Knowing what to have on your Church Website can be a challenge if you're building a church website for the first time or doing a re-design. You can visit 10 different church pages, and every single one will be completely different.

How do you know what works for one ministry will work for yours?

There isn't a magical formula for creating church websites. However, there are site elements that every ministry should have. We'll cover what they are, how to use them, and share a couple of tips that will help you make the best website for your church.

The 4 W's of your Church Website

When it comes to creating a website for your church, you need to answer the 4 W's: Who, What, When, and Where. Within about 10 seconds, a person should be able to determine Who you are, what you're about, and when and where you meet.

Who: Church Logo

Your website logo/text identifies who you are to every visitor. Your church needs its logo or name somewhere front and center. When someone visits your site, it needs to be obvious.

What: What you believe (or what you're about)

Prospective guests and new attendees want to know who you are and what you believe. This element is important, as it builds trust and legitimacy. Typically you would want to include your church's mission and vision statements and a brief overview of what you believe.

When and Where: Service Times and Location

Guests need to easily find when you meet and where your church is located. Likewise, members need an easy way to pull up this info for reference or to share with a prospective guest they'd like to invite.

Pro Tip: You can share your location with an embeded Google Map.

Ways to connect

After you've answered the W's, it's time to give people a way to connect. The 3 most common ways are through giving, streaming, and contacting the church.

A way to Give

Giving plays a big part of worship. Making it easy for your members and would-be donors is important. Online giving and Church Websites go hand-in-hand. They are also no longer optional in 2021. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone under 30 with a checkbook. The same can be said for cash, as most people hardly carry large amounts of cash on them. One pastor who just recently started using Online Giving told us this...

When we started using Online Giving, I had long-time attendees start giving that had never given before. One of them told me that the reason he started giving was that we finally made it easy for him to give!

A Way to stream

For some ministries, live streaming or posting the sermon audio is NOT an option; it's the only option. Make sure that your website has a link to your church's live stream or a downloadable sermon for those that are unable to attend church. This ensures that ALL of your people stay connected in the Word, even if they can't physically be there.

A way to contact the church

When members and guests go to your website, getting in contact with the church is vital. A church form is one of the best ways to do this. You can have a general "Connect with us" form or have a specific form for volunteering and serving.

Pro Tip: The majority of people will visit your website on a mobile device. It's important that your website looks great and works well on a mobile device. Here's a form created in Church Connect.

Takeaway

The best church website is one that quickly answers the "4 W's" while also providing a quick and easy way for your people to connect by giving, streaming, or reaching out.

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