Church Website Design Greatly Differs from Business Website Design
Believe it or not, church website design and business website design are two very different things. Many churches want to have their own professional looking website; however, many do not realize that to be effective, their design must be much different than the design of a business website. While a business website design should be geared at selling products and encouraging business, a church website design should reach out to people and provide them with helpful information. If you are considering having a website for your church, it is imperative that you understand what things are important to include on your website.
Focus on People
While a business website design may focus on the business and selling products, a church website design needs to focus on the people. If a person is looking at a church website, they want to feel welcome and comforted. Be sure that you focus on the people and avoid using a sales pitch.
What, Where, When
Another important thing to remember, if you are building a church website, is that people want to know what, where, and when. Let them know what your church is all about, where you are located, and when services and special activities are going to occur. You can do this by providing a mission statement that lets them know what you are all about. Also give directions to where your church is located and provide nice maps to help them out. A calendar of events can help let them know when services will be occurring as well.
Registration and Contact Information
You want to be sure that you provide ways that you can learn who is visiting your site and you also want to provide visitors with your contact information as well. Have a place that people can register for more information, newsletters, or even special events. Also be sure that there is contact information available that will allow people to contact you with any questions or concerns as well. You want to be open and available to your church website visitors.
Provide Excellent Resources
Your church website design needs to allow for more than just the basics. It also need to provide you with space for resources as well. People visiting your site may be looking for helpful information or something to encourage them. Be sure that you provide resources that are designed to reach out to people who are visiting your site; in fact, you can use these resources as a type of ministry to touch people who may never even visit your church.
Show What You Have to Offer
Another important thing you need to incorporate on your church website design is a place that shows what your specific church has to offer. This is where you need to let people know about special ministries your church may offer, such as Hispanic ministries or youth or children’s ministries. Including these online can help people searching for a new church find out what you have to offer them.
Remember that you want to touch people with your website, so along with these aspects. you will also want to use great colors, beautiful pictures, and a professional style. While your church website design will differ greatly from a business website design, you will want to still make sure that it is professional and enticing to people who visit.