… and a quick reminder on #2 and #3.
Take a look at these pictures. These are the main front page images for three random church websites I took a look at.
Notice anything? It’s more than an elephant in the room … it’s the elephant in the picture. The big, beautiful picture of the church building that overshadows, dwarfs, or displaces the church – and when I say “the church” I mean the PEOPLE, not the bricks and mortar.
The biggest and most common blunder that we find on church websites is that the church worships idolizes loves appreciate their building so much that they plaster their home page with it. The problem is that most prospective visitors aren’t really interested in a church’s building (unless they’re looking for a wedding chapel, at which case they’re not looking for the church at all). Prospective visitors browse your website to find out if they’ll “fit” in with the church [the people]. A website that features a church’s construction prowess leaves prospective guests guessing.
So, once you’ve finished reading this post, make your next stop your church’s home page. If you’re greeted with a portrait of your church building, get with your web design people and swap out those pictures with images that show your church … your people … loving on one another, loving their neighbors, worshipping God, and living life with joy. That’s what prospective visitors are looking for.
Oh, and the #2 and the #3 blunder?
#2: A church’s website that doesn’t have the church address prominently displayed “above the fold/scroll” for all to see.
#3: A church’s website that doesn’t have the church’s worship times prominently displayed “above the fold/scroll” for all to see.
Guests want to know three things: Will they fit? What time is worship? and Where is the worship center/church building located? Be sure to provide them with everything they need to show up.
