Most people will visit your church website before they’ll visit your church. Therefore, it’s important to look at your website from the perspective of a visitor, and eliminate things that will scare visitors away.
What will scare a visitor away?
7 Things on Your Church Website that will Scare Visitors Away
1) A free web address. If your website has a free web address like fbc.wordpress.com or freesites.ourchurch.com/fbc it screams, “We care so little about reaching people in our community that we’re not willing to spend even $10/mo for a domain name and web hosting.”
2) Old announcements. If your website still has that announcement about Easter on it, it tells people you’re not very consistent with your communications and there’s probably not much planned for the future.
3) Prominent requests for donations. Many churches make it possible for their members to give online. Nobody will be offended by a “Give” button or “Donate” page. But if it’s the biggest or most prominent button in the header, the first item in your navigation menu, or prominent on your homepage, it sends a signal – intended or not – that getting money from people is really important to your church.
4) The infamous animated dove graphic. I don’t need to explain this one, do I?
5) An all-text homepage. Images give life to your website. If you have no images on your homepage at all, it gives the impression that your congregation is boring and lifeless.
6) No address or service times. The best way to keep people from visiting your church is make it hard to find out when and where you meet. Your address should be in the header or footer of your website, so that it’s on every page. Service times should be prominently listed on your homepage.
7) Christianeese. Long-time Christians use a lot of words and phrases that are completely unknown outside of the Christian universe. If you use Christianeese words and phrases on your website, it tells unchurched people that if they visit your church they are not going to understand what’s going on or what people are talking about.
Not sure what I’m talking about? Watch this funny video…
Look at your website from the perspective of a visitor, and eliminate things that will scare visitors away.
If you feel like you’re entire website will scare visitors away and you’re ready to scrap it and start over, check out our church website design services or our DIY church website builder.
Comment and discuss…
- Did you find any of these “scary” items on your website?
- What other things on a church website would scare you away from that church?
Read other articles in our Church Outreach blog series…
Online Strategies for Your Next Church Outreach Event << Church Outreach >> How Online Reviews Help Offline Church Outreach
Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com
Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.
An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.
Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication.
1 Comment
Well said and very true. Many churches should take note and follow your advice.