Church Website Do's

• Pick "domain name" that is concise, easily pronounced and easy to type (e.g. "www.firstlutheran.com").

  • Avoid hyphens, underscores, special characters.

• Keep website simple (KISS... "Keep It Simple Stupid").

  • 5 to 7 pages to start

• Include info on worship services on the home page (don't make visitors/seekers search).

  • Times

  • Sunday and/or another day

  • Different types (e.g. upbeat/contemporary, traditional, blended, bilingual, Spanish)

  • Special services (e.g. Christmas, Lent, Advent and Easter) Publicize well in advance!

  • Staffed nursery available?
    

• Include statement of belief in simple jargon-free language.

  • Example: We are a friendly group of people who have found joy in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We welcome you to Sunday morning services at 8 and 10:45 AM.

  • Example: Whatever your views of Christianity, come hear the word of God made relevant to today's world. Come and find out more.

  • Avoid: born again, salvation, saved, sinner, new birth, Savior, justification, Holy Spirit, testimony, evangelical, assurance, redeemed, redemption, saved, mission, outreach, repentance, witness, confess, found the Lord.

• Include "testimonies" by individuals.

  • Explain the difference your congregation and Christianity makes in the lives of a range of people (e.g. teenager, young mother, a middle-aged couple, etc.).

  • Don't call them "testimonies!" (Better titles: "Real Life Stories" or "What Others Say" or "Hosanna is..." or "Christ the King is...").

  • Include photo (with permission).

• Home page should have at least one photo of a church member.

  • Absolutely fundamental to good communication, yet infrequently done.

• Include visitor page (Absolute must!!!).

  • Church address

  • Church phone number

  • E-mail that is checked daily (or contact form to submit)

  • Office hours

  • Simple map (main roads, landmarks; link to Map Quest if no artist is available)

  • Simple directions with landmarks

  • Start times of worship services, Sunday school/adult education, Bible studies

  • Public transportation access

  • Photo of church member with statement about different the church makes in his/her life

• Include focus groups and ongoing activities (with days and times).

  • Youth

  • Young Adult

  • Singles

  • Seniors ("Young at Heart")

  • Day School

  • Pre-school

  • Help groups (AA, divorce recovery, etc.)

  • Bible Study

  • Small groups (Christ Care)

  • After School programs

  • Vacation Bible School

  • Gymnastics

• Search this website/Google this website

• Contact information

  • Office telephone number

  • Office hours
    

  • Staff and leaders

    • Photos (Puts a human face on a faceless institution from a visitor's perspective.)

    • Include names and titles (minimum); optional short bio. (Keep privacy issues in mind.)

    • Include link to Webmaster. (Important person in contemporary churches)

    • E-mail links (Test them! Make sure they work!)

    • Better: Contact form to fill out and submit.

  "Sticky" (e.g. link to a special page with interactive games, trivia, etc. to grab visitors)

  • Include short "testimony," link to visitors page, email contact form.

• Promote website constantly!

  • Place the URL (www.xxxxx.org) on all communications. (newsletters, sign, bulletins, banners, e-mails, envelopes, business cards!)

• Other things to consider:

  • Mission page with list of supported projects (Include 1-3 pictures of members in action.)

  • Forms page with links to PDF versions of forms commonly used by the members (e.g. medical releases for youth, baptism info, church constitution)

  • New-comers page that can be printed containing useful information to post on a refrigerator: Sunday schedule, phone, staff names, map to the church, Bible studies, support meetings, etc.

  • Change/add something frequently, even daily. (e.g. Bible verse, photos of activities)

  • Change a significant design element on your home page every few months. (e.g. header, photos) Keep it fresh and visitors will return!

  • "Pictures are worth thousands of words." Include photos of people in action (but not so large as to slow load times)

  • Link to Blog