Did you recently join the church staff only to find out just how bad the church website really is? And if that isn't bad enough, you're the one who has been chosen to fix it. You keep hearing that people just aren't engaging. Others are telling you the church website heatmap is showing negative data. Another complaint you've heard is that there's too much copy.
You're hearing it's just plain bad.
So, now what? Below are 5 ways to get some quick wins and build a great church website.
1. Simplify the Copy
First of all, you need to realize why people visit a website in the first place. One of the top reasons they do is to get information. If they get to your website and your copy is clumped together in large chunks of text, chances are the visitor won't waste their time trying to read every single word. Copy on the best websites is always easy to read and is able to be scanned quickly. For these reasons, it's best to simplify your copy. Some ways to do this include:
- Use bullet points—like this! ;).
- Use numbered lists.
- Use action-based words to increase engagement.
- Use shorter words rather than longer ones.
- Use headings and subheadings.
One of the nicest things you can do for your website visitors is to break up your copy into short paragraphs - preferably no more than 3 or 4 sentences, or less than 100 words. Another thing to remember is to not dedicate too much copy to one particular subject, because nobody, and we mean nobody, is going to read a 5-paragraph description of your pastor.
2. Use Images
One old adage that rules the internet world is that a picture is worth a thousand words. People simply love looking at pictures, so if your website is lacking in the image department, it's time to add some pics that go along with your simplified copy. To prove this point, here's a stat that will knock your socks off: articles on the web that have images get 94% more views.
While using images is important, you can't just slap any photo up and call it good. Here are some ways to effectively use images on your church website:
- The image should have a purpose
- Use images of real people—nothing cheesy!
- Optimize the file size of your image
Besides using photographs, another way to incorporate images on your church website is to make buttons instead of just links to sign up to volunteer/give/etc.
3. Add Some Videos
Chances are you've probably watched a YouTube video or two or twenty. There's an astounding stat out there that states there are nearly 5 billion videos viewed on YouTube every single day. In other words, people love to watch videos over the Internet, which is why you should include video on your church website.
It's best to make the video yourself, if you can. If you're needing some creative ideas on how to go about incorporating videos, here are a few:
- Instead of describing “Who We Are,” try a fun video
- Make a video that allows visitors to get a glimpse of one of your services
- Make videos of church members' personal stories
- Make a video that reinforces the last sermon or introduces the next one
Another idea when it comes to posting videos on your church website, is to include a worship music video.
4. Remember to Connect
When it comes to trying to connect with your congregation through the church website, one thing you don't want to do is to only convey data about your church's address and location. When building connections, you will find you're better able to do this on an emotional level with personal stories, testimonies, and the right language. Another great way to connect is to incorporate a blog on your website.
We've already mentioned the importance of images and videos on your website, and besides increasing engagement, these two things will definitely help in the connection process. You can also use things like an event calendar, a newsletter, a contact page for your staff members (with their photos included, of course!) and your church social media buttons.
5. Give it Purpose
Don't make content just for the sake of having content on your website. Your content should have a purpose. You should use it to persuade members to sign up for a small group or committee, to give, or to volunteer. Another purpose and goal of your website content is to keep members up to date on what is going on. For this reason, always make sure your content is current. This means making sure not to have last year's small groups still listed. If there is no good reason for having certain content on your website, or it doesn't serve a purpose, then you should probably say "bye, bye."
