Do You Know Why Your Church Website Exists?
Apr 9, 2009 Author: Kenny Jahng | Filed under: Church, Ponderings, Resources
There’s been a flurry of interest in Christian Social Media sites, web 2.0 and church websites. The conversations are all very buzz-word heavy.
And at least one survey’s results have been published which draws upon data gathered in Jan / Feb of this year.
But what it all boils down to is very simple. Does your website do what your visitors and congregation members want out of it? How do you know what Christians want when they go searching for new sites on the web?
The answer is to ask. That’s what the Churches, Christians, and Social Networking Study did. They asked – what were the top things you wanted/needed in your church’s website? How many of these needs is your current website ready to address if a visitor lands on your site today?
The Top 4 requested features & functionality sought by congregational memebers:
1. Ability to find, register, and/or get details for events: Do you have an intuitive, clean, easy to navigate/search church activities calendar? Is it up to date? Do you have appropriate contact information on *every* page that talks about a specific event? (remember most people will probably NOT come through the home page, but from a search engine and land right on a given page within the site!)
2. Ability to post prayer requests or needs: The fact that this is a user-requested item should make you pause. How many church sites actually attend to this need? How many church have even thought that people might be more comfortable sharing prayer requests on their own turf in the privacy of their own environment? Perhaps this is not a function required to be integrated into the website — One medium my church uses a lot is to list-serv email distribution lists (even Yahoo!Groups can be the most simplistic way to “get this into action” if you don’t have the tech-know-how to approach this feature with your website) to appropriate teams & groups. Perhaps a small dedicated prayer team for prayer request receives the emails immediately and then someone on that list can triage the specific requests to either a wider group of laity or pastoral staff for prayers, counseling and more.
3. Ability to find serving opportunities at the church based on interest or gifts: That last part of this survey finding is quite important to me. If someone is raising their hand to say they are interested in serving IN ANY WAY — the Church needs others waiting in the wings 24/7 to swoop down and bring them into the fold! The best way to connect and grow is service! Are the volunteer opportnities listed on your site (update to date…and with appropriate contact information?)
4. Ability to join and interact with home/bible study groups: This was another interesting response from the survey in that people are craving a connection through email / discussion forums, live chats / etc. This has got to be one of the best pieces of ammunition which any church webmaster can use rationalize new projects that explore way in getting people connected. Like the volunteering for serving example above, if your people want to connect and study God’s word with others, our ministry’s responsiblity should be to make it as easy as possible for them to do it!
If your website is not hitting some, if any of these “most requested” features, then it’s time to stop, drop (everything) and roll (out some new features / functionality) really soon!!!
What feature is currently the most used one on your church’s website today? What is the next feature you’ve been thinking about adding / developing? Have these survey results shifted your thinking in any way?
Please share your thought and leave a comment below.
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Hope you pick up a tip or two about church marketing while you're here. Better yet, why not share your own expertise & experience by dropping a comment on a blog post today? Thanks!~Kenny Jahng
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4 Responses for "Do You Know Why Your Church Website Exists?"
Wow that's an amazing study…. but for less techie churches there is a slight risk here. Sure it's great that our church websites serve our congregations… but let's not get excited about being a Holy Huddle! What about all the seekers out there who don't normally go to church? Isn't there a danger that churches will read this and think that the 4 points above are what they should be doing with their church sites rather than sorting out so many of the things they really do need on their existing sites (like an up-to-date calendar, map, service times, contact details, etc)
PS I'm not saying we shouldn't social network but surely the number 1 purpose for any church website should be to connect with those outside the church?
@ChurchWebsites – great comments. YES I agree! Church websites need to be aware of the audiences that it attracts – and skeptics, seekers, potential vistors, non-members are very important. I like how Tim Keller's Redeemer put a link right on the home page that says "I Don't Know What I Believe".
If you review the top 4 list above again, I think you'll agree that they can be accomodated with the same audience you have in mind as well. For example, #1 – ensuring clarity about all the events/activities/programs/ministries of the church is something that can be certainly be done in an outward-facing way. #2 prayer requests can be solicited in a way that is received as low-risk and perhaps a method to connect with people who are new to the church. Immediately and genuine follow-up via email or phone might be the start of a great relationship between the site visitor and the church. #3, if done well, can serve to highlight social gospel initiatives or low-involvement opportunities that visitors may be interested in on even a one-time basis to "check out" the church and get involved without signing away their life to it in their minds. #4 Some churches have "trial" bible study groups specifically aimed at new comers to meet others in a low-intensity 1 day or even a 3-4 week Bible Study group series. Pre-marital peer-group education series is also a huge opportunity way to bring new people into the church. Thinking about Bible Study Groups differently to include those outside the church (both "church" and "the Church") will make how you execute #4 very differently.
Regarding social media and the Church – I agree that the Church must keep it in perspective. The social MEDIA is not the end goal. The MEDIUM is just one more way to connect and broaden it's influence into the daily lives of those it meets. I personally don't think we need to change our message nor central identity. It's the behavior and methods that are evolving.
As the internet evolves, there are also great new 'social' experiments emerging to further the Gospel message — like http://www.internetevangelismday.com/ No longer are churches burdened with the task of going it alone in a single neighborhood. How perfect is it that pastors and their ministries are socially networking to bring the network effect into play? These are the some of the ways that Churches can be creative when trying and connect with those outside the church.
been going to a church for about four weeks,theres a bible study class starting up march 7th starting point, but not sure i feel connected.
@Donna, please DO join the bible study class and at least try it out! Small groups and bible study classes are great ways to meet people and *start* to feel connected. There are many others that join classes and small groups because they don't know anyone else in the church.
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