Now that you are convinced that your church needs to have a website, the next step is to create your website.
So, what do people need to see on your church’s website?
Make sure that your content is aligned with the mission and vision of your church. It can focus on spreading the Lord’s word to people or you can show people how Christianity changes lives.
There are many things a church can place on their website since it has so much to share. It does not need to contain everything, but be sure to include all necessary information.
Let this article be your guide!
Here are the must-haves for your church website:
1. General Information
“It is also helpful to provide some general information about your church such as the name of some of the church officials as well as a brief history of the church.” Marketing Modo
Be sure to place general information on your website so people will know the who, how, when, and where of the church. Let them know who composes the church, when was it established, and the struggles it has faced. Here you can put a little background or history of the church as well.
2. Contact Us
“Your “Contact Us” page will be one of the main ways your website visitors can and will engage with your church. Make it easy for potential guests to reach out and get their questions answered prior to joining you for your next available service.” Church Spring
Things you should put on the ‘Contact us’ should include: address, telephone and cellphone numbers, e-mail address, and social media sites.
Be reachable and accessible to people, particularly to your future and prospective members. If one of your goals is for your organization to grow, then show people that you are at all times available whenever they reach out.
3. Pictures of your church
“Generic stock photos of happy people can easily be misleading because they lack a sense of authenticity. You want your website to show potential visitors and current members what your congregation is actually like, and one of the best ways to do that is with pictures of the real people who are part of your church.” PushPay
Show real pictures! Place photos that were captured in church while members were having fun or doing charity works. Avoid misleading pictures like pictures you downloaded from the internet because it lacks authenticity.
You can also place video clips on your website, clips of a sermon, and other church activities. Make sure that these photos depict the truthfulness of your organization.
4. Visible Links
“If your church is going to the effort of streaming your services, make sure people who visit your website can easily see those services. Place links to your YouTube or Facebook page (or whatever platform you may be using) at the top of your front page.” Facts and Trends
Link all your social media on your website. Again, this will help you be accessible to the public.
You can also place links on where people can donate to the church. The church relies on in-church donations, but due to the pandemic, that became improbable. The church should be prepared to accept donations online. Place a link on where they can easily donate.
5. Consistent Updates
“Allowing the website to go stagnant with outdated information, dated pictures, and old design all mean that you’re not reaching your audience well.” Ministry Tech
You don’t have to check your website every day, but it doesn’t mean that you should forget it once you finish setting it up. It needs to be updated from time to time. Place recent photos or videos on it. Let people know how active your organization is.
6. Schedules of Service
“If the visitor can find your church but doesn’t know when you meet, they probably won’t show up. Implement enough of these ideas for the visitor to find service times in a matter of seconds.” Church Themes
We have to admit that since the pandemic schedules have been affected. Now, we fit the online availability of people. Most churchgoers are still familiarizing themselves with online sermons. Try to make it easier by placing schedules of services on your website and social media.
7. News and Events
“News and events that are occurring in your church should not only be known to those who attended on Sunday… Church events, whether exclusively for the congregation or for the local community at large (a great way to increase awareness in the local area by the way), should be promoted on the church’s website” Marketing Modo
Human beings want to feel a sense of importance, and being “in the know” of events that we are part of makes us feel important. You can make your members feel important by updating them with the latest news and events of your organization.
Inform them of even the smallest happenings in the church, like the installation of Christmas decorations up to the most important events such as appointing new heads for ministries. Surely, they will feel that they are a part of the organization and it will make them feel important.
Remember that the purpose of having a website is to be reachable and attract more prospective members in the future. Your church’s website is a vital tool for the growth of your church.
This is even more important, especially with our current situation where almost everything is remote or online.
Use these tips to help your organization build and grow by utilizing these 7 must-haves to help you set up your website.
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