
Let’s be honest: some church websites out there are giving… 2009 PowerPoint energy. 😬
But don’t worry, I say this with love. Because most small churches are doing their best with what they’ve got (and probably haven’t had time to touch the website since VBS 2018.
Here’s a quick list of things I’d never let my church website do, and what you can do instead.
If people have to click through your About page, Ministries tab, and then a PDF just to find when church starts… they’re not coming.
Do this instead: Put your service times front and center on the homepage. Like, “bold font, can’t miss it” front and center.
Nothing says “we love excellence” like stretched-out graphics from the Windows XP era.
Do this instead: Use real photos of your church, even phone photos work if they’re bright and honest.
If your visitors have to open a PDF to see what’s happening this week, we’ve gone too far.
Do this instead: Add an Events or “What’s Happening” page that’s quick to update and easy to read.
A broken contact form is like inviting people to dinner and then locking the door.
Do this instead: Test your contact form and make sure messages don’t vanish into the abyss (and check that your email is correct …yes, that happens).
Your “What We Believe” page doesn’t need a PhD. It needs heart.
Do this instead: Write like you talk. “We’re a church full of real people who love Jesus and each other. Come as you are…we’ll save you a seat.”
Over 70% of your visitors are probably checking your site from their phone. If it looks wonky on mobile, they’re gone.
Do this instead: Open your site on your phone and scroll through. If something looks off, fix that first.
Make people play “Where’s Waldo?” with info
If visitors have to click through five pages just to find your contact form, they won’t stick around. Keep it simple, clear, and obvious. (Even your grandma should be able to find your email.)
Your church website doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to feel human. Clear, up-to-date, and welcoming.
If your current site feels like it’s holding your church back, I’ve built Showit templates that make it easy (and actually fun) to fix that.
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