The question is very simple. When someone visits your church website, what impression are they getting of your church?
We visit church websites from around the country trying to get a pulse on what people are doing. We see some great, some good, and many terrible! In a day where the Internet is so prevalent, churches must keep up with the times and have a website that accurately reflects who they are as a congregation of believers.
Are you using a free, or cheap stock template?
For many churches, this is an unfortunate reality. What a cheap template says to your visitors is that you don’t care about reaching new people and you really just want to have something online because a guy like me posted something in a blog. Hogwash! Take into account that 85% of new visitors are looking for churches on the web BEFORE they step foot in the door or will look in the phone book. What image is your website giving potential visitors about your church?
Relevant Content?
One thing that will kill a church website faster than anything is a lack of content. People want your site to be a resource. Think of your website as a secretary/receptionist that works 24/7, doesn’t take breaks or ask for days off. Train your congregation to utilize the website as a source of truth for answers. Keep the content on the fresh and current. Put links to articles or other sites you find online that you think may be of interest to your church members. Oh yeah, GET YOUR CHURCH ON FACEBOOK!
FACEBOOK
While some may say that Facebook is just for kids, I’d beg to differ. Did you know the average age of facebook users is 38 years old and 61% of facebook users are over 30? Also, where else can you have direct access to share your message with people who have given you permission to tell them, any time, for free? Get our free article on ways to use facebook for your church.
A Web Ministry
We meet with pastors everyday, and I repeatedly tell them that the website has to be used as a ministry of your church. You can think of it on the same level as your student or adult ministry. It is, after all, a major communication tool for your church. In many ways, if used correctly, your website can be a major ministry tool for your church.
Let me suggest this.
We have years of experience getting churches online, and utilizing the web as a ministry tool. Take a minute to contact us and tell us a bit about your church here and one I will call you personally to discuss how to increase your web ministry presence.
