Church Newsle\er Templates • h\p://www.sharefaith.com/feature/church-‐newsle\er-‐templates.html/