The #1 tip you’ll find online concerning church web sites: don’t feature a picture of your building front and center. Instead, feature faces of people from your congregation. Whether you show them in worship, fellowship, or whatever scenario, show visitors the essence of your church.
Even that tip can be taken poorly. I know of a site where they have a picture of the first five rows during a Sunday service, snapped from the behind. The problem? There are only a dozen people sitting there, and they all appear to be 70 (plus) years of age. When I went there for a service, I found out it is was an actual representation of their church– during cottage season! Moral of the story? City churches should set up picture taking time in a month when the whole congregation, young and old, are actually present.
Good or great?
We all remember the “who, what, where, when, how and why’s” of English class. It is good practice for church sites as well. It is “good.” Great is going above and beyond, but it is vital to start with a good foundation for your website.
The Basic Pages
-About Us
-Staff page (including “smiley” pictures and bios)
-Contact information (including phones and email)
-Location
-Address
-Map, Transit Map or links
-Building Picture
-Parking Information
-Statement of Beliefs* (including links to denominational site/doctrine, if applicable)
*You’d think this would be one of the first things churches think of, but I’ve seen plenty of sites without a Statement of Beliefs. Most Christians have some level of discernment, and the absence of an upfront list of your core beliefs (especially concerning the gospel) can be a red flag for them. Make sure it’s straightforward.
-Services Timetable & Information
-Ministries Information
-Current Sermon Schedule & Events Schedule
A Good Site is…
Informative– People can easily find the information they are looking for (e.g., What do you believe? When are your services?).
Easy to navigate– People don’t have to “hunt” for information, and the menu is tidy and consistent in design and its location on all pages of the web site.
Colour coordinated with a flowing layout– Quality, professional web design will go a long way in making a good first impression on site visitors.
Free of errors– Do utilize spell check, grammar, and HTML code checks.
Updated– Be sure your schedules, staff pages, etc., stay updated. Otherwise someone may end up at your church for a tea meeting when said event is off for the year.
Promoted– You can include your URL in all print materials, and promote it online and offline. Web promotion includes submitting your link to search engines and possibly exchanging links with related sites. Also encourage church members to share the URL with local friends and family.
Note to Webmasters
If you have a lot of experience, nothing I’m about to say will be new to you. However, if you’re fairly new to the game:
Research! Every day there is more information online and offline about church web sites. Every week web design changes a little, codes advance, possibilities expand, and techniques change. Stay attuned to what’s new. If you are just starting out, be sure to get your fill of web page know-how by googling things like “web design blunders”, “web design tips”, “choosing a color palatte”, and “designing a logo.” You’ll be more confident and more competent in your web design endeavors because of it.
Check out Christian-links-directory.com